Honoré de Balzac, Catherine de Médicis expliquée... Lot 39

Honoré de Balzac, Catherine de Médicis expliquée - Le martyr calviniste. Paris, Chlendowski, 1845. 3 volumes in-8, [4]-335-[1bl]-[1]p, [4]-314-[1]p & [4]-276-[1]p. First edition of this novel printed in 1842 but published in September 1844, with here renewed faux-titres and titles. The copy is well conformed with its pagination errors, notably the pagination jump after p.152 of volume 2. This was a complicated edition, because although it was completed in November 1842 (or earlier), and although there are copies dated 1842 or 1843 (at Souverain), the work was not advertised for sale until September 17, 1844. There are also copies dated 1845 at Souverain and Chlendowski. Most copies bear the Chlendowski name. Note the difference in cover colors: volume 1 has a slightly pink cover, while the other two volumes have green covers. It is also these last two volumes that bear a peddler's stamp on the false title. Paperback, untrimmed, volume 1 partly uncut (only the long preface is cut), volumes 2 and 3 uncut. A very fresh copy. Small blemishes on cover edges and small lacks at spine ends. Volume 3 appears to have been tied with a cross-shaped string which has left its mark on the front cover. Cracks on the spines, with a larger one on volume 1 (a perfectly solid book nonetheless). A rare work.