Germaine de STAËL-HOLSTEIN

First edition, partly original, of the author's complete works.

Our copy retains the engraved frontispiece portrait of Madame de Staël by Müller, present in the first volume.

Some minor foxing, rare minor scratches on a few covers, holes at the bottom of the last marbled paper flyleaf in the ninth volume.

Full pinkish-red glazed calf bindings, smooth spines with richly...

Autograph letter signed by Germaine de Staël, dated in her hand January 9, 1807, addressed to Edme Joseph Villetard, sent from "Meulan dep. de Seine et Oise". Two pages on a bifolium.
Autograph address on verso and traces of seal.
Folds inherent to mailing, tear with small lack, not affecting text, on the address leaf, due to opening of the seal.
The baroness praises the play by the translator and dramatist from Auxerre, Villetard, Constantin et la primitive église ou le fanatisme politique. One senses in this letter all the bitterness of the baroness, forced into endless exile by the Imperial palace. As the letter indicates, she...

Second edition published the same year as the first.

Half sheep binding in hazelnut, smooth spine decorated with gilt friezes, stippling and typographical motifs with minor rubbing, head worn, old rose paper boards with small discoloration stains, reinforced corners, endpapers with marginal shadowing without consequence, contemporary binding.

Autograph letter signed by Ger­maine de Staël and dated 9 Janu­ary 1809 to Julie Nigris, daughter of Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun. Two pages written in black on a bifolium. Autograph address on verso, armo­rial wax seal traces and postmarks.

 

Usual folds, a tear with a small piece of paper lacking on the address page due to the opening of the seal. Published as an addendum in Sou­venirs de Madame Vigée Le Brun, 1837, vol. III, pp. 264-265.

Germaine de Staël is eagerly awaiting her portrait as Corinne - her novel's heroine- she had commissioned from the famous Vigée-Lebrun. The letter is a precious link in the fascinating history of the...

Autograph letter signed N[ecker] de Staël addressed to the naturalist Joseph Philippe François Deleuze, professor at the Jardin des Plantes, 9 lines in black ink on a double leaf.
Red wax seal and fold marks.
The Baroness de Staël addresses these few gallant words to Professor Deleuze: "J'ai des preuves de votre intérêt pour moi, monsieur, qui m'honorent sensiblement. Voulez-vous passer la soirée chez moi mercredi de 8 à 11 heures nous arrangerons un jour plus intime pour dîner et causer ensemble. Mille amitiés si vous me permettez ce mot" ("I have proof of your interest in me, sir, which honors me greatly. Would you like to spend the evening at my home on...

First edition.
Half morocco binding in fir green, spine with four raised bands set with blind fillets, gilt coat of arms and initials at foot, small lack to upper headcap, marbled paper boards.
Handsome interior condition.