Jules BARBEY D'AUREVILLY

Edition illustrated by Julien Le Blant with 7 hors-texte etchings and a portrait of the author as frontispiece. Small print run on vellum. Fine engravings engraved by Champollion. Ornaments (initials, headpieces...) by Giacomelli.

Copy with the monogram G. A., unidentified. Interlaced English initials.

Contemporary full tender green morocco binding signed at bottom of front pastedown Bonleu. Smooth spine decorated with a fleuron at head and a special tool, the whole within elegant frames. Triple fillet frame on boards. Monogram at center of upper board. Wide inner decorative border. Top edge gilt. Light traces of rubbing. Spine having turned uniformly to light brown...

First edition, of which there were no large paper copies.

Near contemporary red half morocco over marbled paper boards by P. Ruban, spine in six compartments, raised bands bounded by black fillets, date gilt at foot of spine, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, covers preserved, top edge gilt.

Attractive ex libris engraved by Provost-Blondel on pastedown, representing a helmet with a feather, medallion and a strip with the motto “Tojours en face.” The ex libris belonged to Victor Coué, a 2^nd Lieutenant killed in the First World War.
This copy has two frontispieces: one lithograph heightened by Félicien Rops showing a caricature of Barbey d'Aurevilly...

Later edition.
Autograph inscription from Jules Barbey D'Aurevilly to Madame Salomon : "... parce qu'il est plus moi que mes autres livres, je vous l'offre...[since it is more like me than my other books, I give it to you…]" What an inscription!
With a frontispiece portrait of the author by Martinez.
The front free endpaper with the inscription very slightly and partially faded.
Autograph inscriptions by Barbey d'Aurevilly on this work are rare and much sought after. 

First edition, of which there were no large paper copies.
Elegant pastiche binding by P. Goy & C. Vilaine in half copper-colored calf over marbled paper boards, spine with double gilt fillets and date in gilt at foot, marbled pastedowns and endpapers, covers preserved.
Autograph inscription from Jules Barbey D'Aurevilly to his friend (Eugène) Yung, director of the La revue bleue, in pink ink.
A few spots, mostly to final leaves. 

first edition for which it was not drawn from great papers.

Binding in half red morocco with corners, back with five nerves set with golden dots and double richly decorated gilded boxes, date golden tail, slight traces of friction on the joints, marbled paper plates, guards and contreplats of handmade paper , preserved covers, golden head.
Our copy is enriched, frontispiece, a portrait of the author on China engraved by Paul-Adolphe Rajon (1843-1888).
Nice copy.

First edition, of which there were no large paper copies.
Contemporary half red shagreen over marbled paper boards, spine in six compartments, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt.
A little spotting.
A rare copy in its contemporary binding. 

First edition, for which there were no large paper copies.
Half maroon morocco over marbled paper boards, spine in six compartments decorated with gilt fillets and double gilt compartments, date in gilt to foot of spine, marbled pastedowns and endpapers, covers and spine preserved.
Autograph inscription from Jules Barbey D'Aurevilly in red ink to Eugène Yung "... à Monsieur Yung (de la Revue bleue) ces petits bleus […to Monsieur Yung (of the Blue Review) these little notices."
An elegantly bound copy.
Provenance : from the libraries of Lucien & George Allienne and Heilbronn, with their ex librises on pastedowns.