Books

Paris: Charles Gosselin, 1831. First Edition. Near Fine. First edition, first printing, first issue. [8], 404; [4], 536 pp. Bound in modern gilt armorial stamped morocco green leather bindings with marbled endpapers; wood-engraved title vignettes by Tony Johannot. Near Fine with light toning and minor patches of foxing throughout else fine. Victor Hugo's Gothic French masterpiece printed by Gosselin in a run of 1,100 copies on March 16, 1831; this first printing was distributed into four separate issues of 275 copies each, the subsequent three issues being designated as "second edition," "third edition," and "fourth edition" respectively on the title-pages. "This first edition is the rarest of all the works of Victor Hugo; it has had a resounding impact worldwide, and is one of the most difficult titles of the Romantic period to obtain" (Carteret).

One of Victor Hugo's most famous works, the novel is set in 15th century Paris and centers around the life of Quasimodo, a bell-ringer at Notre-Dame Cathedral, and Esmeralda, a beautiful gypsy dancer.