Product Type
Condition
Binding
Collectible Attributes
Free Shipping
Seller Location
Seller Rating
Published by Chapman and Hall, London, 1846
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.
Book First Edition Signed
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. First Editions, First Printings SIGNED by Alexander Dumas on hand written letters tipped into each volume. A stunning two volume set in the ORIGINAL publisher's cinnamon cloth with minor wear. Both books are in excellent condition. Each book is complete with the proper title page and copyright information. The bindings are tight with NO cocking or leanings and the boards are crisp. The pages are clean with NO writing or marks in the books. A superb set seldom seen in the ORIGINAL publisher's cloth SIGNED by the author. Includes a lovely clamshell slipcase for each for preservation. We buy Dumas First Editions. Signed by Author(s).
Published by Baudry, libraire-éditeur,, 1845
Seller: Libreria Antiquaria Pontremoli SRL, Milano, MI, Italy
Book First Edition
Paris, Baudry, libraire-éditeur, 1845, Edizione originale. Straordinario insieme in superbe condizioni di conservazione. Dieci volumi in brossura originale, in barbe; i volumi I VI addirittura intonsi; veniali e naturali segni del tempo alle copertine (VII: fessura al piede del dorso, comunque solido; piccola mancanza all angolo del piatto anteriore del vol. X), pienamente conservate nel loro giallo brillante; generalmente ottimo l interno (leggere fioriture diffuse; al vol. VII, pp. 265-68, una brunitura al margine esterno che non tocca il testo; complessivamente carte fresche e pulite). Estremamente raro, si direbbe quasi unico nelle condizioni del presente esemplare. Il secondo romanzo della «Trilogia dei moschettieri» fu scritto in pochissimi mesi, sull onda del clamoroso successo editoriale di «Les Trois mousquetaires» (1844): le avventure di D Artagnan, Aramis, Athos e Porthos divennero subito un classico, e nel corso del tempo hanno travalicato la sfera letteraria per entrare nell immaginario collettivo europeo. L edizione originale di Baudry fu affiancata, e in qualche caso di poco preceduta, da una fitta selva di edizioni pirata stampate in Belgio e recanti data Bruxelles 1845; basti ricordare, tra le molte, Meline-Cans et C.ie, Alph. Lebègue et Sacré Fils e la Société Belge de Librairie. Tali editori procedevano a impaginare il testo traendolo direttamente dal giornale «Le siècle», sui cui il romanzo usciva a puntate, e a conclusione della serie ebbero buon gioco nel pubblicare le loro edizioni sempre in più volumi ma di formato assai modesto in anticipo su Baudry, che aveva invece attesa la revisione del testo da parte del suo autore. Dumas, infatti, nel passaggio dal feuilleton all edizione originale, apportò al romanzo significative correzioni, tagli e aggiunte, così che il testo definitivo risulta molto distante da quello riprodotto in fretta e furia nei volumetti brussellesi. Queste edizioni pirata, pochissimo note fino al pionieristico lavoro di Douglas Munro (1981), appaiono oggi, alle soglie del secondo millennio, decisamente più comuni rispetto all originale parigino. «Vingt ans après» è notoriamente più raro dei «Trois mousquetaires»: lo notava già nel 1924 il libraio e bibliografo Louis Carteret, descrivendo assai sommariamente l edizione e chiosando con un laconico «Cet ouvrage est très rare». E se è vero che alcune di queste valutazioni di rarità, tramandate negli storici repertori bibliografici, fanno oggi sorridere, dal momento che titoli un tempo rari divengono di anno in anno più comuni, nel caso di «Vingt ans après» è semmai vero il contrario: una scrupolosa ricerca nei principali repertori online ha consentito di rintracciarne solo due copie in sedi istituzionali, una alla Bibliothèque nationale de France e una alla Pierpont Morgan Library di New York. Ed entrambe sono rilegate. Alla stessa stregua, l edizione risulta rarissima sul mercato: negli ultimi sessant anni si sono registrate solo quattro apparizioni in asta (mai in brossura, e per due volte insieme a «Les Trois mousquetaires») e due in cataloghi di vendita. Manca a collezioni private molto prestigiose, come quella, straordinaria, di Pierre Bergé (1930-2017), venduta all incanto in più tornate a partire dal 2015: il milionario francese, compagno dello stilista Yves Saint Laurent e bibliofilo vorace e raffinato, si era dovuto accontentare di una delle edizioni brussellesi. In questo quadro, «Vingt ans après» risulta incomparabilmente più raro di «Les Trois mousquetaires», e paragonabile, piuttosto, al «Compte de Monte-Christo» la cui unica apparizione in asta, Christie s Paris 2010, ha finito per scrivere, con la sua aggiudicazione record, un pezzo di storia del mercato antiquario. G. Vicaire, Manuel de l amateur de Livres du xixe siècle III (Paris 1897), col. 368-s; L. Carteret, Le Trésor du bibliophile romantique et moderne I (Paris 1924), p. 236; H. Talvart & J. Place, Bibliographie des auteurs modernes de langue française V (Paris 1935), p. 14, n. 72.a; F. W. Reed, A Bibliography of Alexandre Dumas père (London 1933); D. Munro, Alexandre Dumas père: A Bibliography (New York 1981) 10 voll., in 8°, brossura originale di color giallo, con titoli stampati ai piatti e al dorso; sottoscrizione tipografica verso dell occhiello: «Paris. Imprimé par Plon frères .». Edizione originale. Straordinario insieme in superbe condizioni di conservazione. Dieci volumi in brossura originale, in barbe; i volumi I VI addirittura intonsi; veniali e naturali segni del tempo alle copertine (VII: fessura al piede del dorso, comunque solido; piccola mancanza all angolo del piatto anteriore del vol. X), pienamente conservate nel loro giallo brillante; generalmente ottimo l interno (leggere fioriture diffuse; al vol. VII, pp. 265-68, una brunitura al margine esterno che non tocca il testo; complessivamente carte fresche e pulite). Estremamente raro, si direbbe quasi unico nelle condizioni del presente esemplare. brossura originale di color giallo, con titoli stampati ai piatti e al dorso; sottoscrizione tipografica verso dell occhiello: «Paris. Imprimé par Plon frères .».
Published by London: Chapman and Hall, London, 1846
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
First Edition
First edition in English of the authorâ s masterpiece, published just one year after the original French edition and before the American first, the Richard Manney copy. Octavo, 2 volumes, original publisher's terracotta cloth, decoratively blind-embossed, gilt titles to the spine. Twenty wood-engraved plates after Henry Valentin. In near fine condition with only light rubbing to the extremities and toning, with the bookplate of legendary collector Richard Manney. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell and chemise box. A superior example, scarce in the original cloth, with exceptional provenance. The Count of Monte Cristo, in particular, is "perhaps the outstanding work of fiction to reveal the futility of human vengeance, even when it attains its utmost completeness. Maurice Baring calls it the most popular book in the world" (Frank Wild Reed). First published in 1845-46, Dumasâ â most brilliantly successful novelâ (Harvey & Heseltine, 232) expresses â the frustrated dreams of its era and the deep aspirations of Dumas himself to unlimited knowledge, power and fameâ (Amelita Marinetti). The story takes place in France, Italy, and islands in the Mediterranean during the era of the Bourbon Restoration through the reign of Louis-Philippe of France. It begins on the day that Napoleon left his first island of exile, Elba, beginning the Hundred Days period when Napoleon returned to power. The historical setting is a fundamental element of the book, an adventure story centrally concerned with themes of hope, justice, vengeance, mercy, and forgiveness. It centers on a man who is wrongfully imprisoned, escapes from jail, acquires a fortune, and sets about exacting revenge on those responsible for his imprisonment. "The Count of Monte Cristo has become a fixture of Western civilization's literature, as inescapable and immediately identifiable as Mickey Mouse, and the story of Little Red Riding Hood (Lucy Sante). "One of the best thrillers ever written" (Reid, 134).
