Published by Paris, Calmann Lévy ancienne maison Michel Lévy frères. (V1: 1881, V2 1880, V3 1801 (typo.?), V4: 1882, V5: 1880, V6: 1880)

Volume One consists of La Dame aux Camélias - which became La Traviata

in FRENCH, 4 1/2 x 7 inches

Alexandre Dumas fils (27 July 1824 – 27 November 1895) was a French author and playwright, best known for the romantic novel La Dame aux Camélias (The Lady of the Camellias), published in 1848, which was adapted into Giuseppe Verdi's opera La traviata (The Fallen Woman), as well as numerous stage and film productions, usually titled Camille in English-language versions.

Dumas fils (French for 'son') was the son of Alexandre Dumas père ('father'), also a well-known playwright and author of classic works such as The Three Musketeers. Dumas fils was admitted to the Académie française (French Academy) in 1874 and awarded the Légion d'honneur (Legion of Honour) in 1894.

See photos for condition details.  Shelf wear, foxing, appears unread


The Gilt FB at the lower edge of the spine are the initials of Francis Blake.

From the estate of Francis Blake, Jr. (1850 – 1913) was born in Needham, Massachusetts, the son of Caroline Burling (Trumbull) and Francis Blake, Sr. and died in Weston, Massachusetts.

In 1877 Francis Blake invented a carbon microphone for use in the telephone, and patented it before Thomas Edison invented a similar microphone that also used carbon contacts. Blake used a carbon button design that initially would not stay in adjustment, but with later improvements proved to be workable. Alexander Graham Bell hired Blake and put him to work with Emile Berliner who also invented a carbon microphone. The improved Berliner-Blake microphone was standard with the Bell company for many years.

Blake worked on the United States Coast Survey from his teenage years through early adulthood (1866-1878). He was a physicist and an amateur photographer.

In 1874 Blake married Elizabeth Livermore Hubbard (1849-1941) whose father provided land in Weston on which Blake designed and built an elaborate house in which Blake conducted his electrical experiments. They had two children: Agnes (Blake) Fitzgerald (b. 1876) and Benjamin Sewall Blake (b. 1877).

Blake was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1900.