Honoré de BALZAC sous le pseudonyme de Horace... Lot n° 2

Honoré de BALZAC under the pseudonym of] Horace de SAINT- AUBIN. Le Centenaire, ou les Deux Béringheld. Paris, Pollet, 1822. 4 in-12 volumes of 254 pp. mis-coded 252 without missing, (1) f. of table; 238 pp., (1) f. of table; 250 pp., (1) f. of table; 233 pp., (3) ff. of table and advertisements: paperback, pale blue paper covers speckled with black, modern red half-calf cases. First edition: the first novel published under the pseudonym Horace de Saint-Aubin, published at the same time as Le Vicaire des Ardennes. It reappeared in 1837 under the title Le Sorcier. Balzac under the influence of the roman noir. "He borrows from Charles Robert Maturin, who later inspired Melmoth réconcilié, the theme of the successive reincarnations of the Spirit of Evil" (Bibliothèque nationale, Honoré de Balzac, 1950, no. 78). A pleasant collection, preserved as issued, in paperback, with blank covers. Vicaire notes a lithograph at the head of the first volume, which is not part of the edition. Each volume bears the large label of E. Chaignet, imprimeur- libraire de Rambouillet. The covers are worn, with minor damage to the spines. Freckles in places.