Published by Alph. Lebègue, Brussels, 1844
First Edition
Hardcover. Condition: Very good. First Edition. 5 vols. in 2. 1st edition (published by Lebègue), 1st issue (in 18mo.). Undoubtedly the real 1st edition, listed first by Munro (Alexandre Dumas Pere. A Bibliography of Works Published in French), its priority undisputed by anyone credible, and preceding all other 1844 editions, including those from Meline, Muquardt, 3 editions from Librairie Hauman, Lebègue's reissue in 24mo., and Baudry's 1844 Paris edition (issued last of all the 1844 editions and the most common). Contemporary half calf, some rubbing and wear, joints strengthened, else very good, and complete with all 5 half-titles. Collation: [1]-181, [1 blank]. [1]- 172. [1]-171, [1 blank]. [1]-163.[1 blank]. [1]-223, [1 blank] pp. Fine half morocco and wood veneer case. A scream out loud unearthing, rare by any criterion, and read the next sentence slowly. This is the rarest 1st edition, by census, of any novel, by anyone, that could accurately be called a classic. Munro's bibliography lists a set he saw, so with our set that's 2, and we've located 2 others in private hands. That means 4 are now known. No copies of this Lebègue edition are listed as sold at auction. The only other Brussels editions sold at auction since 1980 were 2 copies with Meline's Brussels and Leipzig imprint, the 2nd of Meline's editions, the 6th overall, and the most regularly seen of the 8 Brussels issues from 1844. More surprisingly OCLC/World Cat located no (zero) sets of our Lebègue 1st edition in any National or University library and only single volumes I, II, and V at Sommerpalais, Germany. OCLC does, of course, record libraries holding multiple sets of the other, later Brussels editions, but "who cares?" comes to mind. Let me repeat. This is the correct 1st edition of Les Trois Mousquetaires, one of 4 known copies, and in rare book world that is colossal. If I had a tail, I'd wag it. Tous pour un, un pour tous. The 1st appearance was a daily serialization in the newspaper Le Siècle (The Century, or some translate it as The Age) from Mar. 14-Jul. 14, 1844. Our Alph. Lebègue edition holds priority over all other book editions, and it is also the rarest. The reason (in this case) that all the 1844 Brussels editions of Les Trois Mousquetaires precede the 1844 Paris edition, is because after the newspaper serial was completed, and with at least 4 of the Brussels editions fully published and being sold, Dumas casually opened Paris book publication rights for bidding while he (unnecessarily) wrote a short preface and slightly revised the text. Most who have read both texts concur that the original is better than the revised. The winner of Dumas' auction for Paris book rights (in a feisty rivalry) was finally Baudry, and he paid a lot for the privilege, so he published a larger edition than was usual for the Paris editions of Dumas' novels up to that time. And yes, it's odd (I'm amazed if there ever was one) that Baudry's (Paris) edition of Les Trois Mousquetaires is the most common of the Paris 1st editions of Dumas' major novels, while Lebègue's (Brussels) edition of it is the rarest Brussels 1st edition of them all, and yet most booksellers continue to offer the Paris edition at excessive prices, without mentioning that it's the 5th edition, because that's the edition they can find, and so they snuggle up against it like a sick kitten to a warm brick. You think you've read it in English? Maybe not. Richard Pevear's 2006 translation is the first complete, uncut, unsanitized, unbowdlerized edition in English ever published.
Published by Alph. Lebegue et Sacre Fils, Bruxelles, 1844
Seller: Heritage Book Shop, ABAA, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.
First Edition
First edition, first issue in book form, precedes the Paris edition (1st Pirated edition). Five small volumes (5 3/8 x 3 1/2 inches; 137 x 90 mm). [1]-181, [1, blank]; [1]-172; [1]-171, [1, blank]; [1]-163, [1, blank]; [1]-223, [1, blank] pp. Each volume with half-title. This is the technical first edition in book form of Les Trois Mousquetaires, although an unauthorized edition. Of the seven pirated Belgium editions mentioned by Douglas Munro in his "Alexandre Dumas Père, A Bibliography of Works published in French 1825-1900", Munro states that this present edition (Lebégue) is the first of them. This edition pre-dates the regularly published first edition put out by Baudry in 1844. All Belgian editions are extremely rare, perhaps even more so than the rare first Paris editions. We could not find any copies of this specific edition at auction in the last forty years, nor could we find any copies at libraries. There seem to be two Belgian editions at libraries, but neither are this publisher. Volumes uniformly bound in contemporary half blue calf over blindstamped marbled cloth. The blindstamping is in a toile pattern with small Mousquetaire-like figures with swords, on horses, and castles. Spines stamped in blind and lettered in gilt. Yellow endpapers. All edges speckled brown. Each volume with a silk page marker. Overall a near fine set. Les Trois Mousquetaires, was originally published as a serial novel, appearing one chapter at a time in the Parisian newspaperLe Sièclefrom March 14, 1844 to July 1, 1844. It was originally advertised as "Athos, Porthos and Aramis," but upon it's first appearance in Le Siècleit was given the title Les Trois Mousquetaires. The story was extremely popular and immediately various Belgian publishers raced to print and distribute copies which were small and inexpensive. Dumas bibliographer Frank Wild notes "Issue by issue of Le Siècle was hastily acquired by the piratical publishers of Brussels, and as quickly the portion of Les Trois Mousquetaires which it contained was set up by them in type; then, as sufficient to form a volume accumulated, this was given to the public. Though these copies were `interdicted for France,' being small and unobtrusive many found their way across the frontiers." (The Colophon New Series, Vol. III, No. 3, Summer 1938 ("Dumas Revises `The Three Musketeers'"). It has been universally determined that these Belgian editions indeed came before the official Paris Baudry edition which was also published in 1844. Reasoning behind this is that this title is the only know instance within his romances where Dumas, after the publication in Le Siécle, asked to proof-read Les Trois Mousquetaires, and decided to make minor revisions. Additionally, Dumas opened up bidding for the publishing rights in Paris and ultimately Baudry was the high bidder and won the rights. All these textual changes that were made as well as the time it took for the French publishers to bid on the story speaks to the length of time it took to produce the official first edition. Another interesting thing to note is that because the Belgian editions took the text straight from the serial, these editions are the only ones which contain Dumas original, unrevised story. " Frank Reed extensively analyzes the differences between the Belgium editions and those of Baudry and Calmann Lévy, who reprinted the Baudry text, and notes that most of the early translations were made from the Belgium editions, which were considerably less expensive than the authorized French edition. He also notes that, in many instances, Dumas' revisions were not necessarily improvements on the original. Given the time frame, the fairly extensive revising of the Baudry text by Dumas seems inevitably to have caused a delay in publication not encountered by the hasty Belgium publishers." (PBA Galleries) Reed, F. W. A Bibliography of Alexandre Dumas, Père. London, 1933. Munro, D. Alexandre Dumas Père, A Bibliography of Works published in French 1825-1900. New York, 1981 (Page 143). HBS 68609. $45,000.
Seller: Librairie de l'Univers, Lausanne, Switzerland
First Edition
Paris: Baudry, 1844. Complet en 8 vol. in-12: 13 x 20 cm. I/ 2 ff., IX-[349] pp. chiff. 449; II/ 1 f., 329 pp.; III/ 2 ff., 386-[1] pp.; IV/ 1 f., 363-[1] pp.; V/ 1 f., 310-[1] pp.; VI/ 1 f., 287-[1] pp.; VII/ 2 ff., 387-[2] pp.; VIII/ 2 ff., 329-[2] pp. Édition originale du célébrissime roman de Dumas conservée dans une simple reliure de l'époque provenant d'un cabinet de lecture. "Très rare et très recherché" (Clouzot, 98). Avec l'erreur de pagination au 1er tome (Vicaire, III, 359-360). Reliures de l'époque en demi-basane, dos lisse avec étiquettes de titre manuscrites, plats cartonnés portant chacun la même vignette contrecollée: "Cabinet de lecture de G. Binger, Grand'rue, 12, A Strasbourg [.]". Reliures usées et frottées, certaines gouttières fragilisées, rousseurs. Très précieux et charmant ensemble, d'où se dégage une incroyable impression d'authenticité, resté comme il est paru, après avoir été abondamment lu dans une reliure populaire de l'époque. Initialement publié dans Le Siècle entre le 14 mars et le 14 juillet 1844, l'ouvrage acquit aussitôt une gloire universelle, grâce à ses héros mythiques qui ne hantent pas seulement le livre mais l'inconscient collectif: D'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos et Aramis (cf. En français dans le texte, n°263).
