Notre-Dame de Paris

First illustrated edition, known as the Keepsake edition, published a few months after the scarcer single-volume octavo edition issued by the same publisher (there is also a two-volume edition dated 1836); illustrated with an engraved title-page and 11 steel-engraved plates printed on heavy wove paper, after Johannot, Boulanger, Raffet, Rogier & Rouargue, engraved by Finden, Staines, and others. Clouzot (Guide du bibliophile français) notes that it is normal for this edition to lack the plate entitled "de l'utilité des fenêtres". Handsomely printed in spacious typography with generous margins, and closely following the original edition of 1831. This three-volume edition has more generous leading than the single-volume edition, making it particularly pleasant to read.
Twentieth-century half old-red morocco over boards, with corners, in a style recalling Romantic bindings. Matching slipcase edged in old-red morocco. Smooth spines decorated with three elaborate mirrored tools and additional gilt tooling. Gilt fillets marking the division between leather and boards. All edges gilt. The paper is remarkably fresh and white, with only a few scattered spots. Copies of this edition are almost invariably affected by heavy foxing and browning, and it is exceptionally rare to find one as clean as this, particularly with such fresh, virtually immaculate plates.
A superb copy, very rare in this condition.