481 - DUMAS (Alexandre). The Count of Monte Cristo. Paris, Pétion, bookseller and publisher of the complete works of Eugène Sue, 11 Rue du Jardinet [printed by Béthune and Plon for vols. 1–4, Plon frères for vols. 5 and 6, A. Henry for vols. 7–18], 1845. 18 in-8 volumes in brown half-calf, smooth spines with decorative embellishments, gilt titles and volume numbers, gilt ex-libris “Lepé.” on the tail (contemporary bindings).

DUMAS (Alexandre). The Count of Monte Cristo. Paris, Pétion, bookseller and publisher of the complete works of Eugène Sue, 11 Rue du Jardinet [printed by Béthune and Plon for vols. 1–4, Plon frères for vols. 5 and 6, A. Henry for vols. 7–18], 1845. 18 in-8 volumes in brown half-calf, smooth spines with decorative embellishments, gilt titles and volume numbers, gilt ex-libris “Lepé.” on the tail (contemporary bindings). A very rare first edition of one of Alexandre Dumas’s most famous novels, and one of the most sought-after first editions in French Romantic literature. An exceptional set of 18 volumes, all addressed to Pétion and dated 1845, in their period bindings, which are unfortunately quite worn. (Detailed collation and condition report available upon request.) Written in collaboration with Auguste Maquet, *The Count of Monte-Christo* first appeared as a serial in *Le Journal des débats* from August 28, 1844, to January 15, 1846. The spelling “Monte-Christo”—which has since been abandoned in favor of “Monte-Cristo”—is that of the original title and the novel’s first editions. The origins of this monumental work can be traced in particular to a journey Dumas undertook in 1842 in the company of Prince Napoleon, son of Jérôme Bonaparte. During their journey, the travelers sailed around the island of Monte-Cristo, off the coast of Tuscany, and Dumas reportedly planned at that time to use the name in a future novel. The plot would take shape a few years later based on François Picaud’s story, *Le Diamant et la Vengeance*, as recounted in Jacques Peuchet’s memoirs, *La Police dévoilée*. Dumas initially considered setting the story in Rome, but Auguste Maquet reportedly convinced him to set the opening in Marseille, thus giving rise to one of the most famous opening scenes in adventure fiction. From the moment it was published, *The Count of Monte Cristo* enjoyed immense popular success, which has never waned. Translated into numerous languages, constantly reprinted, and adapted for the stage, then for film and television, the novel has spanned generations without losing any of its narrative power. From the first film adaptations of the early 20th century to the 2024 “blockbuster” by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière, starring Pierre Niney in the title role, the adventures of Edmond Dantès have continued to capture the collective imagination. A tale of betrayal, imprisonment, transformation, and revenge, the work remains one of the most striking testaments to Dumas’s narrative genius. The bibliographic history of this first edition is particularly complex, due both to its various publishing addresses and to the dates appearing on the title pages. The volumes were published under the names Pétion or Baudry, sometimes combined within a single copy, with titles dated 1845 or 1846. Bibliographers have long disagreed on the exact chronology of this publication, the first volumes of which appeared even as the novel was still being serialized. Sets in which all eighteen volumes uniformly bear Pétion’s address and the date 1845 are extremely rare. Carteret had already highlighted this distinctive feature: “A rare work with title pages dated 1845,” while Clouzot described the edition as “very rare, highly sought-after,” adding: “Extremely rare in fine period condition.” The rarity of this edition is further illustrated by the small number of copies cataloged in major collections and offered at public auction. In particular, the Bibliothèque nationale de France holds a set of twelve volumes, all addressed to Pétion and dated 1845, as well as a copy from the collection of Colonel Daniel Sickles (auction of November 28 and 29, 1989, lot 313), whose Volume XVII bears Baudry’s address and the date 1846. Among the copies that have recently appeared on the market are a mixed set sold in Geneva in 2019 (sold for 150,000 CHF), the set from Lord Henry Seymour’s collection, comprising the dedications to Baudry and Pétion (sold at Christie’s for 252,000 € in 2025), as well as a copy also entirely inscribed to Pétion and dated 1845, though the titles of the first two volumes had been cut off (sold by Alde in 2025 for 75,000 €). Unfortunately, the set has suffered significantly from the passage of time. The bindings are heavily worn and damaged, with extensive scuffing and missing sections, particularly on the spines of the first two volumes. There is foxing, water stains, spots, handwritten annotations, and tears—some of which have been restored—with a few instances of text loss. Several leaves are missing: the table of contents for Volume II, the half-titles and/or titles of Volumes III, XI, XV, and XVII, pages 1–2 and 119–122 of Volume XVII, and nearly all of the