Camille de SAINTE-CROIX

Unpublished autograph poem signed by Camille de Sainte-Croix entitled "Surprise" and dedicated to his wife whom he nicknamed Lène, mentioned in one stanza. Fold mark inherent to mailing.
At the top of the poem, 17 lines in black ink on a leaf, Camille de Sainte-Croix added this remark: "Mon cher Alphonse, veux-tu vers pour insérer ? Croix" ["My dear Alphonse, do you want verses to insert? Croix"], with a view to having it published in a review:
"Sous le sourire grave et fin d'un crépuscule
Et du fond de l'allée au feuillage rouillé,
J'ai vu venir un bel Amour tout dépouillé,
Et je lui fis un geste obscène et ridicule,
Presque fou, cheva

First edition.
Half chocolate sheep binding, spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt fleurons and dots with small traces of rubbing at head and foot, marbled paper boards, contemporary binding.
Work illustrated with numerous illustrations after photography.
Worming on endpapers, copy free from foxing.