Published by Bruce and Wyld, London, 1846
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
First Edition
First edition in English of Dumasâ masterpiece. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf, gilt titles to the spine, marbled endpapers.ÂTranslated from the French by William Barrow. Barrowâ s translation was the first of three English translations published in 1846 and is considered the most faithful to the original text. To conform to nineteenth century English standards other translations removed many of the explicit and implicit references to sexuality which adversely affected the readability of many scenes. In near fine condition. Set in the mid 17th century, Alexandre Dumas' masterpiece, The Three Musketeers, chronicles the adventures of the young, foolhardy, and brave d'Artagnan as he leaves his family in Gascony to join the Musketeers of the Guard in Paris. A military branch of the Royal Household of the French monarchy, the King's Musketeers furnished a company of light cavalry and formed the royal guard for the king while he was outside of the royal residences. As the story goes: once in Paris, d'Artagnan is appointed by King Louis XIII to Des Essart's company of the King's Guard and befriends three Musketeers: Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. He soon becomes involved in a plot of seduction, murder and revenge that ultimately results in his promotion to the Musketeers, although he is left heartbroken and filled with regret. First serialized from March to July of 1844 (four years before the beginning of the French Revolution), Dumas used the protagonist's adventures as a vehicle to explore the injustices that defined the current social and political climate. The novel was adapted into numerous television series and films including the 1993 Austrian-American action-adventure comedy starring Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland, and Tim Curry.
Published by Bruce and Wyld, London, 1846
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
First Edition
First edition in English of Dumasâ masterpiece. Octavo, bound in half contemporary calf over marbled boards. Translated from the French by William Barrow. Barrowâ s translation was the first of three English translations published in 1846 and is considered the most faithful to the original text. To conform to nineteenth century English standards other translations removed many of the explicit and implicit references to sexuality which adversely affected the readability of many scenes. In near fine condition, with the text fresh. One of the nicest examples we have seen. Set in the mid 17th century, Alexandre Dumas' masterpiece, The Three Musketeers, chronicles the adventures of the young, foolhardy, and brave d'Artagnan as he leaves his family in Gascony to join the Musketeers of the Guard in Paris. A military branch of the Royal Household of the French monarchy, the King's Musketeers furnished a company of light cavalry and formed the royal guard for the king while he was outside of the royal residences. As the story goes: once in Paris, d'Artagnan is appointed by King Louis XIII to Des Essart's company of the King's Guard and befriends three Musketeers: Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. He soon becomes involved in a plot of seduction, murder and revenge that ultimately results in his promotion to the Musketeers, although he is left heartbroken and filled with regret. First serialized from March to July of 1844 (four years before the beginning of the French Revolution), Dumas used the protagonist's adventures as a vehicle to explore the injustices that defined the current social and political climate. The novel was adapted into numerous television series and films including the 1993 Austrian-American action-adventure comedy starring Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland, and Tim Curry.
Condition: Very good plus. First English language edition. Rare first complete English edition of the classic swashbuckling adventure. First published in Paris in 1844, THE THREE MUSKETEERS appeared in England soon thereafter in a variety of shortened and serialized adaptations. Barrow's version, published as part of the Library of Foreign Romance series, was not only the first complete English translation and the most widely read, but among the best for a century and more, with verve and a charming touch of literalism. It must be admitted that neither the literalism nor the completeness is altogether absolute: as the Translator's Preface takes care to reassure its readers, a translation from the French that left nothing at all to the imagination would "pander to profligacy," sullied by those traces of objectionable matter so enticing to Continental sensibilities and so morally objectionable to "those of our fair countrywomen who have not lost the delicacy which is the most endearing of their national charms"; those traces have therefore been safely omitted. What remains does very well. The novel has been the subject of three centuries' worth of dramatic adaptations: from the opera produced in Dumas's lifetime, to a Wodehouse-authored broadway musical, to the 1973 Oliver Reed/Michael York costume extravaganza beloved of middle-school substitute French teachers, to 2009's Barbie and the Three Musketeers. None of these tributes have ever eclipsed the original, which lives and flourishes not by its historical intrigues or even its immortal characters, but by its high spirits, joie de vivre, and dashing style. 7.25'' x 4.75''. Contemporary half brown calf with marbled boards, sympathetically rebacked with original spine laid down. Gilt-lettered burgundy morocco spine label. Translated from the French by William Barrow. Without the additional Library of Foreign Romance series title page, matching Munro 80. Translator's preface bound before Preface to The Library of Foreign Romance. 687, [1] pages. Contemporary ink owner name to front free endpaper, dated 1851. Moderate wear and rubbing to boards, with small indentation to spine. Very slight scattered foxing. Housed in elaborate custom inlaid morocco clamshell case, lined in scarlet wool.
Published by Bruce and Wyld, London, 1846
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
First Edition
First edition in English of Dumasâ masterpiece. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf, gilt titles to the spine, raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers.ÂTranslated from the French by William Barrow. Barrowâ s translation was the first of three English translations published in 1846 and is considered the most faithful to the original text. To conform to nineteenth century English standards other translations removed many of the explicit and implicit references to sexuality which adversely affected the readability of many scenes. Period bookplate to the front pastedown, in very good condition with some loss to a few pages. Housed in a custom half leather clamshell box. First editions are of the utmost scarcity. Set in the mid 17th century, Alexandre Dumas' masterpiece, The Three Musketeers, chronicles the adventures of the young, foolhardy, and brave d'Artagnan as he leaves his family in Gascony to join the Musketeers of the Guard in Paris. A military branch of the Royal Household of the French monarchy, the King's Musketeers furnished a company of light cavalry and formed the royal guard for the king while he was outside of the royal residences. As the story goes: once in Paris, d'Artagnan is appointed by King Louis XIII to Des Essart's company of the King's Guard and befriends three Musketeers: Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. He soon becomes involved in a plot of seduction, murder and revenge that ultimately results in his promotion to the Musketeers, although he is left heartbroken and filled with regret. First serialized from March to July of 1844 (four years before the beginning of the French Revolution), Dumas used the protagonist's adventures as a vehicle to explore the injustices that defined the current social and political climate. The novel was adapted into numerous television series and films including the 1993 Austrian-American action-adventure comedy starring Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland, and Tim Curry.
Hardcover. Condition: Very good. First Edition. Le Chevalier d'Harmental unleashed Dumaspalooza, his towering and best-selling historical romances (romans d'or). It was the first of Dumas' novels researched by Maquet (you can talk about the miracle, but you never talk about the angel). Here's the history. In 1838 Dumas serialized, and then published, his first novel, Le Capitaine Paul, to temperate notice, followed later that year by Acté, which was much better written, but mistakenly set in ancient Rome, and published during an apathy for the ancients following the Roman revival. For 3 years he pressed on, sharpened his skills, perfected his craft, surmised the intricacies of historical romance, and intuited the preferences of his readers, then unified all 4 into a new ritual of high art, exploding on the scene with this novel, the first coupling of an historical romance with a cloak and dagger thriller. It's set (1718), in the midst of The Cellamare Conspiracy, a critical pivot in European history, following the 1715 death of Louis XIV and the French throne's passing to his 5-year-old great-grandson, Louis XV. It is more sinister, sophisticated, malicious, and grimmer than any historical novel that preceded it, and it's grittier than most of those that succeeded it. The regent (the Duc d'Orléans) and the regency council (led by the Duc d'Maine) quarreled, plotted, and tried to murder each other in factions. The Spanish ambassador (Cellamare) got involved, and forged a seditious intrigue, but lost his gamble to play one clique against the other and install the Spanish King as the new regent. "The history of ideas is the history of the grudges of solitary men." -Cioran This is an unquestionably important book in the chronicles of literature, no less than the modern historical romance's genotype, a descendant of ideas first conceived, formularized, and executed by others, but Dumas leaves none of them undeveloped. He interrogates their assumptions more deeply and traces their implications more exhaustively. Where (earlier) authors insisted in general terms, he undertakes a famously comprehensive, exacting, and sustained reconnaissance, scrutiny, disassembly, and reassembly of the subject. Where they had cautiously compared, he expounds a bold, amplified, highly matured conception of writing as a science, a systematically self-reflexive mode of engaging the reader and knowing the world. 4 vols. 1st edition of Dumas' first successful novel. It follows a daily serialization in the newspaper Le Siècle (The Age, or The Century, depending on who is translating). Reed's bibliography (A Bibliography of Alexandre Dumas Père, 1933, 1974) based on his gigantic collection now at Auckland (NZ), lists Dumont's 1843 Paris edition of this title as the 1st edition, so he didn't have, or see, or hear about, this one dated 1842. Munro (Alexandre Dumas Pere. A Bibliography of Works Published in French) lists a Brussels edition first but gets all the dates right, having Dumont's Paris edition, and the 3 Brussels editions he saw, all dated 1842. Rare. Rare Book Hub says no sets sold at auction in 50 years. OCLC lists only 2 sets institutionalized world-wide (at Indiana and Yale), and a half set, vols. I and II only (at the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris), and we found a defective and imperfect set for sale in France, and even if that misses a set, or 2, or 3 buried somewhere unnoticed, it's still an item of indubitable rarity. Contemporary half French speckled roan, rubbing to sides, else a very good set with nice margins (4 5/8" X 7 1/4"), complete with half-titles, ads, and contents leaves. A noble copy (Royal Bavarian), ex-Prince Carl V. Bayern Guter, from the castle library of Tegernsee, with his oval, armorial stamp to each title page.
