137 - HUGO, Victor. *Les Misérables*.

HUGO, Victor. *Les Misérables*. A rare original French edition of *Les Misérables*, the greatest publishing success of the 19th century. Paris, Pagnerre, 1862. In-8 (23.5 x 15 cm), Bradel-bound in gray half-percale, smooth spine adorned with a central fleur-de-lis and a red leather title label pasted on. Year of publication on the tail. Covers preserved (as are some spines). 10 vols.: 355 pp. - 382 pp. - 358 pp. - 318 pp. - 320 pp. - 297 pp. - 432 pp. - 399 pp. - 400 pp. - 311 pp. Minimal scuffing on the headbands. French first edition, in-8 format, published the same year as the Belgian first edition (by Lacroix Verboekhoven et Cie), of this great novel by Hugo—a sweeping social indictment—published during the author’s exile in Guernsey. The question of which edition takes precedence has long been a subject of debate in the world of bibliophilia, and bibliographers have remained divided on this thorny issue. Carteret and Vicaire, for example, maintained that the Paris edition should be preferred, while Vanderem and Clouzot favored the Belgian edition. Begun in 1845, this epic of the people—the result of a long creative process—was not completed until 1861 during his exile in Guernsey. Hugo sets out the mission of his book in the Preface: “As long as there exists, by virtue of laws and customs, a social condemnation that artificially creates hells in the midst of civilization… as long as there is ignorance and misery on earth, books of this nature may not be useless.” “Les Misérables” immediately made its mark despite initial skepticism from critics, and its popular success was immense. A very fine copy in impeccable condition, with beautiful, untrimmed margins.