BALZAC Honoré de (1799-1850). Lot n° 4

Pierrette. Scène de la vie de Province (Paris, Hippolyte Souverain, 1840). 2 volumes in-8 (21 x 13,2 cm), full glazed salmon calf, cold foil on the boards, smooth spine, inside gilded frame, royal blue tabis lining and guard, gilded edges, case (P.-L. Martin). First edition, followed by the 2nd edition by Pierre Grassou (t. II, p. 251-325). A very precious copy including 184 pages with autograph corrections by Balzac. These corrections are intended for the new edition of the novel for its entry in La Comédie humaine by Furne, Dubochet and Hetzel, in the fifth volume (first volume of the Scènes de la vie province) which will appear in January 1843. They begin on page 63 of volume II and extend to page 246. After page 142, Balzac has pasted on p. [147, beginning of chap. IX] a fragment cut out from p. 143 (which ends chap. VIII) and deleted the four lines at the bottom of the page; on the reverse, page 148 has been corrected; the copy is complete with p. [145-148]; the corrections are repeated on f. 149-150. These pages were used for the composition and bear the names of the typesetters. There are 297 autograph corrections. In addition to typographical corrections (such as lower case letters in titles) and punctuation, Balzac's modifications are of several kinds. First, he completely changed the physiognomy of the book by deleting all the chapters and their titles, in order to give continuity and greater homogeneity to his work. He tightened up his text, deleting many paragraphs. But above all he took advantage of this new edition to improve or complete his text, sometimes moving parts of sentences, changing words or expressions, and inserting additions. Thus, on p. 78, concerning du Tillet, "who is at his best with the Nucingens" is replaced by "one of Nucingen's companions"; on p. 140, he adds to a reply by Sylvie Rogron concerning Pierrette: "She is penniless, let her do as we do"; on p. 158, concerning Collinet's career, Balzac adds that he "had courageously begun another fortune. P. 169, when Dr. Martener speaks of illnesses, Balzac adds "to which young girls are subject"; p. 192, he adds that a Paris doctor "attributes the almost mortal state in which the minor finds herself to the ill-treatment she received from Mr. and Mrs. Rogron"; p. 196, he adds this sentence: "The minor is in a very bad state of health. 196, he adds this sentence: "The mountain would give birth to a mouse"; p. 245, concerning Baron Gouraud at the attack on the church of Saint-Merry, he adds: "and his ardour was rewarded by the Grand Cordon of the Legion of Honour". Etc. PROVENANCE Pierre Bérès (label). EXHIBITIONS Balzac (Pierre Berès, 1949, n° 345); Honoré de Balzac (Bibliothèque nationale, 1950, n° 541).