Honoré de BALZAC.

Lot 11
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Estimation :
800 - 1200 EUR
Result without fees
Result : 600EUR
Honoré de BALZAC.
Les Contes drolatiques colligez ez abbayes de Touraine [...]. Fifth edition illustrated with 425 drawings by Gustave Doré. Paris, Société générale de librairie, 1855. Fort in-8 of XXXII pp. the last one unnumbered, 614 pp. and (1) f. : red chagrin, spine with four false nerves decorated in gold and cold, succession of gilt and cold frames on the boards with gilt fleurons in the corners, decorated inner edges, marbled edges, slipcase (period binding) Famous edition illustrated by Gustave Doré with more than 400 woodcuts. "One of Doré's masterpieces: this illustration is astonishingly inventive, joyful, truly Gallic and Rabelaisian, and sparkling with wit" (Henri Beraldi). A copy with certain first edition criteria, notably the double pagination at the head. In his bibliography, Leblanc tried to establish the chronology of the printings and, noting that there are no two similar copies, advises the amateurs "to stop their choice on a copy whose printing of the drawings is particularly successful" (p. 40). Opinion shared by the bookseller Léopold Carteret who, at the head of this copy, noted in pencil: "Although page 425 reads rue Racine and the signature 36, I noticed that the woodcut of this copy was much more beautiful than in copies before the address and I kept it". The anointing of the severe Carteret is worth all the certificates of honorability. Superb copy in full decorated binding of the period, exceptional condition. Provenance : Léopold Carteret (private collection 1949, n° 6) and Pierre Brisson (1977, n° 29). Spine and the first five leaves partially detached.
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