Published by Simms and McIntyre, Belfast, Ireland, 1846
Seller: Burnside Rare Books, ABAA, Portland, OR, U.S.A.
First Edition
Condition: Near Fine. First English Language Edition. First English language edition of The Count of Monte Cristo, preceding the slightly more common London edition of Chapman & Hall with an anonymous translator. Also the first Irish edition. Bound in 19th century half calf over marbled boards, without half title and with spine rebacked. Near Fine with bindings rubbed, owner name to title page in both volumes; a repaired tear to a preliminary blank sheet in Volume II, page 11 with a tear and slight loss. A rare, attractive example of the classic French adventure novel.
Published by Hyppolyte Souverain, Paris, 1845
First Edition
Hardcover. Condition: Near fine. First Edition. 2 vols. 1st edition (the authentic Paris 1st printing) probably preceded by the pirated Brussels editions, and that is as was usual with Dumas, but what is not usual is that, in this case, the Brussels editions are dated prior to the 1845 serialization in La Nord, so from what source the Brussels editions were copied is unknown, and because of that, valid questions remain about the accuracy of their dates of issue (whether the title page dates are accurate), and of Muro's priority (Alexandre Dumas Pere. A Bibliography of Works Published in French). Modern half oasis, marbled boards by Yves Rameau, small oval stamp of Cercles des Proceens in a few places, minor flaws to margins, else a near fine set. RBH lists 2 sales at auction, Munro found the one listed in his bibliography, but my search of OCLC did not locate a single copy in any National or University Library, so our set makes 4, and yes, there will be another one out there somewhere, and if anyone has seen it, I'd like to hear about it. An astonishing novel, a sky full of thunder. Unusually for Dumas, it's set (1841) almost in the year it was written, it's narrated by him in the first person, and he himself makes an appearance as one of the characters. The style is smooth, light, and elegant, the descriptions of scenery and delineations of characters are moving, highly poetical and salient, and Dumas is peculiarly adept in his witty and sarcastic dialogues. It's a 2-part tale of psychological suspense with dark undertones, more an intrigue than a swashbuckler, about a pair of conjoined twins, separated at birth, who remain psychically connected and can still feel each other's emotions, above all their distress, even when not in close proximity. "You lock the door and throw away the key, .There's someone in my head, but it's not me." -Roger Waters and Peter Watts (Pink Floyd), Brain Damage Lucian has remained in Corsica. Louis is a Paris lawyer. Lucian's part is rural and violent, and spins on him being drawn, reluctantly, into a posture where he must mediate a vendetta between 2 treacherous Corsican families (Orlandi and Colona). The part with Louis is more cosmopolitan and refined, and includes the civilized pursuits omnipresent in Paris (operas, salons, mistresses), and it ends with a digression, a gift from Dumas, a deep and intricately detailed description of the formalities of a duel, from insult to fatal bullet. And though the reader is meant to anticipate the finale, it is not so much predictable as it is inevitable. The Brussels editions have the title Une Famille Corse (The Corsican Family), while the Paris edition titled it Les Frères Corse (The Corsican Brothers), which title it retained thereafter, but under whatever title, the public loved it, and it became such an extensively translated minor classic, that it remains in print, and has been revered as an exhilarating read since the day it was published. It was adapted to the stage countless times beginning in 1852 and has been filmed (by my count) 16 times, beginning with a George Albert Smith directed take in 1898. The best of the movies that followed included a 1941 revision starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and a more faithful French/Italian 1961 adaptation starring Geoffrey Home. As to this edition's rarity there is no argument, but the word rare is tossed around these days like dollar bills at strip clubs. How, I wonder, can booksellers be so self-defeating, as to put a book up online and call it rare when there are 5 (or 25) other copies online right next to it? Now, back to our 1st edition of Les Frères Corse. Once its rarity is broadly realized, it will mean more to the next generation than it did to the previous one, and this touches an idea. The quality of a library is not measured by the status of the books you buy, but rather by the rise in status they undergo during the time they are in your hands. Much in the same way that a university is not measured by the quality of the students they take in, but rather by the quality of the citizens they turn out. As for Dumas, it's simple. He endures as the most read of all French authors.
Published by Chapman and Hall, 1846
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.
Book First Edition
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. First Editions, First Printings. A beautiful two volume set. Both books are in great shape with raised bands and gilt stamping on the spine. The bindings are tight with light wear to the boards. The 18 wood-engraved plates are present including both frontispieces by Henry Valentin before the title pages. The pages are clean with light foxing to a few pages. There is NO writing, marks or bookplates in the books. A wonderful complete set of this First Edition in English. We buy Dumas First Editions.
Published by Meline, Cans, et Compagnie, Brussels, 1844
Seller: Nicholas Marlowe Rare Books, London, GL, United Kingdom
First Edition
First edition. THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF THE THREE MUSKETEERS TRILOGY. ALL THREE NOVELS: PREDATING ALL THE PARIS EDITIONS, AND THE ONLY VERSION PRESERVING DUMAS' ORIGINAL TEXT, INCLUDING THE COMPLETE CHAPTER LE BONHOMME BROUSSEL. "Les Trois Mousquetaires" - Brussels: Meline, Cans, et Compagnie, 1844. 5 vols. octavo (150 × 95 mm.), pp. [iv], 276; [iv], 303; [iv], 268; [iv] 262; [iv] 293. With all the half-titles. Each title with a woodcut vignette of a musketeer. Publisher's green pebble-grained cloth, spines lettered direct in gilt. A fine copy. [WITH] "Vingt Ans Après (Suite des Trois Mousquetaires)" - Brussels: Meline, Cans et Compagnie, 1845. 6 vols. octavo bound in 3, (150 × 100 mm.), pp. [ii], 283; [ii], 295; [ii], 295; [ii], 257; [ii], 312; [ii], 379. Each title with a woodcut vignette of a musketeer. Publisher's dark blue cloth blind-stamped with a floral pattern, red morocco labels. Extremities slightly rubbed, closed tears to cloth at spine heads of all three volumes. A couple of outer joints with short cracks but secure. A very good copy. [WITH] "Le Vicomte de Bragelonne (Suite de Vingt Ans Après)" - Brussels: Meline, Cans et Compagnie, 1848-1850. 13 vols. octavo bound in 6 (145 × 100 mm.), pp. [iv], 285; [iv], 285; [iv], 263; [iv], 276; [iv], 283; [iv], 277; [iv], 284; [iv], 279; [iv], 278; [iv], 257; [iv], 251; [iv], 281; [iv], 329. With all the half-titles. Contemporary half calf over marbled paper boards, flat spines gilt, lettered direct in gilt, all edges sprinkled blue. A fine copy. THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF THE THREE MUSKETEERS: THE COMPLETE TRILOGY IN VERY RARE EARLY BRUSSELS EDITIONS, THE ORIGINAL PRINTINGS OF THE NOVELS. Predating the first Paris editions, and preserving Dumas' original text-extensively revised in all the Paris and subsequent editions. With the complete chapter Le Bonhomme Broussel, lacking in the Paris and subsequent editions. The first Paris editions of the Three Musketeers trilogy are legendarily rare: there are probably only two libraries worldwide with complete sets (Yale and the Bibiliothèque Nationale de France). The Brussels editions that preceded the first Paris editions appear to be equally rare in libraries: we have been able to locate only two complete sets (Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, University of Göttingen). They are certainly equally rare on the market (see below). The present set includes the following editions, as set out in Munro's Alexandre Dumas Père, A Bibliography of Works published in French 1825-1900: fifth Brussels edition of Les Trois Mousquetaires, preceding the first Paris edition (Munro p. 143); third Brussels edition of Vingt Ans Après, preceding the first Paris edition (Munro p. 165); sixth Brussels edition of Le Vicomte de Bragelonne, preceding the first Paris edition (Munro p. 195). THE BRUSSELS EDITIONS OF THE THREE MUSKETEERS The Brussels editions of the Three Musketeers remain mysterious and little-understood. It was long assumed that the novels first appeared in book form in Paris, following their serial publication in the Parisian newspaper Le Siècle. In 1924, however, Laurent Carteret, in his Trésor du bibliophile Romantique et Moderne, drew attention (without giving any details) to the existence of a group of Brussels printings of the novels-the first acknowledgement of the Brussels editions in any major bibliography (Carteret p, 235). In 1935, the next significant bibliography of French literature, Hector Talvart and Joseph Place's Bibliographie des auteurs modernes de langue francaise, assembled details on about 22 Brussels editions of Dumas. For Vingt Ans Après, for example, we find: "N.B. En 1845, une edition de Vingt Ans Après a paru à Bruxelles chez Meline, Can et Cie en 6 vol. . ." And for Le Vicomte de Bragelonne: "N.B. Cet ouvrage, auquel Aug. Macquet a collaboré, a paru également en 1848-50 à Bruxelles, chez Meline, Cans et Cie, en 13 vol. . ." BIBLIOGRAPHIES O . . . (FULL DESCRIPTION ON REQUEST).
