Description
ORIGINAL EDITION of Balzac's first masterpiece.
Each volume is decorated with a frontispiece by Tony Johannot engraved by Porret and printed on Chine.
Two letters are enclosed: a typed one from a bibliophile addressed to the curator of the Bibliothèque de l'Insitut National de France, asking his advice on appraising the present volumes; and the curator's autograph reply, dated 1927, informing him that the volumes offered to him are indeed first editions.
The copy remains pleasant despite the flaws mentioned.
Bound in contemporary style. vol. I : title page missing. Vol. II rebacked: title page badly trimmed and restored, next page restored.