Alphonse Karr, Les Guêpes. - Lot 476

Alphonse Karr, Les Guêpes. Paris, Au bureau du Figaro, 1840. In-32, 96-96-94p. First edition, collected in 1 volume of the 3 issues of May, June and July 1840: 96, 96 and 94 pages. Frontispiece repeated at the head of each issue, wood-engraved by Verdeil (no longer engraved from August 1840). With the publication of the July 1840 issue of "Les Guêpes", Balzac launched his "Revue Parisienne". Balzac, in association with DUTACQ, founded this magazine in the hope of achieving similar success to that of "Les Guêpes". The astute Dutacq was already publishing Alphonse Karr's successful magazine under the same conditions, with a monthly circulation of 20,000. We know that Balzac's Revue Parisienne was not as successful as expected (only 3 issues from July to September 1840), whereas Les Guêpes was published for ten years, from 1839 to 1849. Attractive period binding, red basane, 3-nerved spine decorated with gilt motifs, 3 cold irons, gilt pallets and roulettes. 2 corners slightly dulled.