Balzac: La Comedie Humaine in 32 volumes. Astral Edition, #56(/100) copies, Plates in two states.

Balzac: La Comedie Humaine in 32 volumes. Astral Edition, #56(/100?) copies, Plates in two states. c1900. Paris, Philadelphia: George Barrie et Fils.

Limited Astral Edition of Balzac’s La Comédie Humaine, printed on Japanese vellum and illustrated with plates in two states. This group comprises 32 volumes from the larger edition and was specially printed and bound for Pauline M. C. Ulman, copy no. 56 of only 100. (can not independently confirm the "of 100")

8vo.(5.25" x 8.25") Limited Astral Edition #56(/100?) copies. 32 volumes of larger set. Full purple textured leather with bright gilt rule framing boards. Upper boards with gilt fleur-di-lis to a gilt framed circle of hunter geen leather. Sun-faded spines with five raised bands, gilt lettering to the second and fourth compartments, gilt fleur-di-lis centered to each other gilt decorated compartment. All edges gilt, marbled endpapers. Bright gilt dentelle to turn -ins. Spines consistently faded to a pleasing brown. Edgewear, some corners lightly bumped, most rubbed. Head and foot of spine rubbed with 10 volumes with light chipping, small loss to heads. Every volume with frontispiece and mutltiple other plates, all in two states.

Attestation page states: "Astral Edition, Printed on Japanese Vellum Paper No.56 (/100) This Copy was Printed and Bound for Pauline M.C. Ulman" This set comprises 32 of the 53 total volumes depending on edition. This set comprises: Illusions Perdues, Tome I; Illusions Perdues, L’Illustre Gaudissart, etc.; La Cousine Bette; Sur Catherine de Médicis, etc.; Les Célibataires, II; Une Ténébreuse Affaire, etc.; Les Marana, etc.; Le Colonel Chabert, etc.; Les Petits Bourgeois, I; Les Contes Drolatiques; Le Père Goriot; Histoire des Treize, etc.; Physiologie du Mariage; La Maison du Chat-qui-Pelote; Madame de la Chanterie, etc.; Modeste Mignon; Eugénie Grandet; La Peau de Chagrin; La Maison Nucingen, etc.; Les Employés, etc.; La Vieille Fille, etc.; L’Enfant Maudit, etc.; Un Début dans la Vie, etc.; Le Curé de Village; Béatrix; César Birotteau; La Recherche de l’Absolu, etc.; La Femme de Trente Ans; Le Contrat de Mariage, etc.; Le Médecin de Campagne; Splendeurs et Misères, I; Splendeurs et Misères, II.