Maxime DU CAMP

First edition.

Half brown-red chagrin binding, brown marbled paper sides, spine with four raised bands, blind-tooled panels between the bands, gilt author and title, green marbled paper doublures. Binding rubbed, with surface losses and abrasions, headcap torn away, spine sunned, leaves browned at the margins, occasional foxing.

Valuable autograph inscription signed by Maxime Du Camp to Charles de La Rounat on the half-title: "à Charles de la Rounat son tout dévoué Maxime Du Camp".

Long, rancorous manuscript note, dated October 1871 and signed C. de la Rounat, on a front free endpaper.

First edition, one of 20 deluxe copies on Holland paper, the only large-paper issue, reimposed in octavo, while the ordinary edition was issued in duodecimo. Vicaire and Carteret record 25 copies; the printed justification on the verso of the half-title in the present copy, however, states 20. Cf. Vicaire III, 305-306; Carteret I, 222.

Contemporary full stiff ivory vellum, smooth spine with longitudinal printed title, marbled-paper endleaves and pastedowns. A fine copy.

A particularly desirable signed autograph presentation inscription appears on the half-title...