Paris (France)

Original print by Henri de Toulouse, from the series Le Café-Concert published by the Publications de l'Estampe Originale. Very rare and beautiful lithography is one of the 500 original proofs drawn on vellum by Edouard Ancourt's printing press.

Autograph letter-card signed by Guy de Maupassant to Countess Potocka, 19 lines in black ink, on letterhead "GM 83, rue Dulong".
Published in Marlo Johnston, "Lettres inédites de Maupassant à la comtesse Potocka", Histoires littéraires, n°40, October-November-December 2009.
Maupassant was part of the circle of suitors of Countess Potocka whom she had nicknamed the "Macchabées". The author was much in social demand and this created scheduling problems for him: "Or, voici le cas [...] Legrand m'avait recommandé de ne pas m'engager [...] à ce dîner en m'annonçant une invitation de sa belle-soeur, invitation qui n'est pas venue." ["Now, here is the case [...] Legrand had recommended that I not commit [...] to this dinner by announcing an invitation from his sister-in-law, an invitation which never came."]
He decides to clear up the doubt by going to his friend Georges Legrand's: "prendre le vent." ["to test the waters."] A close friend of Maupassant's, it was he who introduced him to Countess Potocka. The author would dedicate to him in 1884 the short story Suicide, reprinted in the volume Les Soeurs Rondoli and which had previously been published in the magazine Le Gaulois.
Maupassant seems more anxious about visiting Potocka whom he had nicknamed "présidente" ["president"] and whose "conscience [le] préoccupe. Je m'efforcerai de bien la diriger." ["conscience worries [him]. I shall endeavor to guide it well."] He refers to the creation of the "Société religieuse Coopérative sous la dénomination de Société Anonyme Anti-Soporifique pour la Récréation perpétuelle de la comtesse Potocka" ["Religious Cooperative Society under the name of Anti-Soporific Anonymous Society for the perpetual Recreation of Countess Potocka"], one of the many games that took place during evenings at Countess Potocka's. Before leaving her, he reiterates his admiration: "Je suis aux pieds de ma présidente." ["I am at the feet of my president."]

Provenance: Jean Bonna collection.

first edition for which it was not taken from large papers.
Signed autograph signed by Roger Payet-Lebrun to Pierre Dumayet.

BARTHES Roland. Critique et Vérité [Criticism and Truth]
Seuil, Paris 1966, 13 x 18 cm, original wrappers
First edition, of which there were no grand papier (deluxe) copies, an advance [service de presse] copy.
Autograph inscription signed by Roland Barthes to his close friend, the academic Robert (Mauzi): “Pour vous, cher Robert, ami et compagnon fidèle, avec l'amitié de Roland [For you, dear Robert, friend and faithful companion, with best wishes from Roland].” Testimony of the great complicity between the two men, who formed an inseparable group with Michel Foucault and Louis Lepage. Mauzi, an eminent specialist on the 18th century, deeply inspired Barthes in his Structuralist research. The inscription is of a deeply personal nature, a sign of renewed attachment to a close friend who was passionate about his writings and followed their creation and publication from up close.
Spine sunned.

first edition for which no large papers were taken, one of the review copies service.
Roland Barthes signed autograph signed to his close friend Robert (Mauzi): "To tell you what you know, my solid and faithful affection."
Back insolated as usual.

First edition in French, translated by Ferdinand Tugnot de Lanoye.
Bradel binding in red half cloth, smooth spine decorated with a central gilt fleuron, gilt date and double fillet at foot, dark blue shagreen title-label, marbled paper boards, corners slightly bumped, three bookplates pasted on endpapers, one of which has been removed, contemporary binding.
Complete with its folding map at rear.
Some light foxing.

first edition printed with 200 numbered copies on vellum of this catalog of the exhibition devoted to Jean Clareboudt at the Galerie 7 ..
Book illustrated with an original lithograph by Jean Clareboudt on the cover.
Text by Gilbert Lascault.
autograph dedication of the author an autograph signed by Gilbert Lascault to Françoise and Pierre D (umayet) in paper pencil.
Pleasant and rare illustrated copy of reproductions of works of Jean Clareboudt.

First edition on ordinary paper.
Autograph inscription signed by Samuel Beckett to Gaetan Picon.

First edition on ordinary paper.
Autograph inscription signed by Samuel Beckett to Gaetan Picon.
Spine sunned.

