Victor Hugo - Œuvres Complètes: Drame I & II - 1869 - 10 engravings

Two beautifully preserved 19th-century volumes from the Œuvres Complètes of Victor Hugo, published in Paris by Veuve Alexandre Houssiaux in 1869. Tome I and Tome II from the Drama section are offered.

Tome I contains Cromwell. Tome II contains Hernani, Marion Delorme and Le Roi s'amuse. Hernani, in particular, holds an important place in the history of French Romanticism. The premiere in 1830 became famous for the confrontation between supporters of traditional classical theatre and the new Romantic movement.

Both volumes are richly illustrated and each contains five plates outside the text, ten in total. Several plates mention artists and engravers such as Tony Johannot, Louis Boulanger, Camille Rogier and W. & E. Finden. Several plates also retain their original protective tissue paper.

The books are bound in matching 19th-century half-leather bindings with marbled boards. The leather spines feature raised bands, gilt titles, volume numbers and gilt ornaments. The exceptionally beautiful marbled endpapers have also been preserved. The combination of the fine bindings, illustrations and Victor Hugo's work makes these volumes appealing both as literary and decorative objects.

The complete Drama section of this edition consists of four volumes. Only Tome I and Tome II are offered here; Tome III and Tome IV are not included. The two volumes offered appear to be complete individually and both contain the five plates expected for this edition.

The books are in very good antiquarian condition for their age. The bindings are sturdy, the text blocks are well-bound and the spines and gilt decorations are beautifully preserved. There are light signs of use and age, including occasional foxing and slight wear to the leather, corners and edges.

• Author: Victor Hugo (1802-1885)
• Series: Œuvres Complètes de Victor Hugo
• Section: Drama
• Tome I: Cromwell
• Tome II: Hernani, Marion Delorme and Le Roi s'amuse
• Publisher: Veuve Alexandre Houssiaux, Libraire-Éditeur
• Place: Paris, France
• Year: 1869
• Edition: Nouvelle édition, ornée de vignettes
• Language: French
• Extent: approx. 503 pages in Tome I and 513 pages in Tome II
• Illustrations: 10 plates outside the text, 5 per volume
• Illustrators: including Tony Johannot, Louis Boulanger and Camille Rogier
• Engravers: including W. & E. Finden
• Binding: 19th-century half-leather with marbled boards
• Spine: leather with raised bands, gilt text and ornaments
• Endpapers: marbled paper
• Dimensions: approx. 22.5 × 15 cm per volume
• Thickness: approx. 4 cm per volume
• Period: second half of the 19th century
• Completeness: Tome I and II appear complete individually; the four-volume Drama series is incomplete
• Condition: very good antiquarian condition with light wear, age-related discoloration and scattered foxing