Published by Michel Levy, 1867
Seller: Artax, LA ROCHE VINEUSE, BFC, France
Book First Edition
Couverture rigide. Condition: Bon. Edition originale. Livre Michel Levy 1867 in-12 2 tomes en un volume 305p et 323p reliure demi veau glacé pièce de titre dorée Edition originale Editions originales 19e RefAbe New20101515. Livre.
Published by Bureaux du Journal Le Siècle, 1846
Seller: Librairie du Cardinal, GRADIGNAN, France
First Edition
rigide. 1 vol. in-4 reliure de l'époque demi-chagrin noir, dos à 4 nerfs doubles, Bureaux du Journal Le Siècle, Paris, 28 septembre 1845 puis 1er février 1846 (premières livraison), 1846 en page de titre ), 2 ff. (titre et tables), frontispice (portrait d'Alexandre Dumas), 408 pp. avec 29 planches hors texte Très rare exemplaire illustré de l'édition du Journal "Le Siècle", l'une des toutes premières éditions du Comte de Monte-Cristo. Publiée dans le cadre des "Oeuvres complètes d'Alexandre Dumas" dans le Supplément au Journal "Le Siècle", cette édition parut immédiatement après la publication en feuilleton dans "Le Journal des Débats" d'août 1844 à janvier 1845 et après l'édition originale publiée en 1845-1846 par Baudry et Pétion. Elle est probablement contemporaine de l'édition de l'Echo des Feuilletons, présentée habituellement comme la première édition illustrée, publiée en deux volumes en 1846 et illustrée des 30 planches hors textes (frontispice et 29 pl.) par Gavarni et Tony Johannot, que l'on retrouve, à grands marges, dans le présent exemplaire. L'édition de l'Echo des Feuilletons est de format sensiblement plus réduit (grand in-8, 16 x 25 cm), l'édition du Siècle étant de format in-4 (21 x 29,7 cm en marges). On notera que si la page de titre publiée a posteriori orthographie correctement "Monte-Cristo", les titres et les en-têtes des numéros l'orthographient "Monte-Christo". Bon exemplaire bien complet (sans la plupart des serpentes, indication de tomaison "1", l'ouvrage correspondant au tome premier des Oeuvres complètes, qq. petits frott. et rouss. mais bel état général, rare pour cette édition). Langue: Français.
Publication Date: 1860
Manuscript / Paper Collectible First Edition Signed
couverture souple. - s.d. (circa 1860), 20,6x27,6cm, un feuillet remplié. - Poème manuscrit autographe signé d'Alexandre Dumas portant le titre "Naïs et Chloé", 84 vers à l'encre noire sur feuillet remplié bleu. Quelques infimes déchirures sans manque de texte dues aux pliure inhérentes à la mise sous pli. Le poème autographe est présenté sous une chemise en demi maroquin vert sapin, plats de papier marbré, contreplats doublés d'agneau vert, étui bordé du même maroquin, ensemble signé Goy & Vilaine. Rarissime manuscrit d'un long poème inédit retraçant les amours de Naïs et Chloé et dont l'écriture est régie par l'admiration et l'hommage qu'Alexandre Dumas rend à l'une des plus grandes figures de la poésie antique, Sappho. Romancier prolifique, Dumas s'est rarement essayé au genre poétique, « Naïs et Chloé », par sa longueur, constituant un hapax dans la production littéraire de l'écrivain. Le texte demeure inédit à ce jour et se trouve ici enrichi de l'élégante calligraphie de son auteur. Le poème est constitué de 21 quatrains parmi lesquels se distingue une remarquable insertion des vers les plus célèbres de Sappho, « à la femme aimée », dont le titre est conservé dans le corps même du texte. Cet enchâssement participe de la verve avec laquelle Dumas défend la force poétique et évocatrice de l'écriture de Sappho qu'il élève au rang d'« étoile du monde » de la Poésie : « Il est au sein des mers s'appuyant à l'Asie Entre l'heureuse Smyrne et la sombre Lemnos Une île aux bois fleuris chers à la Poésie A qui Venus donna le doux nom de Lesbos. Quand du chantre divin la voix fut étouffée Que du nom d'Euridice elle eut frappé l'écho Le flot roula tête et la lyre d'Orphée Sur la rive où plus tard devait naître Sapho Sapho naquit la lyre en ses mains fut remise Les sons qu'elle en tira jusqu'à nous sont venus » Traduits par les soins consciencieux de l'auteur, le poème emprunté à Sappho, où émerge le vers le plus célèbre, "Celui-là, je le dis, il est l'égal des dieux", se retrouve en plusieurs endroits de l' uvre de Dumas, notamment dans le chapitre intitulé « les vers saphiques » de la San Felice et dans un recueil d'articles dédié aux grandes figures féminines où elle siège parmi Jeanne d'Arc et Marguerite d'Anjou. Il s'agit pour Dumas de demeurer fidèle aux vers écrits et de leur rendre leur sensualité, souvent estompée par les traducteurs antérieurs : « Les traductions de ces deux poëtes [.] nous paraissent non seulement manquer de couleur antique mais insuffisantes comme ardeur lesbienne » (Les étoiles du monde, Galerie historique des femmes les plus célèbres de tous les temps et de tous les pays) Par-delà la traduction qu'il propose, Dumas s'imprègne de la plume lyrique de Sappho sans se défaire de sa propre veine romanesque et peint les amours saphiques de Naïs et Chloé sous un jour érotique : « Oh seule palpitante, échevelée et nue Une main sur ma gorge et l'autre. Oh ma Naïs Serre moi dans tes bras et sois la bien venue Car à force d'amour. tiens. tiens je te trahis Et l'on n'entendit plus alors dans la nuit sombre Que le bruit des baisers répétés par l'écho Car Nais et Cloé se taisaient et dans l'ombre Clinias s'enfuyait en maudissant Sapho » Le poème s'inscrit dans la continuité de l'intérêt que les auteurs de la fin du XIXe siècle portent au saphisme et au personnage-lecteur voyeur, ici incarné par Clinias, et dont la plus célèbre occurrence demeure la Nana de Zola Exceptionnel et long poème autographe saphique d'Alexandre Dumas. [ENGLISH TRANSLATION FOLLOWS] DUMAS Alexandre Naïs et Chloé. Unpublished handwritten sapphic poem signed by Alexandre Dumas N. d. (c. 1860), 20,6 x 27,6 cm, one folded leaf Autograph manuscript poem signed by Alexandre Dumas bearing the title "Naïs et Chloé," 84 verses in black ink on a blue folded leaf of paper. A few tiny tears without damage to the text, invariably produced when a leaf of paper is folded. A very rare manuscript of a long unpublished poem depicting the love of Naïs and C.
Published by Simms and M?Intyre, Belfast, 1846
Seller: Temple Bar Bookshop, Dublin, DUB, Ireland
Book First Edition
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. First edition in English. A good set, complete in two volumes, contemporary half calf, a bit rubbed at the edges, with previous owner?s name on the front pastedowns. The title page to the second volume is supplied in a neat facsimile. Preceding the slightly more common London edition of Chapman & Hall with an anonymous translator, this book has become revered as one of the best thrillers ever written and the basis of many film adaptations.