VERLAINE Paul
Complete autograph manuscript signed by Paul Verlaine of one of his Hospital Chronicles: “We poets, as well as they, the workers, our companions in misery” Paris n. d. [1890], 213 x 140 mm (8 3/8 x 5 1/2 ”), 3 pages in-8
at the back of 4 leaves of the Assistance publique de Paris
Complete autograph manuscript signed by Paul Verlaine of one of his Hospital Chronicles, 90 close lines in black ink on the verso of paper from the Assistance publique de Paris.
The chronicle of one of Verlaine’s stays in hospital between September 1889 and February 1890. The note “III” has been crossed out in blue printer’s pencil. In the definitive collection, this text is, in fact, second. In the version published by Le Chat noir on 5 July 1890, there appear to be no variations with the text of this manuscript. This is thus the final state of the text, the one sent to the printer.
Jacques Borel dates the writing of this chronicle to a hospital stay in Cochin in June 1890. Verlaine spent many days in hospital during his life, especially in this period. During these stays, he wrote Hospital Chronicles, prose poems in eight parts. Here, he mixed anecdotes, observations of the lives of the patients, and a delicate poetical analysis of the world of the hospital.
Verlaine starts off with a troubling and tired observation: “But certainly, all the same, the Hospital darkens, despite the fine June weather...Yes, the Hospital is dark despite philosophy, insouciance, and pride.” Despite the fine weather, the inflexibility of the system, the misery and the sickness give the poet a gloomy take on things: “let us punish all objections under pain of expulsion, still severe, even in this month of flowers and hay, of warming days and clement nights, if you have the devil at your back and debt and hunger at home.”
Discharge, whether by way of being thrown out or getting cured, and life outside did not offer more comfort than the stay itself: “Clearly, we’ll all get out sooner or later, more or less well, more or less happy, more or less sure of the future, at any rate more or less alive. So we will think sadly...of our suffering, emotional and otherwise, of the doctors, good or inhuman”. This was a feeling he had already experienced during what he called “my intervals”, the times when he was out of hospital.
Life outside hospital was a miserable prospect, despite his established fame. Verlaine compares his misery to that of the working classes who share his stays in various hospitals. The poet calls for resignation from his “brothers, artisans of one sort or another, workers without a life’s-work and poets...and publishers too, let us accept our fate, let us drink up the cup of tea with (barely any sugar), or this little hot chocolate, and let us be brave whether it be with our medicine, or an enema, or chewing tobacco. Let us follow their prescriptions closely, let us obey all injunctions, so that injections and colonics will seem sweet to us, and let us reprimand all objections...”. And along with them, the poet wanted to take advantage of the beauties of June in quoting two verses from the Chanson sentimentale of Xavier Privas: “We are pleased with ourselves in the strong sun. And under the green branches of the oaks, we poets, as well as they, the workers, our companions in misery...”. Equal in the face of misfortune, whether active or passive, they might feel nostalgia once they were out: “And perhaps some day we will miss these good times where you workers, you could rest and where we, we poets, worked, and where you artists earned your wine and your cups ...?”
Despite this reverie, Verlaine was: “tired of so much poverty (provisionally, believe me, because I have been so used to it these last five years!)” and concludes bitterly with the observation of the lack of humanity in modern medicine: “Hospital with a capital H, an awful idea, evocative of an indecipherable misfortune, a modern Hospital for the modern poet, who cannot, in his hours of dejection, but find it black as death and dark as the tomb and the cross on a grave and as the absence of charity, your modern Hospital you built, all civilized, the men of this century of money, mire and spit!”.

First edition, one of 65 numbered copies on Marais vellum, the only deluxe copies.
A handsome full-margined copy.

First edition, one of 75 numbered copies on Marais vellum, ours being one of 15 hors commerce copies, the only deluxe copies.
A handsome full-margined copy.

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on Lana vellum, deluxe issue.
A handsome full-margined copy.

first edition for which no large papers were taken, one of the review copies service.
Rare autograph signed by Roland Dubillard to Pierre Dumayet: "... how are you? Roland."
Back slightly insolated without gravity, some bookmarks reading the dedicatee on the margins of some sheets with black felt.

first edition for which no large papers were taken, one of the review copies service.
Autograph signed by Hubert Juin to Pierre Dumayet.
Pleasant complete copy of his prayer to insert.

first edition, one of the 30 copys containing the original dry point of Michaël Leibovici which he signed and dated .
Autographed autograph dedication of the author from Michaël Leibovivi to Françoise and Pierre Dumayet at the foot of the dry point.
Pleasant copy.

