BALZAC (Honoré de). Scènes de la vie privée. Paris, Mame & Delaunay-Vallée, 1830-1832. 4 volumes in-8, fawn half-calf, ornate smooth spine, green title-pieces, marbled edges (period binding). First edition. This collection of short stories had a troubled publishing career due to the July Revolution, which was soon followed by the bankruptcy of the publisher. The first two volumes, published in April 1830, include the first editions of La Vendetta, Les Dangers de l'inconduite (which became Gobseck in Scènes de la vie parisienne), Le Bal de Sceaux, Gloire et malheur (which became La Maison du chat-qui-pelotte), La Femme vertueuse (which became Une double famille) and La Paix du ménage. The last two volumes, published in 1832 at the same time as the second edition of the first two volumes, contain nine short stories in their original editions: Le Conseil, La Bourse, Le Devoir d'une femme (now Adieu), Les Célibataires (now Le Curé de Tours) and five future chapters of La Femme de trente ans (Le Rendez-vous, La Femme de trente ans, Le Doigt de Dieu, Les Deux rencontres and L'Expiation). A very rare complete copy of the four volumes with the correct dates in attractive contemporary bindings. Some foxing. Carteret, I, 60 & 66 - Clouzot, 19.