^Lot 583 Victor Hugo

Important French writer, artist, and statesman (1802–1885) best known for such canonical novels as Les Misérables and Notre-Dame de Paris (aka The Hunchback of Notre Dame). Much of his literary output was devoted to political and social issues, and in the 1840s he became actively involved in the French government as a legislator and staunch activist on behalf of the Republican cause. In 1851 the controversy surrounding his inflammatory writings denouncing Louis-Napoléon forced him into a two-decade exile, during which his productive creative pace barely slackened. Rare original 2.5 x 4 carte-de-visite photo of Hugo seated in a chair, signed in the lower border in black ink. A bit of trivial peeling to corner tips, trivial crease to bottom of first letter of signature, and mild toning to borders, otherwise fine condition. Hugo is uncommon in any signed photos, particularly of such quality and condition.