Les Misérables

London and New York: George Routledge and Sons, 1887. First fully illustrated English edition, likely not a first printing. Total of 353 illustrations. Quarto (10-3/4" x 7-1/2"). Publisher's full green cloth with paper labels stamped in black. Deckle edges. Vol. I: xiv, 365, 101 illustrations; Vol. II: xii, 331, 67 illustrations; Vol. III: xi, 299, 55 illustrations; Vol. IV: xiv, 399, 72 illustrations; Vol. V: xiv, 330, 58 illustrations. Paper ex libris label on ffep for all volumes, front hinge starting on vol. V, light staining on spine, paper label on vol. II is ripped, wear on cloth edges and spine, wear to deckle edges, tissue guard missing on vol. II, IV and V. Still good, honest copies, with clean interiors.

Published only two years after Victor Hugo's death, this set is likely the first fully illustrated English-language edition of Les Misérables; no earlier versions were traced. Making it a true piece of literature history as it was the first time English readers could experience the story alongside the iconic artwork of French masters such as Émile Bayard, Alphonse de Neuville, Morin, Valnay, and more, including two illustrations by Victor Hugo himself. The list of illustrations across all five volumes further credit Lix, Brion, Scott, Vierge, Des Brosses, J. P. Laurens, Ad. Marie, E. Zier, H. Scott, H. Vogel, Hersent, Haenens, and Benett.

Although Joseph L. Blamire (the resident manager and editor for Routledge in New York) is the credited "translator" on the copyright page, the true translation in this set appears to be that of Lascelles Wraxall (the contents in this set were compared with Wraxall's translation and are a match). And from Wraxall is where the following purpose of this translation comes from: "[to] give the precise meaning of every word as written by the author. This line was enforced on me by the following passage in a letter which I received from Victor Hugo: 'Permit me to ask you to adhere to the utmost fidelity in your task. My book is written to clear up and combat prejudices in France, England, and the whole world. However, from the moment when M. Esquiros is your friend, as he is mine, you cannot fail to produce an excellent work, having for guide and counselor that great and noble mind.'" (from the Preface in vol. I).