HUGO Victor. [Œuvres complètes]. Paris, Testard, 1883-1886; 44 vols. large and tall in-4, contemporary bindings in ebony half-maroquin with corners, spines decorated throughout with gilt motifs and red mosaic flowers, gilt heads, covers. This so-called "national" edition was printed at great expense as a tribute to Victor Hugo, then in his eighties. This is undoubtedly the edition preferred by bibliophiles. It contains 220 out-of-text etchings and almost 2,000 drawings in the text. The titles were sold separately, which is why it is rare to find such a complete series, so well and uniformly bound. The forty-fourth volume contains a biography (hagiography?) of Victor Hugo, who died in 1884, by Louis Ulbach. Spectacular series, perfectly bound. Minor foxing. One of the 1000 deluxe copies, this one on laid paper, with the engravings in double state.