Book-Plate Label, generally affixed to the front pastedown, identifying a book’s owner.Of particular value to collectors as evidence of a very early form of the book. “Original boards” refers to cardboard-like front and back boards, from about 1700 to 1840, used as temporary protection for books before their purchasers would have them bound. Boards Hard front and rear covers of a bound book which are covered in cloth, leather or paper.Association Copy copy that belonged to someone connected with the author or the contents of a book.Armorial Used to describe a binding bearing the coat of arms of the original owner, or with bookplates incorporating the owner’s arms.Although the name contains the word “tint”, this is a black-and-white printing process aquatint plates can often be hand colored, however. By changing the areas of the plate that are exposed and the length of time the plate is submerged in the acid bath, the engraver can obtain fine and varying shades of gray that closely resemble watercolor washes. Aquatint Copperplate process by which the plate is “bitten” by exposure to acid.Michaux, L'edition originale des 'Misérables,' 110-116. The original Lacroix & Verboeckhoven Brussels edition preceded the Paris first. First published in the same year, by the same publishers, in a taller octavo format with a different collation. In Paris, the different parts sold out within hours' (Michaux). Everybody, all over the world, was reading the story of Jean Valjean, Fantine, Javert and Cosette. By now, he was well aware of his worth and when his publisher Hetzel was unable to meet his demand of 300,000 francs, Hugo turned to the Belgian publishing house Lacroix and Verboeckhoven… It was an instant success and sales clearly showed that Hugo had managed to do something that no one had done before he had reached the masses with a work of serious fiction. 'It had taken Hugo 17 years to produce what would become his magnum opus and one of the most influential novels ever written. It anticipates Balzac in its realism, but in its flights of imagination and lyricism, its theme of redemption and its melding of myth and history, it is uniquely Hugo' (Dolbow, 149, 214).

Despite its length, complexity and occasionally unbelievable plot and characterization, it remains a masterpiece of popular literature. Hugo's 'great novel has been hailed as a masterpiece of popular literature, an epic poem in prose about God, humanity and Hugo… Hugo hoped that Les Misérables would be one of if not the 'principal summits' of his body of works. $5500.Įarly Brussels edition, issued the same year as the first, of Hugo’s greatest work “and one of the most influential novels ever written.” Small octavo, period-style three quarter blue morocco gilt, marbled boards. “A MASTERPIECE… AN EPIC POEM IN PROSE ABOUT GOD, HUMANITY AND HUGO”

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo