Pierre LOTI

Autograph letter signed by Pierre Loti, addressed to Alphonse Daudet (not named explicitly), inviting him to the premiere of his *Pêcheur d'Islande* at the Grand Théâtre on 18 February 1893; 8 lines in black ink on a bifolium.

"Je voudrais bien vous avoir samedi à la première de 'Pêcheur', avec madame Daudet. Vous ne pouvez pas me refuser cela. J'irai vous chercher. Tendres respects. Pierre Loti."

In collaboration with Louis Tiercelin, Pierre Loti adapted his literary masterpiece and great popular success for the stage.

This note was previously mounted on a guard to be inserted into a book, and was later removed.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Japan, deluxe copies ("tirage de tête").
Two small tears in the head and foot of the spine, nice copy wide-margined.

First edition illustrated by Myrbach with plates, headpieces and vignettes, from the Guillaume and Lemerre collection.

Contemporary half grey morocco binding with corners. Slipcase with morocco entry and covered with peacock-eye paper. Original wrappers preserved, lacking spine. Spine with 4 raised bands in Jansenist style. Top edge gilt. Uncut paper, with wide margins, fresh paper, free from foxing. Light rubbing to slipcase.
Very handsome copy.
After "Mon frère Yves" and "Pêcheur d'Islande", "Matelot" completes, in 1893, Pierre Loti's trilogy of sea novels and recounts the adventures of Jean Berny who, after failing the Naval Academy entrance exam, enlists in...

First edition in part.
Half brown morocco over marbled paper boards by Kra, spine in four compartments with black fillets (lightly sunned), date in gilt at foot of spine, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine (faded) preserved, top edge gilt
Handsome autograph inscription from Pierre Loti : "Au maître Saint-Saëns, fidèlement [to master Saint-Saëns, faithfully]." This copy is enriched with a one-page autograph letter dated and signed by Camille Saint-Saëns, in which he presents his condolences to his correspondent
Spotting to final blank endpaper
A good copy in a nice binding.

First edition, one of 100 numbered copies on Japan paper, the only large paper copies.
Elegant brown morocco, spine in six compartments with gilt fillets to bands and double gilt-ruled compartments richly decorated, gilt roulettes to head- and tail-pieces, a frame of triple gilt fillets to marbled paper covers, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt dentelle frame to pastedowns, illustrated covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, double gilt fillet to edges of covers.
With illustrations by Luigi Rossi and Felician Myrbach, engraved by Guillaume frères.
A fine copy in a superb binding.