Balthasar Claës ou La recherche de l'absolu

First duodecimo edition and first separate edition, with a revised version, after the original of 1834. The first edition appeared in Les scènes de la vie privée, the novel was integrated into the Etudes philosophiques in 1845. This version is different from the first. About the Charpentier editions, which form a sort of first collected edition, Clouzot states: "A set of very great interest because for all texts, it presents a revised version, and often profoundly so. Increasingly sought after, they have nevertheless remained (for how much longer?) very affordable." Guide du bibliophile français. XIXe siècle.
Contemporary half glazed red calf binding. Smooth spine decorated with a large mirror tool inlaid in red and black in the Restoration style. Series of fillets, monastic rolls at head and foot. Moiré and glazed red paper on boards. Traces of rubbing, notably on boards, corners and edges. Scattered light foxing.
Handsome copy, for this edition which is very rarely found well bound.

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