Paris, Vezard & Cie, 1829. In-8 (207 x 127 mm). plein veau glacé vert sapin orné d un riche décor romantique, dos à 4 faux-nerfs garnis de triples filets dorés, fer spécial doré répété entre-nerfs, filets et palettes à froid et dorés, grand décor à la plaque estampé à froid sur les plats dégageant un médaillon central encadré d un jeu de filets d encadrement dorés, roulette sur les coupes, dentelles sur les chasses, gardes de papier marbré, tranches dorées (reliure de l'époque signée Thouvenin), x, (-11), 171 p. Édition originale de premier tirage, exemplaire provenant de la bibliothèque du duc d'Orléans, le futur roi Louis Philippe qui fut intimement mêlé à la composition de la pièce et participa à sa première représentation. Représentée à la Comédie-Française et interprétée par Mademoiselle Mars, la pièce connut un considérable succès et lança la carrière de Dumas. Elle fut qualifiée de "scandale en prose" en référence à 'Hernani', qualifiée de "scandale en vers" et que la pièce de Dumas avait devancé d une année. "C'est avec cette pièce que Dumas est passé de l'anonymat à la célébrité en quelques heures, le temps de la première représentation, le 11 février 1829 au Théâtre français ( ). Ce drame qui rompt avec les critères du théâtre classique est le premier drame romantique historique ( ). Dumas raconte lui-même dans ses Mémoires l'importance de cette pièce dans sa vie. Quatre chapitres y sont consacrés (pages 117 à 120) dans lesquels le choix du sujet, les difficultés avec la censure, avec les comédiens, les soucis d'argent avec son renvoi de son emploi chez le duc d'Orléans. Par la suite, Dumas reviendra sur la plupart des protagonistes, notamment dans sa trilogie sur les Valois" (Nicole Vougny, "Dumas père" en ligne). Provenance : le duc d'Orléans, bientôt proclamé Louis-Philippe roi des Français (le 9 août 1830) avec son timbre humide « Bibliothèque de S.A.R. Mgr le duc d'Orléans » à son monogramme couronné en tête de la page de faux-titre ; exemplaire relié à son intention par Joseph Thouvenin (signée en pied du dos). Louis Philippe fut intimement mêlé à la production de cette pièce. Monté à Paris, Alexandre Dumas fut embauché, dès 1823, comme secrétaire du duc d Orléans sur la recommandation du général Foy, poste dont il démissionna peu avant la première représentation de cette pièce. "La veille de la première représentation, Dumas demande à être reçu par le duc d Orléans au Palais Royal. Il invite le prince, désormais son ex-employeur, à assister à la première de 'Henri III et sa Cour'. Le duc d Orléans lui répond qu il serait très heureux d y assister, mais il n est pas libre : il donne un dîner pour une vingtaine de princes et de princesses. Dumas ose lui répondre que, peut-être, ces princes et princesses seraient heureux d assister, eux aussi, à ce spectacle ! Pour le duc, c est impossible. On se met à table à six heures et la pièce commence à sept. Pas démonté, Dumas lui propose d avancer son dîner d une heure tandis que lui fera retarder la représentation de la même durée. Le Palais Royal étant voisin de la Comédie Française, tout pourrait s arranger. Louis-Philippe est intéressé, mais il ne dispose que de trois loges : insuffisant pour tous ses hôtes. Dumas a tout prévu : il a réservé une galerie à la disposition du prince. Enchanté, celui-ci lui assure alors qu il viendra avec tous ses invités assister à cette première ( ). Le soir de la première, le théâtre a mis à la disposition de Dumas une avant-scène dans laquelle prennent place Alexandrine, sa s ur aînée, et trois des grands amis de l auteur : Alfred de Vigny, Victor Hugo et le peintre Georges Boulanger. Le duc d Orléans arrive à l heure, s installe avec sa famille et ses amis dans la galerie qui lui est réservée. Dumas n en mène pas large au moment du lever de rideau ( ). À la fin de la pièce, la salle, y compris le duc d Orléans, applaudit debout. Alexandre Dumas a 27 ans. À partir de ce moment-là, il est sacré poète et auteur dramatique" (Virginie Girod, "Au c ur de l'histoire"). (Carteret, 'Romantique', I, p. 224 qui qualifie cet ouvrage de « très rare ». Vicaire, III, col. 337). Mors légèrement frottés. Quelques rousseurs éparses. Bel exemplaire, relié à l époque par Joseph Thouvenin qui obtint le titre de "relieur du duc d Orléans". ((Précieux exemplaire du futur roi Louis Philippe)).
Published by GEORGE ROUTLEDGE, LONDON & NY, 1888
Seller: Princeton Antiques Bookshop, Atlantic City, NJ, U.S.A.
First Edition
HARDCOVER GREEN. Condition: Gift Quality. STAAL, BEAUCE, DUMONT, ETC. (illustrator). 1ST ILLUS. ED. ADDITIONAL SHIPPING REQUIRED (24 pounds from 08401), nearly 500 illustrations total for all 5 vols. from designs by Staal, Beauce, and other eminent French Artists. BEAUTIFUL illustrations!!! Considering age, this set is an absolute beauty! General shelf wear, all hinges still in tact (maybe a little loose), tiny pencil marking on rear of FEP in top corner, gold gilt lettering on spines, sea green swirled/marbled end pages (similar to psychedelic 1960's look) foxing on first few pages and last few pages, green cloth is a little discolored, rubbed extremities, faded spines. I can't convey enough what a beautiful set this is. Dates of 1888 on title page of each with no printing mentioned. Copyrighted 1887 by Joseph L. Blamire printed 1888 , bound in olive green cloth with leather spine and corners, 5 raised ribs on spine. Five volumes complete. A SCARCE complete set of this important and desirable edition of Dumas' masterpiece. 1,568 total pages. First Illustrated Ed. 8 X 11, Vol. I has 333 pgs; Vol. II 337 pgs., Vol. III 335 pgs., Vol. IV 283 pgs., Vol. V 280 pgs DATE PUBLISHED: 1888 EDITION: 1ST ILLUS. ED.
Published by Meline, Cans et Compagnie. Libraire, Imprimerie et Fonderie, Bruxelles, 1844
First Edition
Condition: In fine codition. First edition. Three volumes, bound into two. In contemporary black half maroquin, gilt rulings and ornaments at joinings, gilt title on spine. With striped silk bookmarks. (4), 287, [1]; (4), 272; (4), 215, [1] p. Written in collaboration with August Maquet. Regarded as a companion story to the "Le Chevalier d'Harmental". First appeared as a serial, ran through the columns of "Le Commerce" in Paris, Reed (in: A Bibliography of Alexandre Dumas père) claims this pirate edition as the original and the 1845 Paris, Cadot as the first French edition. In contemporary black half maroquin, gilt rulings and ornaments at joinings, gilt title on spine. With striped silk bookmarks First edition. Three volumes, bound into two.
Published by STRINGER & TOWNSEND: NOBLE, NY, 1849
Seller: Princeton Antiques Bookshop, Atlantic City, NJ, U.S.A.
First Edition
LEATHER SPINE BROWN. Condition: FAIR. M. VALENTIN (illustrator). 3 VOLUMES 2 NOVELS BOUND IN ONE BOOK. The Count of Monte Cristo (written in English) with elegant illustrations by M. Valentin in Two Volumes; BOTTOM OF EACH TITLE PAGE DATED 1849 NO PRINTING ON REVERSE. FIRST AMERICAN EDITION General shelf wear, front board detached, rubbed covers, tanned pages, foxing throughout, first page soiled. Volume one: frontispiece plus seven Illustrations; 288 pages; Volume two: 5 illustrations; 267 pages; Also inside this book is The Sequel to The Count of Monte Cristo - Complete in one volume; 198 pages. [DUMAS]. [FLAGG, Edmund]. Edmond Dantes. . . A sequel to Alexander Dumas Celebrated novel of the Count of Monte-Cristo. of this interesting and scarce work written by the American author and journalist Edmund Flagg (1815-1890), which was intended as a tribute to the 1848 French Revolution. It was followed up by another very scarce volume entitled ,The daughter of the Count of Monte Cristo. This book was mistakenly attributed to Dumas for many years, and was often included in printings of Dumas works. DATE PUBLISHED: 1849 EDITION: 753.
Published by Meline, Cans et Compagnie, Bruxelles et Leipzig, 1844
Seller: Heritage Book Shop, ABAA, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.
