Collected Works Balzac Appraisal

Partial Set of 'The Works of Honore de Balzac' (Volumes V, VII, IX, and others)

This item is a collection of five volumes from "The Works of Honore de Balzac." Each volume features a two-tone design with dark blue or black cloth binding covering the majority of the boards, while the spine is wrapped in a lighter, cream-colored material that appears to be paper or a similar fragile substance. The top and bottom edges of the spine material are significantly frayed and chipped, exposing the underlying book board in some areas, indicating considerable wear and age. The titles are printed in black ink on the cream-colored spine labels. Text discernable from the image includes 'BALZAC' at the top of each spine, followed by individual titles and volume numbers. For example, 'A DAUGHTER OF EVE', 'A WOMAN OF THIRTY', 'Vol. V.', 'BEATRIX', 'JEALOUSIES OF A COUNTRY TOWN', 'Vol. VII.', 'THE LILY OF THE VALLEY', 'THE COUNTRY DOCTOR', 'Vol. IX.', 'SIGN OF THE CAT AND RACKET', 'A BACHELOR'S ESTABLISHMENT', 'THE MAGIC ON', and 'QUEST OF THE ABSOLUTE', 'Vol. I.'. The books appear to be of a consistent size, suggesting they belong to a uniform set. The dark cloth shows some dust accumulation and minor scuffs, but no major tears or structural damage is evident on the main body of the covers. The light-colored spine labels exhibit discoloration, likely from exposure to light and general handling. The crispness of the printing on the labels suggests they were well-produced originally, but their current condition points towards a period of neglect or heavy use. Given the condition and appearance, these books likely date from the late 19th or early 20th century. The quality of craftsmanship for the binding is functional rather than luxurious, aligning with mass-produced sets of the era. The heavy wear on the spines is the most notable condition issue, which would impact their aesthetic and collectible value.