Third edition in partly original because updated and corrected and for which it was not taken from large papers.
Autograph signed by Alexandre Safran to Pierre Dumayet.
Pleasant copy.

first edition for which it was not taken from large papers.
autograph dedication of the author autograph signed and dated Philippe Perrot to Pierre Dumayet.
Pleasant copy.

First edition in paperback format.
Autographed by Armel de Wismes to Pierre Dumayet.
Iconography.

Edition with some parts in first edition as it was expanded with twelve chapters.
Handsome copy.
Autograph inscription signed by Bernard Noël to the journalist, screenwriter and producer Pierre Dumayet, one of the pioneers of French television and his wife Françoise : "... à contre temps comme toujours..." ["... against the tide as always..."]

first edition on plain paper.
autograph dedication of the author autograph signed Christmas Devaulx to Pierre Dumayet: "... a grumpy traveler, a trip full of disappointments, a childish utopia ..."

first edition.
Autograph signed by Jérome Peignot to Pierre Dumayet.
Pleasant copy despite a trace of folding at the top of the second cover plate.

first edition.
Autograph signed by Jacques Fauvet to Pierre Dumayet on the second volume.
Wrinkled back with three tiny holes, pleasant interior condition.

first edition on plain paper.
autograph dedication of the author autograph signed by Bernard Gheerbrant to Françoise and Pierre D (umayet): "in memory of this time when we treated with innocence of" old "friends ..."
Iconography, pleasant copy.

first edition of the French translation on current paper.
Rare autograph signed by Rex Warner, in English, to Pierre Dumayet.
Back insolated, paper yellowed as generally.

first edition of the French translation prepared by Yves Bonnefoy and for which no large papers were taken, one of the review copies service.
Autograph signed by Yves Bonnefoy to Pierre Dumayet.
Slightly insolated back with pale wetting.

first edition for which no large papers were taken, one of the review copies service.
Autographed autograph dedication of the author from Gérard Rosenthal to Pierre Dumayet.
Illustrated book of a photographic frontispiece.
Two spots on the second board.

first edition for which it was not taken from large papers.
Autograph signed by Fernando Arrabal to Pierre Dumayet.
Pleasant copy.

first edition on plain paper.
Autograph signed by Philippe Sollers to Pierre Dumayet.
Complete copy of his jacket.

first edition, one of the review copies service.
Signed autograph signed by Roger Vailland to Pierre Dumayet.
Back and boards marginally insolated, two pale moisture on the back.

first edition for which it was not taken from large papers.
Autographed by Felicien Marceau to Pierre Dumayet.
Back very slightly insolated without gravity, a fold at the head of the second flat.

first edition.
Binding of the publisher in full canvas yellow mustard, smooth back, complete copy of his jacket illustrated.
Text by Paul Eluard, Yves Bonnefoy, André Frénaud, Georges Limbour, Jean Bazaine, Raoul Ubac ...
Book illustrated with reproductions of works of Raoul Ubac.
Autograph signed by Raoul Ubac to Pierre Dumayet.
Pleasant copy.

First edition.
Half shagreen, two corners slightly bumped, contemporary binding.
A little light spotting, library label to pastedown.

first edition for which it was not taken from large papers.
Signed autograph signed by Jean Quéval to Pierre Dumayet.
Iconography.
Pleasant copy.

First edition, one of 40 numbered copies on vellum, the only deluxe copies.
The work illustrated with a photographic portrait of Ernest Psichari as frontispiece as well as 6 engravings.
Spine and boards lightly and entirely sunned, first endpaper shadowed.
A full-margined copy.

first edition for which no large papers were taken, one of the review copies service.
Autograph signed by Léon Guichard to Pierre Dumayet.
Iconography.
Pleasant copy.

first edition for which it was not taken from large papers.
Autographed autograph dedication of the author from Andrée Chedid to Pierre and Françoise Dumayet.
Iconography.
Pleasant copy.

first edition for which no large papers were taken, one of the review copies service.
Signed autograph signed by Roger Stéphane to Pierre Dumayet.
Iconography.
Pleasant complete copy of his prayer to insert which served as a bookmark.

first edition for which it was not taken from large papers of this book published under the direction of Mary-Lise Billot and Marc Bruimaud.
Signed autograph signed by Mary-Lise Billot and Marc Bruimaud to Pierre Dumayet: "... queneauphyle by definition ..."
Pleasant copy.

first edition for which no large papers were taken, one of the review copies service.
Signed autograph signed by Saul Friedlander to Pierre Dumayet.
Back slightly wrinkled, otherwise pleasant copy.

