Honoré de Balzac; illustrations de Adrien Moreau, Daniel Hernandez, Cortazzo, Pierre Vidal, Gaston - La Comédie humaine – 12 volumes illustrés – Superbes reliures demi-cuir à dos dorés – Albin Michel - 1927-1927

Magnificent set of 12 volumes by Honoré de Balzac, selected from his Complete Works, published in Paris by Albin Michel around 1927.

This set brings together several major works from La Comédie humaine, a landmark of 19th-century French literature, offering a remarkable panorama of French society through its characters, plots, and social settings.

Contents of the 12 volumes

* Splendors and Miseries of Courtesans – 2 volumes
* Lost Illusions – 3 volumes
* The Celibates – 2 volumes
* The Country Doctor – 1 volume
* The Physiology of Marriage – 1 volume
* The Bureaucrats – 1 volume
* The Peasants – 1 volume
* Père Goriot – 1 volume

Superb decorative bindings

All 12 books feature beautiful, matching half-leather bindings, with:

* Richly decorated raised bands on the spines, with gilt motifs.
* Red title labels and green volume labels.
* Elegant marbled-paper covers in shades of brown, beige, and pink.
* Gilt edges.
* A particularly harmonious set, making a magnificent decorative display in a library.

An illustrated edition

The books are enhanced with illustrations by several renowned artists, including Adrien Moreau, Gaston Bussière, Robaudi, Cortazzo, Pierre Vidal, Daniel Hernandez, and Albert Lynch.

This wealth of illustrations adds to the set’s literary and bibliophile appeal.

Condition

In very good overall condition, particularly remarkable for books dating back around a century.

The bindings are very well preserved, the spines display beautiful gilt decoration, and the marbled covers have retained their luster.

The photographed interiors are clean and fresh, with a slight natural patina to the paper.

A few discreet signs of age and handling may be observed, without detracting from the very fine overall presentation.

Appeal of the set

A very fine set for the French book collector, bringing together several of Balzac’s masterpieces in attractive decorative bindings.

Ideal for a collector of classic literature, a lover of fine old books, or as the foundation for an elegant library.

A remarkable set for its consistency, the freshness of its bindings, and the richness of its literary content.

The photographs form an integral part of the description and allow the books’ state of preservation to be appreciated.