Honoré de BALZAC. OEuvres complètes. Paris, Houssiaux, 1853- - Lot 84

Honoré de BALZAC. OEuvres complètes. Paris, Houssiaux, 1853-1855. 20 volumes in-8, blue half-basin, decorated smooth spines (period binding). Vicaire, II-239. Withdrawal of the first collective edition of Balzac's works, first published from 1842 to 1855. Most of the volumes are dated 1853. Only volumes XIX and XX are in the first edition dated 1855. The composition of the volumes here is slightly different for volumes XIII, XIV, XV, XVI and XVIII, but all of Balzac's texts are present. The work should include a portrait and 141 out-of-text figures. Our copy contains the portrait and 149 figures, some duplicates and some misplaced. One figure is bound head to foot. A pleasant copy in contemporary binding, except for volume XVII, which has been skilfully rebound. A few freckles in volumes I and II, a few scattered stains and a pale wet spot in volume XV.