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Piguet Hôtel des Ventes

2172 - BALZAC (Honoré de). Histoire de la Grandeur et de la Décaden…
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Estimate CHF 1,200 - CHF 1,500
Sale commission
Description
BALZAC (Honoré de). Histoire de la Grandeur et de la Décadence de César Birotteau, parfumeur. Paris, chez l'Editeur, 1838. 2 vol. in-8° bound half burgundy morocco with corners, spines with false nerfs decorated and gilt, gilt fillet on covers, original covers preserved. Binding signed Yseux successor of Thierry-Simier. Vol.1: 354 pp, [3] ff, Vol.2: 337 pp, [7] ff. First edition of this novel. A very fine copy enriched with an autograph letter signed by Balzac to Mme Aubert, the publisher's wife, concerning the management of subscriptions to the journal La Caricature and the payment of forty francs for four subscribers, which testifies to the writer's activity in the press and his social relations. Ex-libris H. Prost with the motto Habent sua fata Very good condition Copy probably washed Binding: Slight rubbing to spine ends, otherwise very good condition Marbled paper endpapers Inside pages: The pages are very clean and without tears The leaves are not all of equal size, but the margins are generous and well respected A note in pencil on the flyleaf reads: a very fine copy, washed and glued. However, the washing and gluing operation does not seem to concern the entire work, given the differences in inking and certain discharges. In Volume 1, the page corresponding to page 446 is misprinted as 366. Transcription of the letter: Madame, When I received your letter I was going to give you the forty francs due to you for the four subscribers you gave me for the Caricature newspaper - I received them yesterday. But I was held up by a fair number of proofs to be corrected for the [xxx]-Paris, and as newspapers have inexorable hours, allow me to send them to you, you will excuse me for not coming myself, thanks to this necessity which we both obey. As soon as the two publications [xxx] are finished, I will go with great pleasure to pay my respects to Madame la Duchesse. Would you be so kind as to give her a note of receipt? Yours respectfully
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About the sale ONLINE 2092 to 2674 - Books and manuscripts - Paintings and sculptures
Auction location
Auction time 06/10/2026 at 10:00 AM
Pictures credits:
Piguet Hôtel des Ventes Genève
See original version (French)
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