Les Misérables. by HUGO, Victor - 1862

Bruxelles [Brussels]: A. Lacroix, Verboeckhoven & Ce, éditeurs,, 1862. Uncut in original printed wrappers First edition. The Brussels edition of Les Misérables takes precedence as the first published edition, as the first two volumes were issued in Brussels on 30 or 31 March 1862, preceding the Paris edition by four or five days. The remaining volumes appeared on 15 May 1862. Copies in the original wrappers are rare in commerce. ABPC locates two copies only in the last 40 years, omitting the latest, that sold in Brussels at Henri Godts Auction, 11 December 2012, wrappers chipped in places, for €36,000. 10 volumes, octavo. Uncut in original pale blue-green printed wrappers, edges untrimmed. Housed in five black quarter morocco solander boxes by the Chelsea Bindery. With all half-titles, the text illustration in vol. IV and the 2pp. advert announcing this as the first edition at the end of vol. V, as issued; complete. Wrappers with a few faint marks, a little more noticeable on final vol., light creasing to spines, that of vol. I skilfully and imperceptibly repaired, a couple of minor chips, small hole to front wrapper of vol. 3; very occasional faint spotting, a few light creases, but the contents generally fresh and clean, a fine set in the original printed wrappers.