BALZAC (Honoré de). A daughter of Eve. Scene of private life. Paris : Hippolyte Souverain, 1840-1839. - 2 volumes in-8, marbled paper boards, smooth spine, untrimmed, cover preserved (modern binding). First separate edition, partly original, and original edition of "Massimilla Doni". It contains the important preface, which will not be reprinted later, in which Balzac explains the characteristics of what will become "La Comédie humaine". A resale copy for the first volume, dated 1840. The second volume bears the correct date of 1839. Vicaire (I, 212) says that the edition does not appear in the "Bibliographie de la France" which is inaccurate as it appears in the number 34 of 1839 and is announced for Monday 26 August of that year. Copy in modern binding, complete with "Catalogue de livres de fonds et de livres d'assortiment", of 16 pages, at the end of the second volume. Covers lined and restored. Freckles, some light spotting, stains.