BALZAC (Honoré de). Béatrix or forced love. Scenes from private life. Paris : Hippolyte Souverain, 1839. - 2 volumes in-8, half dark blue morocco with corners, spine gilt, untrimmed (H. Duhayon). First edition of this novel which forms one of the most beautiful portraits of women in "La Comédie humaine". It is organized around two female figures: Béatrix, the true incarnation of the femme fatale, and Camille Mauprin, inspired by George Sand. One of the rare copies with the date of 1839. The titles were very quickly modified and dated 1840, the edition having been put on sale on January 11, 1840 according to "La Bibliographie de la France". A very well bound copy by Henri Duhayon. Two leaves have been interchanged in the first volume (pages 295-296 and 297-298). Angular restoration to three leaves in the second volume (pages 225-228), with slight damage to the pagination. Provenance: Bougarel, bookseller-binder in Cusset and Vichy, with stamp on the titles.