First Edition
Early Brussels edition. Precedes the official Paris Baudry edition which was also published in 1844. Five twelvemo volumes (5 7/8 x 3 15/16 inches; 150 x 100 mm). [iv], 276; [iv], 303, [1, blank]; [iv], 268; [iv], 262; [iv] 293, [1, blank] pp. Each volume with a half-title. Although unauthorized, all Belgian editions are extremely rare, perhaps even more so than the rare first Paris editions. We could find only two copies of this specific edition at auction in the last fifty years, and only two copies at libraries. Uniformly bound in 19th-century half green calf over marbled boards. Spines stamped and lettered in gilt Red Morocco spine labels, lettered in gilt. All edges sprinkled red. Tops of spines with some very minor rubbing. A feint damp stain to top of spine of volume I. Text is fine and seems almost unread. Overall a beautiful, about fine copy of this set. Les Trois Mousquetaires , was originally published as a serial novel, appearing one chapter at a time in the Parisian newspaper Le Siècle from March 14, 1844 to July 1, 1844. It was originally advertised as "Athos, Porthos and Aramis," but upon it's first appearance in Le Siècle it was given the title Les Trois Mousquetaires . The story was extremely popular and immediately various Belgian publishers raced to print and distribute copies which were small and inexpensive. Dumas bibliographer Frank Wild notes "Issue by issue of Le Siècle was hastily acquired by the piratical publishers of Brussels, and as quickly the portion of Les Trois Mousquetaires which it contained was set up by them in type; then, as sufficient to form a volume accumulated, this was given to the public. Though these copies were `interdicted for France,' being small and unobtrusive many found their way across the frontiers." (The Colophon New Series, Vol. III, No. 3, Summer 1938 ("Dumas Revises `The Three Musketeers'"). It has been universally determined that these Belgian editions indeed came before the official Paris Baudry edition which was also published in 1844. Reasoning behind this is that this title is the only know instance within his romances where Dumas, after the publication in Le Siécle, asked to proof-read Les Trois Mousquetaires , and decided to make minor revisions.Additionally, Dumas opened up bidding for the publishing rights in Paris and ultimately Baudry was the high bidder and won the rights. All these textual changes that were made as well as the time it took for the French publishers to bid on the story speaks to the length of time it took to produce the official first edition. Another interesting thing to note is that because the Belgian editions took the text straight from the serial, these editions are the only ones which contain Dumas original, unrevised story. " Frank Reed extensively analyzes the differences between the Belgium editions and those of Baudry and Calmann Lévy, who reprinted the Baudry text, and notes that most of the early translations were made from the Belgium editions, which were considerably less expensive than the authorized French edition. He also notes that, in many instances, Dumas' revisions were not necessarily improvements on the original. Given the time frame, the fairly extensive revising of the Baudry text by Dumas seems inevitably to have caused a delay in publication not encountered by the hasty Belgium publishers." (PBA Galleries) Reed, F. W. A Bibliography of Alexandre Dumas, Père. London, 1933. Munro, D. Alexandre Dumas Père, A Bibliography of Works published in French 1825- 1900. New York, 1981 HBS 68394. $5,500.
Published by C. Muquardt, Bruxelles et Leipzig, 1844
Seller: Heritage Book Shop, ABAA, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.
First Edition
Early Brussels edition. Precedes the official Paris Baudry edition which was also published in 1844. Five twelvemo volumes in three (5 3/4 x 3 1/2 inches; 145 x 90 mm). 181, [1, blank]; 172; 171, [1, blank]; 163, [1,blank]; 223, [1, blank] pp. Each volume with a half-title. Although unauthorized, all Belgian editions are extremely rare, perhaps even more so than the rare first Paris editions. We could find only one copy of this specific edition at auction in the last fifty years, and only one complete copy at a library. This issue by Muquardt is not mentioned in Reed, who refers to several Belgium publishers but not this one. Uniformly bound in contemporary half green calf over marbled boards. Spines stamped and lettered in gilt. All edges sprinkled green. Some invisible repairs to head and tails of spines. Corners a bit rubbed. A few signatures slightly sprung. Overall a beautiful copy of this set. Les Trois Mousquetaires , was originally published as a serial novel, appearing one chapter at a time in the Parisian newspaper Le Siècle from March 14, 1844 to July 1, 1844. It was originally advertised as "Athos, Porthos and Aramis," but upon it's first appearance in Le Siècle it was given the title Les Trois Mousquetaires . The story was extremely popular and immediately various Belgian publishers raced to print and distribute copies which were small and inexpensive. Dumas bibliographer Frank Wild notes "Issue by issue of Le Siècle was hastily acquired by the piratical publishers of Brussels, and as quickly the portion of Les Trois Mousquetaires which it contained was set up by them in type; then, as sufficient to form a volume accumulated, this was given to the public. Though these copies were `interdicted for France,' being small and unobtrusive many found their way across the frontiers." (The Colophon New Series, Vol. III, No. 3, Summer 1938 ("Dumas Revises `The Three Musketeers'"). It has been universally determined that these Belgian editions indeed came before the official Paris Baudry edition which was also published in 1844. Reasoning behind this is that this title is the only know instance within his romances where Dumas, after the publication in Le Siécle, asked to proof-read Les Trois Mousquetaires , and decided to make minor revisions.Additionally, Dumas opened up bidding for the publishing rights in Paris and ultimately Baudry was the high bidder and won the rights. All these textual changes that were made as well as the time it took for the French publishers to bid on the story speaks to the length of time it took to produce the official first edition. Another interesting thing to note is that because the Belgian editions took the text straight from the serial, these editions are the only ones which contain Dumas original, unrevised story. " Frank Reed extensively analyzes the differences between the Belgium editions and those of Baudry and Calmann Lévy, who reprinted the Baudry text, and notes that most of the early translations were made from the Belgium editions, which were considerably less expensive than the authorized French edition. He also notes that, in many instances, Dumas' revisions were not necessarily improvements on the original. Given the time frame, the fairly extensive revising of the Baudry text by Dumas seems inevitably to have caused a delay in publication not encountered by the hasty Belgium publishers." (PBA Galleries) Reed, F. W. A Bibliography of Alexandre Dumas, Père. London, 1933. Munro, D. Alexandre Dumas Père, A Bibliography of Works published in French 1825- 1900. New York, 1981 HBS 68584. $5,500.
Publication Date: 1863
Book First Edition Signed
couverture souple. - s.l. s.d. (1863), 21,5x28cm, 3 pages sur 4 feuillets. - « Avant que le XIXe siècle ait sonné sa dernière heure [.] il n'y aura plus sur un seul trône d'Europe un roi absolu, régnant par la grâce de Dieu ». Manuscrit original signé d'Alexandre Dumas père intitulé "Au Roi François II" rédigé à l'encre noire sur 4 feuillets de papier bleu. Ratures et corrections. Petite bande d'adhésif au verso du premier feuillet. Restaurations au verso des marges du deuxième feuillet avec manque de quelques mots dans le coin inférieur droit. Restauration au verso coin inférieur droit du troisième feuillet sans manque de texte. Virulente et prémonitoire diatribe d'Alexandre Dumas dans laquelle il prédit la révolution russe et annonce la fin des royalismes européens, engloutis par les marées révolutionnaires. L'écrivain s'adresse avec violence au roi déchu François II, souverain des Deux-Siciles pendant deux courtes années avant d'être destitué par les troupes de Garibaldi dont Dumas était le grand admirateur. Ce manuscrit de travail a probablement été publié dans L'Indipendente, la tribune de Dumas pendant son séjour napolitain. En 1860, Dumas vendit ses biens pour acheter des armes et se rendit en Italie aux côtés de son champion Garibaldi. Le 7 septembre 1860, il accompagna le victorieux général lors de son entrée dans Naples. Il y resta finalement et, en remerciement de sa fidélité, fut nommé directeur des fouilles de Pompéi et directeur des musées, avant de démissionner, quitter la rédaction de l'Indipendente et retourner en France en 1865 sous la pression des Italiens mécontents qu'un Français occupe un poste d'une telle importance. Dumas interpelle dans ce manuscrit François de Savoie, qui fit l'erreur de repousser d'un an l'établissement d'une constitution dans le royaume des Deux-Siciles et connut de nombreux soulèvements avant de se réfugier à Rome en 1861 : « Eh bien Sire, Les Siècles ont leurs équinoxes et depuis 1789 la marée monte. Voyez combien de trônes elle a englouti : celui de Louis XVI, celui de Charles XIII, celui de Louis Philippe Ier et le vôtre ! [.] sans compter le trône à demi submergé de Guillaume II [.] Vous voyez monter à l'horizon - le flot populaire - vous le voyez venir à vous en grondant et au lieu de bâtir l'Arche de l'alliance [au lieu de vous réfugier dans (passage biffé)] vous vous réfugiez de roches en rochers de monts en montagnes et de sommets en sommets, et arrivé au plus élevé de tous, poursuivi par les vagues hurlantes qui viennent baigner vos pieds - vous vous écriez comme l'impie Ajax, fils d'Oïlée : j'échapperai malgré les Dieux ! Non vous n'échapperez pas Sire, car le rocher auquel vous vous cramponnez est celui de l'erreur » Il consacre de belles lignes à la ferveur révolutionnaire : « Le peuple aussi est un élément. Comme l'océan - il monte, rompt les digues, renverse les murailles et submerge les villes. Ces marées populaires s'appellent les Révolutions. Chose étrange les savants constatent le phénomène naturel dont ils n'ont pas encore reconnu la cause. Et les rois nient le phénomène politique dont la cause cependant leur est bien connue. [.] ». Son voyage initiatique en Russie en 1858, où il fut surveillé par la police impériale, lui a montré l'erreur du tsarisme auquel il prédit une vague de tumultes populaires : « Napoléon a dit Sur Son Rocher de St Hélène il y a juste 42 ans : avant cinquante ans l'Europe sera Russe ou rouge o Russa o Rossa. Ce n'est pas l'Europe qui sera russe Sire. C'est la Russie qui elle aussi aura sa marée sociale et qui sera obligée de se réfugier dans l'arche des deux Chambres ». En excellent peintre et chroniqueur des royaumes, Dumas termine son libelle sur une note magistrale : « Sire ne vous lamentez plus comme un enfant qui a perdu son rocher. Ne vous plaignez plus des rois vos Confrères comme si vous ignoriez les exigences des royautés - vous savez bien que les Rois n'ont pas de famille, n'ont pas d'alliances, n'ont pas d'amitiés, n'ont pas de sy.