First edition on ordinary paper.
A nice copy.

first edition for which it was not taken from large papers.
Signed autograph signed by Jean-Marie Gibbal to his friends Françoise and Pierre Dumayet.
Pleasant copy.

first edition on plain paper.
Autographed autograph dedication of the author from Alain Robbe-Grillet to Pierre Dumayet.
Pleasant complete copy of his prayer to insert.

first edition for which no large papers were taken, one of the review copies service.
Autographed autograph dedication of the author from Georges Dumézil to Pierre Dumayet.
Back slightly insolated.

first edition for which no large papers were taken, one of the review copies service.
An autograph signed by Marc Hanrez to Pierre Dumayet who interviewed Louis-Ferdinand Céline in 1957.
Iconography.
Pleasant complete copy of his prayer to insert which served as a bookmark.

first edition, one of the 20 numbered copies on ivory strip, only large papers.
Initials handwritten by Marcellin Pleynet below the justification of the draw.
Pleasant copy.

First edition, one of 60 numbered copies on Lana laid paper, the only deluxe copies.
Handsome copy retaining publisher's wraparound band.

First edition printed in 100 copies.
Lacking spine and replaced with an adhesive piece, boards worn, handsome interior condition.

Edition with some parts in first edition as 14 letters appear here for the first time.
Lacks at foot of spines of first, second and fourth volumes, one tear to joint of fourth volume, some light foxing.

First edition of the translation from Sanskrit into French by Armand Loiseleur Deslongchamps.
Bradel binding in full pasteboard covered with marbled paper, smooth spine, red shagreen title-label, some rubbing to spine, a scratch to front board, corners slightly bumped.
Foxing to foot of most leaves.

first edition, one of the 790 copies numbered on "pur-fil" paper, only large papers after 108 reimposés.
Precious autograph signed by Pierre Mac Orlan: "To Jacques Riviere, the perfect writer and the sensitive and courteous comrade" on the first guard.
Frost on the margins of all the sheets.

First collected edition published under the direction of Pierre-Francis Lacroix.
Manuscript signature of Pierre-Francis Lacroix on the half-title page of the first volume.
Handsome copies complete with their dust jackets which have small marginal tears.

First edition of the French translation.
Autograph inscription signed by Hartwig Derenbourg to Monsieur and Madame Olagnier.
Spine faded and repaired, angular lacks on the covers, internally good.
Rare.

First edition, one of 35 copies on Montval paper, this one not numbered but justified Montval paper on foot of the second cover, the tirage de tête.
A nice copy.

First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on vélin d'Arche paper with a suite of engravings on Japon if the second state of the illustrations by Christiane Alanore.
Illustrated with 20 original engravings by Christiane Alanore.
Three leaves stained and a few marginal spots marginales on some others.

Edition illustrated by Luc Leguey.
Publisher's full polychrome boards, smooth spine, illustrated spine and covers, blue paper endpapers and pastedowns with traces of adhesive tape at head and foot, gilt edges, binding signed by Engel.
A lack at foot of pages 9-10, otherwise handsome interior condition.

First edition, one of 87 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only grand papier (deluxe) copies.
Autograph inscription signed by Alain Robbe-Grillet to Paul Aveline with a small drawing embellishing his signature.
A nice copy.

first edition for which there is no mention of large paper.
Precious autograph sent by Fernand Gregh to Léon Daudet: "... in memory of passionate conversations during our youth ..."
A slight scratch on the margin of the first board, some small foxinges affecting mainly the guards.

first edition on current paper, second edition mention, press service punch at the foot of the first cover.
Bindery in half fir tree green fir, smooth back discolored and illuminated, back decorated with nets and golden fleurons, piece of title of shagreen red, plates marbled paper, guards and counterplates of paper to the vat, copuvertures illustrated conserved, binding of l 'time.
Autographed by Jules Bois to Charles Bernard.

first edition, one of the review copies service.
Autograph signed by Marcel Aymé to Jean Blanzat.
Restored cover.

First edition.
Contributions by Fernand Léger "De l'art abstrait", Christian Zervos "Les problèmes de la jeune peinture", Pierre Guégen "L'oeuvre actuelle de Cossio"...
Issue illustrated with reproductions of works.
Some worming to boards, handsome interior condition.

first edition.
Signed autograph signed by Denis Seznec to a friend: "... in memory of the obstinate struggle of mine, and in memory of your kindness in Paris ..."
Pleasant complete copy of his illustrated jacket, iconography.

first edition, one of the review copies service.
An autograph signed by Marcel Jouhandeau to André Wurmser.
Back with a small tear in the foot.

first edition, one of the review copies service.
An autograph signed by Marcel Jouhandeau to André Wurmser.

first edition.
Autographed autograph dedication of the author of Fernando Claudin to a couple of his friends.
Preface by Jorge Semprun.
Wrinkled back with some small head and foot shortnesses.

