Le Livre mystique

Paris, Werdet, (December 1) 1835.
2 vols. (130 x 210 mm), [2] leaves (half-title and title), XX-352 pp.; [2] leaves (half-title and title), 357 pp. and [1] leaf. Half raspberry calf, spines ribbed and decorated, blind fillet frames on covers, speckled edges (contemporary binding).
First edition.

The first volume presents, with new prefaces, Les Proscrits (previously published in the Romans et contes philosophiques) and the third version of Louis Lambert, together with the first edition of Séraphita, preceded by a dedication to Madame Hanska, née Countess Rzewuska, whom Balzac would marry the year of his death.

Balzac was deeply attached to this collection, which, against his expectations, met with considerable success: the entire edition sold out within a single day to the lending libraries — indeed, 250 copies were lacking to satisfy demand. The heavy wear these books suffered in circulating libraries accounts for the rarity of this first edition, which is, moreover, difficult to find in a fine contemporary binding.

From the libraries of Jean Tannery, Pierre Duché, Jean Meyer and Hubert Heilbronn.

Stamp “L. Imperator” on the half-title.

#27768
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