BALZAC (Honoré de). Histoire de la grandeur et de la décadence de César Birotteau, parfumeur, chevalier de la légion-d'honneur, adjoint au maire du 2e arrondissement de la ville de Paris. Paris : L'éditeur, 1838. - 2 volumes in-8, dark blue half-maroquin, spine ribbed and decorated, speckled edges (period binding). First edition of one of Balzac's famous novels, part of the Scenes of Parisian life of La Comédie humaine. Copy complete with the notice by Édouard Ourliac from the "Figaro" of December 15, 1837, but without the list of Balzac's works, and without the 16-page catalogue. A fine copy in contemporary binding. Head-cap of the second volume slightly recessed, the tomography on the spines is inverted. Light staining to the first 30 leaves of the first volume. A few scattered foxing marks, not serious.