The first edition, of which there were no deluxe copies, a Service de Presse (advance) copy.
Signed autograph inscription from Emmanuel Bove to René Doumic.
Spine with restoration at head and light dampstaining.
Rare.

Collective and complete edition, one of the review copies service.
Signed autograph signed by Francis Carco to his friend Charles Méré.
First flat marginally crumpled.

first edition, one of the 1720 copies on tinted vergé, only print after 75 vellum.
autograph dedication of the author signed autograph of Henri Michaux to Laurie Edson his biographer and translator for the United States.
Beautiful copy.

First edition, one of 282 numbered copies on laid paper, ours one of the 135 printed for "Les nourritures terrestres".
Spine and covers marginally sunned, three small lacks to spine.

First edition very sought-after according to Clouzot.
A little light spotting, two ink stains on title and half-title page.
Rare copy in its original wrappers.

Illustrated with 11 copper engravings by Denyse de Bravura, one of 400 numbered copies on Rives paper.
Lacking slipcase and chemise, some worming to covers.
Handsome interior condition.

First edition and first printing of the 142 illustrations by Lucien Métivet, one of 20 numbered copies on Japan paper printed specially for the A. Melet bookshop, the only deluxe copies.
Handsome copy

First edition for Séraphita and third version of Louis Lambert.
Reliures in half morocco, covers and spine preserved, bindings signed by Champs.
A nice copy, rare and sought-after.

first edition of the French translation from which it was not taken from large papers.
Autographed autograph dedication of the author signed and dated from Miguel Angel Asturias to Paul Aveline.
Pleasant copy.

First edition of the French translation by André Leroy, of which no deluxe copies were issued.
Spine and covers slightly and marginally sunned, as usual.

First edition.
Publisher's full cloth binding, smooth spine unlettered, covers illustrated with 2 original lithographs by André Beaudin.
Work illustrated with 10 original color lithographs by André Beaudin (including 2 on covers) as well as 157 reproductions of his works.
Handsome copy.

First edition illustrated with a frontispiece portrait, 2 botanical plates, 3 views and 3 folding maps.
Contemporary half brown sheep bindings. Jansenist spines. Red morocco title labels, green morocco volume labels. One tear at foot of volume 2. One wormhole at head of volume 1, another at head of volume 2. Corners slightly bumped. One signature protruding in volume 2. A yellow stain on the half-title, title and frontispiece, centrally placed. The 4 preliminary leaves of volume I have a fold.
Trained as a surgeon and passionate about travel, Mungo Park volunteered with the African Society of London to find the sources of the Niger, one of Africa's principal geographical enigmas. He would thus become the first Westerner to explore the Niger River. At that time, only what Pliny and Leo Africanus had written about this region was known. Mungo Park departed in 1795 for Gambia, ascending the river to the trading post of Pisania, learning the local dialect. He crossed the Senegal riverbed, visited Moullé, Bondou, Kaarta. Arrested by the Moors, he was imprisoned for four months then managed to escape through the desert, subsequently ascending the river for about a hundred kilometers. Six months later he reached London where he published the account of his journey.
Bookplate: Bibliothèque de Pierre Fournier. Taverny.

first edition of the French translation, one of the 100 non-trade copies numbered on Swedish vellum.
Rare autograph autograph dedication of the author of Carson Mac Cullers, in English, to Marcel Arland.
spineely insolated, the last three letters of the author's name appearing in the consignment include a discoloration spot due to a drop of water or a tear.

First edition.
Bradel binding in half brown morocco with corners, spine with five raised bands set with gilt fillets and decorated with double gilt compartments decorated with gilt floral motifs, date and place gilt at foot, double gilt fillets on marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, covers preserved, top edge gilt.
Light foxing.
Provenance: from the library of Victor Hugo's beloved grandson, Georges-Victor Hugo, whom his grandfather, who took charge of his education after the death of his son Charles, affectionately nicknamed: "Monsieur le Petit Georges", with his monogram stamped in gilt at the head of the front board.

