Honoré de Balzac, Monographie de la presse parisienne illust - Lot 34

Honoré de Balzac, Monographie de la presse parisienne illustrée de scènes, croquis, charges, caricatures, portraits et vignettes hors texte. Paris, au bureau central des publications nouvelles, 1842 [1843]. In-4, [4]-80p. Small numbered first edition of this article, which was published in La Grande Ville, retaining its cover. The work is illustrated with a synoptic table and three hors-texte plates. On December 7, 1842, Balzac wrote to Madame Hanska: "I must finish the Physionomies de la Presse Parisienne, an enormous article"; then on December 21: "I am excessively busy with an article describing the different individualities or types of the French Periodical Press, an article that will make you foreigners laugh a lot". Ex-libris J.D. (modern). Green paper bradel boards, fillets on spine, covers preserved. Spine faded, corners a little worn. A rare work.