Théodore de BANVILLE

Autograph poem by Théodore de Banville, unsigned, entitled "Les exilés," comprising 20 lines in black ink with deletions and corrections.
Vertical and horizontal fold marks from mailing.
In the upper right-hand corner, the poet has written: “envoi de livre à Don Bernardo Calderon.”
This four-quatrain poem appears to be unpublished and was seemingly not included in the collection "Les exilés" published in 1867.
«Ce  livre, pleurant  sur la gloire
Et sur le bonheur envolé,
Renferme toute notre histoire?
Qui donc n'est pas un exilé ?
[...]

Heureux celui qui sous la mer,
Penchant son triste front blémi,
Poursuit sa route aride et nue
En...

Illustrated edition with 15 original compositions by Jacques Wagrez engraved with etching by L. Boisson, one of 150 numbered copies on Marais vellum.
Half bordeaux morocco with corners binding, smooth spine decorated with gilt cartouches enhanced with gilt typographic motifs enriched with yellow, green and blue mosaic morocco pieces, place and date gilt at foot, fillet frame on pebbled paper boards, combed paper endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, contemporary binding signed Ruban.
Handsome copy perfectly executed in a half mosaic morocco binding by Ruban.

First edition, one of three or four cop­ies printed on vellum skin, the most limited issue. A few copies printed on japon, 12 on Whatman, 12 on chine, and 350 copies on laid paper. Edited by Philippe Burty, the book features 42 sonnets and as many original etchings.
Contemporary full dark purple morocco binding, slightly recolored spine with five raised bands, gilt title, purple wa­tered-silk pastedowns and endleaves followed by vellum endleaves, inner gilt dentelle, sides and spine-ends framed in gilt, all edges gilt, marbled paper slip­case bordered in purple mo­rocco, binding signed by Au­guste Petit.

Only two oth­er vellum cop­ies recorded: Melot and Delteil...