BALZAC, H DE. SPLENDEURS ET MISÈRES DES COURTISANES, 1845

3 volumes, 8vo (222 x 142mm.), FIRST EDITION (see footnote), half-titles, original light blue printed wrappers, uncut, modern morocco-backed boards chemise and slipcase, text somewhat spotted and browned, mainly at edges, bindings somewhat soiled

Carteret I, p.82 ("Edition en partie originale"); Vicaire I, p.224

This edition contains the first two parts of Splendeurs et misères des courtisanes: 1. "Comment aiment les poètes", 2. "A combien l'amour revient aux vieillards". The beginning of the first part had already been published in 1838 in La Torpille. Another two parts appeared in 1846 and 1848, but all four were not published together until 1869. This copy is the state in which chapter 1 begins "Depuis 1830, les bals publics de Paris au carnaval sont devenus une création", rather than the more common "En 1824, au dernier bal de l'Opéra, plusieurs masques furent frappés de la beauté d'un jeune homme".