Published by Société belge de librairie Hauman et ce, Brussels, 1846
First Edition
Hardcover. Condition: Very good. First Edition. 8 vols. in 4. 1st edition (many issues simultaneous or nearly so), the first 6 dated 1845, the last 2 dated 1846. Contemporary half orange paper, gray boards (a German bradel binding), paper labels on each spine ("Schloss Dyck Frz Bell" above a stamped "335"), complete with all 8 half-titles those for vols. I, III, V, and VII bound in at the front of each of the 4 volumes, those for vols. II, IV, VI, and VIII mounted on each front cover, the vol. I and III title pages inverted, with handwritten corrections, 4 text pages with minor marginal wear, else very good.
Publication Date: 1850
Seller: PEN ULTIMATE RARE BOOKS, Pine Plains, NY, U.S.A.
Manuscript / Paper Collectible First Edition
Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Unpublished Manuscript by Alexandre Dumas pere, author of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, often called the greatest French Romantic novelist. "He had great gifts of narrative and dialogue, a powerful imagination [and] a genius for seizing the situations and characters that would best render historical atmosphere. He wrote with unflagging gusto and an instinctive conviction that l action et l amour were the essential things in life, hence in fiction (Reid, 196). Dumas reputation as France s premier adventure writer and a forefather of popular fiction is evidenced in this manuscript which makes spectacle of Nero's "taste for debauchery" and briefly recounts the story of Sporus, the teenage boy whom Nero gelded, dressed up as a female, and later married. Fascinating full-page fragment of Dumas' take on the "infamous gossips and adulterers" of Ancient Rome. A few chips and repairs. Book #Cv1111. $4500. We specialize in Rare Ayn Rand, history, and science.
Published by Bureaux du Journal Le Siècle, 1846
Seller: Librairie du Cardinal, GRADIGNAN, France
First Edition
rigide. 1 vol. in-4 reliure de l'époque demi-veau noir, Bureaux du Journal Le Siècle, Paris, 28 septembre 1845 puis 1er février 1846 (premières livraison), 1846 en page de titre, 2 ff. (titre et tables), 408 pp. Rare exemplaire illustré de l'édition du Journal "Le Siècle", l'une des toutes premières éditions du Comte de Monte-Cristo. Publiée dans le cadre des "Oeuvres complètes d'Alexandre Dumas" dans le Supplément au Journal "Le Siècle", cette édition parut immédiatement après la publication en feuilleton dans "Le Journal des Débats" d'août 1844 à janvier 1845 et après l'édition originale publiée en 1845-1846 par Baudry et Pétion. Elle est probablement contemporaine de l'édition de l'Echo des Feuilletons, présentée habituellement comme la première édition illustrée, publiée en deux volumes en 1846 et illustrée des 30 planches hors textes (frontispice et 29 pl.) par Gavarni et Tony Johannot. On notera que si la page de titre publiée a posteriori orthographie correctement "Monte-Cristo", les titres et les en-têtes des numéros l'orthographient "Monte-Christo" (comme écrit en pièce de titre). Etat très satisfaisant (reliure un peu frottée avec petits accrocs et petits mq. au dos en queue, qq. rouss. et frott. intérieur, l'ouvrage correspond au tome premier des Oeuvres complètes) pour cet exemplaire bien complet de la page de titre et des tables, et de l'histoire de "François Picaud" (pp. 404-408) dont s'inspira Dumas pour l'argument du Comte de Monte-Cristo. Langue: Français.
Published by Le Passe-Temps, 1856
Seller: Librairie du Cardinal, GRADIGNAN, France
First Edition
rigide. 21 vol. in-4 reliure de l'époque demi-percaline bleue, Le Passe-Temps, Paris, 1856-1879, Volume 1 : du numéro 1 de mai 1856 au numéro 104 du 30 avril 1857Volume 2 : du 105 du 1er mai 1858 au 192 du 31 décembre 1859Volume 3 : du 193 du 7 janvier 1860 au 283 du 29 décembre 1860Volume 4 : du 284 du 2 janvier 1861 au 387 du 28 décembre 1861Volume 5 : du 388 du 1er janvier 1862 au 492 du 31 décembre 1862Volume 6 : du 493 du 3 janvier 1863 au 596 du 30 décembre 1863Volume 7 : du 597 du 2 janvier 1864 au 701 du 31 décembre 1864Volume 8 : du 702 du 4 janvier 1865 au 805 du 30 décembre 1865Volume 9 : du 806 du 5 janvier 1866 au 909 du 29 décembre 1866Volume 10 : du 910 du 2 janvier 1867 au 1013 du 28 décembre 1867Volume 11 : du 1014 du 1er janvier 1868 au 1118 du 30 décembre 1868Volume 12 : du 1119 du 2 janvier 1869 (Gorilles enlevant des femmes, illustrant un roman de Louis Noir) au 1222 du 29 décembre 1869Volume 13 : du 1223 du 1er janvier 1870 au 1346 du 27 décembre 1871Volume 14 : du 1347 du 3 janvier 1872 au 1398 du 26 décembre 1872Volume 15 : du 1399 du 1er janvier 1873 au 1451 du 31 décembre 1873Volume 16 : du 1452 du 7 janvier 1874 au 1503 du 30 décembre 1874Volume 17 : du 1504 du 6 janvier 1875 au 1555 du 29 décembre 1875Volume 18 : du 1556 du 5 janvier 1876 au 1607 du 27 décembre 1876Volume 19 : du 1608 du 3 janvier 1877 au 159 du 26 décembre 1877Volume 20 : du 1660 du 2 janvier 1878 au 1711 du 25 décembre 1878Volume 21 : du 1712 du 1er janvier 1879 au 1764 du 31 décembre 1879 Impressionnante et très rare tête de série bien complète des 24 premières années du Journal hebdomadaire "Le Passe-Temps" du n°1 du 3 mai 1856 au n°1764 du 31 décembre 1879. Le journal se poursuivra encore jusqu'à son absorption en avril 1893 par le "Journal du Dimanche". Durant ces 24 premières années, publiera un nombre considérable d'écrivains et feuilletonnistes, dont Alexandre Dumas ("Le Page du Duc de Savoie" et "Mémoires d'un policeman"), Paul de Kock, Henri de Kock, Gustave Aimard, A. de Gondrecourt, Paul Duplessis, Xavier de Montépin, Ernest Capendu, Madame Ancelot, Ponson du Terrail ("Un crime de jeunesse"), Louis Noir, Alphonse De Launay ("le Banquier des Voleurs"), Chardall, Ernest Raulet ("Le Souterrain du Trocadéro"), etc., de nombreux romans et nouvelles, une galerie théâtrale, et des biographies inédites ("les Contemporains en pantoufles") etc. Bon et rare ensemble suivi, en bon état (qq. rouss. et qq. frott., avec qq. restaurations anciennes à qq. ff., 1 f. détaché, très bon état par ailleurs) Langue: Français.