Hugo, Victor | “Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.”

From the Library of Clayre and Jay Michael Haft

Hugo, Victor

Les Misérables. Brussels: A. Lacroix, 1862

10 volumes bound in 5, 8vo (178 x 112 mm). Half-titles, divisional titles. Contemporary brown half calf, green pebbled cloth boards, lettering-pieces on spines; vol. 1 rebacked preserving original spine panel, vol. 3 with rear joint split, some chips at ends of spines and scuffing.

The true first edition of Hugo's classic novel, published in Brussels on 30th or 31st March 1862. The question of priority had been intensely debated in bibliographic circles. The findings of Michaux and Lacretelle definitively established primacy of this edition over the one distributed four or five days later in Paris by Pagnerre. The initial confusion stemmed from two sources: first was the prominent appearance of Pagnerre's name—and none other—in the French edition as a "Libraire-editeur," when in fact he was a distributing agent only; second was general acceptance of Vicaire's claim that Hugo corrected only from the proofs for the French edition. Michaux postulated that Hugo used the Belgian editions of his works as models for the Parisian printings. To ensure publication in France, Hugo was forced to amputate certain phrases from Les Misérables that would have offended the French censor. Lacretelle later confirmed Michaux's hypothesis. He found, in a copy of the Belgian edition of Hugo's novel, Les Travailleurs de la mer (1866), an autograph note that positively assigns priority to Brussels: "Since Messieurs Lacroix and Verboeckhoven have been my publishers, it is always the Belgian editio princeps ("l'edition belge princeps") that must serve as a model for future editions. V H." It was with Les Misérables that Hugo began his relationship with the Belgian publishing house.

REFERENCE:

Carteret I p.421; Vicaire I:328; Talvert & Place IX:59a, cf. IX:59b

PROVENANCE:

George Baird, of Stichill (armorial bookplates) — Charles Sarsley (collector’s stamp on free endpapers).