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Jules Verne - Michel Strogoff (J. Hetzel et Cie, circa 1876-1880s)

Red leather-bound French edition of Jules Verne's Michel Strogoff published by Hetzel, showing title page and frontispiece illustration. - view 1
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Estimated value

$50 - $120

Rarity

Average(4/10)

Category

Books

Brand

J. Hetzel et Cie

Era

circa 1876-1885

Origin

France

Artist / Creator

Jules Verne

Authenticity

Very High(90%)
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JULES VERNE - MICHEL STROGOFF (J. HETZEL ET CIE, CIRCA 1876-1880S): IDENTIFICATION

An early French edition of Jules Verne's 'Michel Strogoff: Moscou - Irkoutsk,' published in Paris by J. Hetzel et Cie. The volume features a red demi-chagrin (half-leather) spine with raised bands and gilt geometric tooling within the compartments. The boards are covered in a pebble-grained material featuring blind-stamped, ruled borders. The title page confirms the inclusion of the appended story 'Un Drame au Mexique' and identifies the illustrator as J. Férat with engravings by Ch. Barbant. The publisher's address is listed as 18, Rue Jacob, Paris.

EDITION & PUBLISHING HISTORY

Pierre-Jules Hetzel launched the 'Voyages Extraordinaires' series in 1866, revolutionizing French publishing by combining scientific romance with high-quality illustrations. While Hetzel is famous for his lavish gilt pictorial cloth bindings (cartonnages polychromes) designed for the holiday gift ...
Pierre-Jules Hetzel launched the 'Voyages Extraordinaires' series in 1866, revolutionizing French publishing by combining scientific romance with high-quality illustrations. While Hetzel is famous for his lavish gilt pictorial cloth bindings (cartonnages polychromes) designed for the holiday gift market, the publisher also offered texts in more subdued demi-chagrin and percaline bindings for libraries, schools, and conservative buyers. 'Michel Strogoff' was first published in 1876, reflecting the era's fascination with the Russian Empire and Siberian geography.

SCARCITY

Average55-70%
CommonLegendary

Typical antique shop fare. Requires some searching but regularly available. This is where most genuine antiques fall.

Typical Characteristics

  • Standard antique shop items
  • Regularly available
  • Moderate collector interest

Confidence Factors

    How does authenticity detection work?

    BIBLIOPHILE'S ASSESSMENT

    Rare Book Dealer & Bibliographer

    Bibliographer

    High confidence in the edition type, publisher, and era based on clear title page details and binding style; exact publication year requires inspection of the rear publisher's catalogue, which is not pictured.

    CONDITION & GRADE

    Good

    Grading breakdown

    Assessed as Good due to the solid binding state offset by noticeable exterior rubbing and moderate internal foxing.

    Condition

    Spine ends exhibit rubbing and minor color loss. The hinges appear intact but show standard shelf wear. The interior pages, including the frontispiece and title page, display moderate to heavy foxing (rousseurs), which is typical for the acidic paper stock used by French publishers in the late 19th century.

    BOOK MARKET VALUATION

    $50 - $120

    Updated: Oct 17, 2026

    • Market comparables from auctions & retail
    • Condition, completeness & craftsmanship
    • Current collector demand & trends
    • Low = quick sale, high = patient seller

    For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

    YOUR INPUT VS. SCAN

    How your provided context compares with Curiosa.com scanner findings.

    What Aligned

    • User's claim of 'Original/Authentic' is supported by the typographic evidence, paper aging, and correct publisher address for the era.

    What Conflicted

    • User notes 'Minor wear'; bibliographically, the visible rubbing to the spine and moderate-to-heavy internal foxing pushes the grade to 'Good' rather than a higher condition tier.

    FROM THE CABINET OF

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    COMMENTS

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