Peter Bichsel   Fine Books

Balzac, Honoré de. Balzac illustré. La Peau de Chagrin. Etudes sociales.

With steel-engr. 2 female portraits on China on plates, engr. title vingette, and 100 wood-engr. illus in the text. Half title, title, 402 pp., 1 leaf. 4to. Contemp. grained bordeaux morocco with gilt tooled spine title and ornaments (sign. Lardière). Edges gilt. (spine discoloured). – Paris, (Béthune and Plon for) H. Delloye and Victor Lecou, 1838.

“Etudes sociales”, XXVI. First illustrated edition with all characteristics of the first issue as listed by Brivois. With the portrait plates of Pauline and Féodora which were inserted to a few copies only and with the skeleton pulling a man away from a table society. This edition was intended to be followed by other “études sociales” but, at the end, it was the only one published. – Sander 43; Brivois 15-17; Vicaire I, 45. – Minor foxing in parts. Good copy. – Best.-Nr. 7282