Paris: Calmann Lévy 1882. Fine. Calmann Lévy Paris 1882 15 x 25 cm relié First edition one of 10 numbered copies on Japan paper deluxe copy. Contrary to what bibliographers indicate Clouzot Carteret and Vicaire the print run on this paper does not appear to be 15 copies but indeed 10 as mentioned on the justification page. This paper was moreover upon publication at 40 francs the most expensive China paper being only 20 francs and Holland 15. Half chocolate brown morocco binding spine with five raised bands gilt date at foot pebbled paper boards combed paper endpapers and pastedowns bookplate pasted on a pastedown original wrappers preserved top edge gilt binding signed P. Goy & C. Vilaine. Handsome copy. Calmann Lévy hardcover
Paris: Jules Hetzel & CieMaison Quantin 1888. Fine. Jules Hetzel & Cie Maison Quantin Paris 1888-1893 14 x 23 cm 3 volumes reliés First edition. Half red shagreen bindings spines with five raised bands set with black fillets and decorated with gilt fleurons marbled paper boards endpapers and pastedowns of marbled paper one corner slightly bumped minor traces of rubbing on bottom edges contemporary bindings. Some occasional light foxing. Provenance: from the library of Jules Félix Louis Gastinger with his bookplates pasted on the pastedowns. Handsome copy attractively established in uniform contemporary binding. Jules Hetzel & CieMaison Quantin hardcover
Genève: Edito-Service 1963. Relié. Bon état. in-8. Distribué par le Cercle du Bibliophile. Collection "Oeuvres romanesques dramatiques et poétiques". Environ 450 pp par volume. Reliures similicuir. Edito-Service unknown
<p><b>HUGO Victor 1802-1885</b></p><p>Autograph letter signed "<i>Victor H</i>" to Joséphine TrébuchetBrussels 19th December 1851 1 page in-8 on double sheetFold marks</p><p><b>Vibrant and precious letter from Victor Hugo written in the early hours of his exile from Brussels just 17 days after Napoleon III's coup d'état</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><i>"Brussels – 19 XbreMy wife tells me all your lovely gratitude dear cousin how to thank you. <b>Alas! I no longer have a long arm</b> otherwise I would kiss you from Brussels to Paris.Tell my dear and good cousin that my heart is full of him. <b>I have fought for the right for the truth for the righteous for the people for France against crime in all its forms from treason to atrocity. We have succumbed but valiantly and proudly and the future is ours</b>. Praise God always!I kiss your hands my cousin.Victor H.Kiss my dear daughter for me."</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p>On December 2nd 1851 the day of Napoleon III's coup d'état Victor Hugo was put a price on his own head for his opposition to the emperor and for trying in vain to organize the resistance by raising the Parisian masses. 25000 francs reward are promised to whoever captures him. On 11 December Hugo with a false passport leaves Paris for Brussels on the 8pm train under the name Jacques-Firmin Lanvin. He is alone.</p><p>On the same day as our letter December 19 Hugo wrote to Paul Meurice: "<i>If we could colonize a small corner of free earth! Exile would no longer be exile. I'm making this dream."</i></p><p>This small corner of free land was first the Channel Island of Jersey then the island of Guernsey where it settled as early as 1855. His exile lasted for nearly 20 years.</p><p>At the capitulation of Napoleon III following the stinging failure of the French army in Sedan on September 1st 1870 Victor Hugo returned to France on the 5th of the same month and uttered these unforgettable words that would forever last:<i>"Citizen I said: The day the Republic returns I will return. </i><i>Here I am.</i> … <i>Defend Paris keep Paris. </i><i>Saving Paris is more than saving France saving the world. Paris is the very center of humanity. Paris is the sacred city. Whoever attacks Paris attacks the whole human race.</i> … <i>Let us all gather around the Republic in the face of invasion and be brothers. We'll win. It is through brotherhood that freedom is saved."</i></p>
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