Jules Gay

First edition of some parts as entirely revised and printed in 500 numbered copies on laid paper.
Work illustrated, as frontispiece, with an etching by Félicien Rops.
Half red morocco-grained shagreen binding with corners, spine with five raised bands set with gilt dots and black fillets and decorated with gilt fleurons, gilt date at foot, pebbled paper boards, combed paper endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, top edge gilt on deckled edges, bookplate pasted on pastedown, binding signed Mativet.
Fine copy handsomely bound.

New edition collated against the unique copy in the Imperial Library in Paris, one of 100 numbered copies on laid paper, the only edition after 2 copies on vellum.
Bradel binding in orange half cloth, smooth spine with gilt fillets, gilt date at foot, blue sheep title label with marginal lack, marbled paper boards, bookplate pasted at head of pastedown, original wrappers preserved, binding signed in blind by Petit.
Rare and fine copy.
Provenance: from the library of Paul Arnauldet, bibliophile and friend of Charles Baudelaire, with his bookplate pasted on pastedown: "Nunquam amicorum" (not even to friends).