Mathilde

First illustrated edition in first printing by Gavarni, Célestin Nanteuil and Tony Johannot, with 67 plates and numerous text illustrations.
Near-contemporary half dark blue morocco with corners signed Belz-Niedrée at top of first endpaper. Spine with raised bands very richly decorated with tooling composed of multiple scrollwork and interlacing. Double fillet borders on boards and corners. Top edge gilt. Paper slightly browned (with some leaves more brown), scattered foxing. A full-margined copy, the plates often slightly shorter. Traces of rubbing.
Handsome copy. Heraldic bookplate of Cerruti di Castiglione, collector of Romantics.
"One of the rarest and best illustrated Romantic works" (Carteret, III, 576). The work is among the very first serialized novels published and is Sue's first great popular success, which would enjoy the favor of a theatrical adaptation shortly after. The work established the serialized novel genre which draws from several genres: romance, pathos, gothic novel, novel of manners...