First edition of the French translation established by Henri Parisot and Alberto Savinio, one of 25 numbered copies on Marais crèvecoeur paper, deluxe copy.
Cover illustrated with a drawing by Max Ernst.
Handsome copy.

first edition on plain paper.
A beautiful autographed sketch, dated and signed by Lugne Poe: "To Mademoiselle Binois, who has two mothers, daughter of Terpsichore & Thalie! .. + friend of Suzanne Després & de Lugne-Poe" enriched with a self-portrait of face.
Illustrated book of 40 boards inset.
Pleasant copy.

First edition of the French translation, one of 41 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe copies.
Spine and boards slightly, marginally discolored and sunned, otherwise handsome copy.

first edition, one of the review copies service.
Precious signed autograph dedication of the author of Maurice de Vlaminck to his friend Montmartrois Pierre Mac Orlan: "... his old friend the painter Vlaminck ..."
Stitches at the head of the first board.

First edition.
Contemporary half black calf binding with small corners. Smooth spine decorated with fillets. Red morocco title label. Binding rubbed overall. A grey stain in outer margin on the first 3 leaves, the rest relatively fresh.
It was in 1808 that France would see its first cadastral decree for the entire territory, an idea that dated back to Colbert, but which had never been realized. This publication is the first systematic classification of all articles of law since the first general decree of 1808. It extends to all features of the territory, houses, castles, copses, meadows, woods..., and forms an eloquent testimony to the administration under the Empire.

NB: This work is available at the bookstore upon request within 48 hours.

first edition printed at 125 copies numbered and justified by the author on Arches paper , ours printed specially for André Lebey , very close friend and collaborator of Pierre Louÿs.
Slight scratches without gavity at the head of the flat first, some small foxing on the guards.

First edition, an advance (service de presse) copy.
Rare autograph inscription signed by Pierre Drieu la Rochelle to Marcel Espiau.

first edition for which it was not taken from large papers.
Autographed autograph dedication of the author from Pierre Béarn to Madame Rivoire: "... this blue square in memory of 'our blue square' where I learned that you love poetry ..."
Iconography.
Pleasant copy.

First edition, very rare. Three states can be distinguished: the first, ours, is distinguished by the title page entitled Oeuvres posthumes, as is the half-title. The second state substitutes a new title page entitled Album d'un pessimiste, with the half-title still indicating Oeuvres posthumes (this is the state known and described by Clouzot). The third state has a new title page dated 1836, again entitled Album d'un pessimiste, with the half-title oeuvres posthumes (this is the most common state); however, the mention of a notice by L'Héritier has disappeared to make way for the mention of a biographical notice (extracted from Michaud's Biographie universelle). L'Heritier's notice was removed from the first state, as the publisher preferred not to include it for fear of offending certain contemporaries mentioned.

Rabbe's works are preceded by Victor Hugo's poem: A Alphonse Rabbe, which would later appear in Les chants du Crépuscule, published in 1836.

These posthumous works were collected and published by the writer's nephew Charles Rabbe, who received a subsidy from the Ministry of Public Instruction for this purpose.
Contemporary half black shagreen bindings. Spine with false raised bands decorated with blind thick fillets. Gilt title and volume numbers. Owner's name at foot: Gauger. Minor rubbing to headcaps. 2 corners slightly bumped. Very light scattered foxing. A handsome copy.

A dark and sombre writer, marked by failure and the futility of things, who died in 1829 from opium excess (it is unknown whether his death was suicide or an unfortunate dosage of opium), Rabbe would enchant Baudelaire, receive the touching solicitude of Victor Hugo, and André Breton would not forget him in his anthology. All of Rabbe's pages are filled with a sickly and feverish romanticism, haunted by pessimism and despair, of which his principal work that would make his reputation: Philosophie du désespoir, is emblematic of his profound melancholy and his cult of death. Essays, commentary and maxims, prose poems punctuate these posthumous works, a model of dark romanticism.
Of greatest interest is the exceptional rarity of this very first state of Alphonse Rabbe's major work, unknown to Clouzot and to most bibliographers. The Bibliothèque Nationale de France possesses only the second state, and French catalogues contain only copies dated 1836.

New édition, illustrated with 4 folding plates (tree of consanguinity, tree of affinities, genealogy of Charles Le Bel and Blanche de Bourgogne, of Louis XII and Jeanne de France)

Contemporary full marbled brown sheep binding. Spine with raised bands decorated. Beige morocco title label. Rubbing to headcaps, joints, edges and corners; handsome copy, fresh.

 

Bookplate: Library of the Grand Seminary of Versailles, and stamp on title page.