Honoré de Balzac, Etudes de moeurs au XIXe siècle. Scenes fr - Lot 23

Honoré de Balzac, Etudes de moeurs au XIXe siècle. Scenes from private life. Avec une introduction aux études de moeurs, by M. Félix Davin. Paris, Madame Charles-Béchet puis Werdet (tome 4), 1835-1834-1837. 4 volumes in-8, [4]-401-[1bl]-[1]p, 361-[1bl]-[1]-[1bl]-[4]p, [4]-386-[1]p & [4]-361-[1]p Collective first edition, volumes 2 and 3 marked "third edition entirely recast" and "third edition revised, corrected and entirely recast". The volumes were published out of order, since volume 3 is dated 1834 (but bears Werdet's cover, 1838). Volume 4 is here entirely revised, as Balzac was dissatisfied with the Béchet edition. Some texts do indeed appear for the third time, hence the mention of third edition, but some texts are in original edition or entirely reworked. Volume 2 contains an in-fine catalog, which is generally missing. Curiously, the covers of volumes 1 and 2 bear the name Béchet, but the back cover indicates Werdet's publications. Bound in posterior percaline, bradel, covers preserved, untrimmed. Paper slightly yellowed. A good copy.