Librairie universelle de P. Mongie l'aîné

2 volumes in 1.
The first edition of only 150 copies, rare and very sought-after (Clouzot), of this essay written by Stendhal in Milan after his meeting in 1818 with Mathilde Dembrowski (1790-1825), the woman he loved the most sincerely and whom he never saw again after her departure from Italy in 1821. She features in the work under the name of Léonore.
Contemporary half caramel calf over speckled paper boards, restored. Re-backed to match original, the spine with gilt and blindstamped fillets, marbled pastedowns and endpapers.
Lacking final leaf with printed titles to cut out.
An important copy, presented by Stendhal to Paul-Émile Daurand Forgues (known as ‘Old Nick', 1