Honoré de Balzac, Les Parens pauvres. Paris, Louis... Lot 42

Honoré de Balzac, Les Parens pauvres. Paris, Louis Chlendowski, 1847 then Paris, Pétion, 1848. In-8, 331p, 311p, 306p, 314p, 314p, 293p, 307p, 324p, 306p, 322p, 311p & 351p. First edition of the novels La Cousine Bette and Le Cousin Pons, serialized in Le Constitutionnel between October 8 and December 3, 1846. The first three volumes appeared in January, with subsequent volumes appearing on a regular basis. Curiously, starting with volume VII and the passage to Pétion, the volumes are dated 1848, whereas volume VII went on sale in April 1847. Note that this volume contains the end of La Cousine Bette and the beginning of Le Cousin Pons. This may explain this curiosity. Provenance: Anne-Marie Meininger sale (Tajan, March 15, 2007, no. 59). Red half-maroquin with corners, spine ribbed, fillets in the boxes and on the edges, gilt-edged head, copy with few trimmings. Scattered foxing, a few browned or slightly soiled sections, minor wear to some nerves and corners. A good copy.