Honoré de Balzac, Pierrette - scène de la vie de province. - Lot 30

Honoré de Balzac, Pierrette - scène de la vie de province. Paris, Hippolyte Souverain, 1840. 2 volumes in-8, [4]-[17-294]-[1]p & [4]-325-[1bl]-[1]p. First edition of this novel dedicated to Madame Hanska and also containing a new edition by Pierre Grassou. As is often the case, the preface is missing, as it was not published until after the work was published. This explains the absence of pages 1 to 16. It was published in August or September 1840. However, our copy is a little different, as it was not bound until after 1859. Indeed, the paper lining the covers is an extract from Blanche Rienzy by Eugène de Mirecourt (published by Chappe, Souverain's successor, in 1859) for volume 1, and an extract from La Croix dans les deux Mondes by Roselly de Lorgues (published by Hivert in 1845) for volume 2. This shows two things: that there was still a stock of sheets in 1859, and that the number of printed prefaces was insufficient to complete all the copies. This anecdote does not seem to be well known. Folders and slipcase signed Devauchelle, long-grain half-maroquin folder with flaps, lined slipcase, volumes stapled and untrimmed, light foxing. A fine copy.