Paul Ollendorff

First edition.
Elegant half navy blue morocco over marbled paper boards by Pierre-Lucien Martin, spine in six compartments with gilt fillets to bands and geometric decoration of red morocco onlays, date gilt at foot of spine, gilt fillet to boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt dentelle frame to pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.

A very good copy in a handsome binding. 
Exceptional autograph inscription from Claude Farrère : "A Pierre Louÿs son très petit disciple [To Pierre Louÿs, his very humble disciple]", along with Chinese ideograms.

First edition.
Half beige cloth Bradel binding, flat spine, date at foot, black shagreen title-piece skillfully restored, marbled paper boards, contemporary binding.
Inscribed by Guy de Maupassant to his friend the writer Catulle Mendès.
A fine copy, attractively bound.
Provenance: from the library of Arthur Christian with his bookplates on the front pastedown.

First edition, one of the 200 numbered copies on Hollande paper, the only large paper edition.
A stain on the front cover near the title, fading on the half-title page, shaded endpapers.
Rare copy with full margins.

First edition, one of 5 numbered copies printed on Japan paper, the deluxe issue.

Bound in chocolate-brown half morocco, spine with five raised bands framed by black fillets, date gilt-stamped at foot; sides covered in cat's-eye paper, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers bound in, top edge gilt. A finely executed unsigned binding, slightly later.

A handsome copy in an appealing presentation.

First edition on ordinary paper, with a mention of the fourth edition.
Bradel binding in green almond half percaline, smooth spine slightly faded and decorated, gilt fillet at foot, brown shagreen label, marbled paper boards, original wrappers preserved, extremities very slightly rubbed, contemporary binding.
Inscribed and signed by Guy de Maupassant to Paul Hervieu.
 

First edition, one of 200 numbered copies on Holland paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

Shadowed endpapers.

Half chocolate-brown morocco binding with corners, smooth spine decorated with gilt panels enhanced with black morocco onlays, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards, handmade paper endpapers and doublures, original wrappers and spine preserved, bookplate pasted to an endpaper, top edge gilt on untrimmed leaves, an elegant binding signed Pierre-Lucien Martin at the foot of the spine.

A fine, wide-margined copy beautifully bound by Pierre-Lucien Martin, one of the most gifted bookbinders of the second half of the twentieth century.

First edition on ordinary paper.

Contemporary binding in half red morocco with corners, spine with five raised bands framed with black fillets, gilt date on tail, marbled paper boards, bouquet-patterned endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved (small angular restoration to the foot of the first board), gilt head.

Binding signed by Léon Gruel, one of the most renowned bookbinders of the late 19th century.

Le Horla consists of thirteen short stories: Le Horla, Amour, Le Trou, Sauvée, Clochette, Le Marquis de Fumerol, Le Signe, Le Diable, Les Rois, Au bois, Une famille, Joseph, L'Auberge and Le Vagabond.

Precious signed and inscribed copy by Guy de Maupassant: « À monsieur Jules Claretie, cordial hommage. Guy de Maupassant ».  [‘To Mr Jules Claretie, with my warmest regards. Guy de Maupassant']

Autograph inscriptions on the first edition of Le Horla are particularly rare, especially in signed contemporary half-marocco bindings. Only fourteen copies have been recorded by Thierry Selva (Maupassant par les textes).

First edition, one of 150 numbered copies on Hollande, the only deluxe issue copies after 5 on Japon.
A very fine copy, as issued, with an important manuscript document by Elme-Marie Caro, 1 page in ink on a double leaf, undated [1887 ?].
Maupassant's last novel Notre Coeur is also one of his most autobiographical. The writer was strongly influenced in this piece by famous literary and artistic "Salons" held by high society women, which he frequently attended. The novel confronts a man of letters with one of these strong-headed women of late 19th-century Paris. He describes the main character Michèle de Burne as "a woman of refinement, of indeterminate sensibility, restless, without fixed resolves, her feelings in constant turmoil, who seemed to have made it part of her experience to employ every narcotic that quiets the aching nerves: chloroform that stupefies, ether and morphine that excite to abnormal reverie, kill the senses, and deaden the emotions"
Maupassant sketches the fictional portrait of Countess Potocka, to whom he was one of the most fervent suitors, called "Macchabées" or "morts d'amour" , according to the rules of the literary game created in her famous Salon. He paints the picture of his unrequited love through this modern, liberated although oppressive woman, who only finds pleasure in the enslavement of her lover.

Our copy exceptionally contains a precious "Convocation extraordinaire du Club des Macchabées", an amusing original document written by philosopher Elme-Marie Caro.
Countess Potocka is referred to in the document as "the Patroness, Head of the Executive and Decorative Power of the Macchabees", and the list of her suitors "specially and ex officio summoned, without procrastination or apology" includes some of the Countess's Salon regulars: Clovis Bachelier, Adrien de Montebello, Olivier Taigny and Dubois were members of the administrative committee, painters Jean Béraud and Henri Gervex represented the art world, and writers Georges Legrand, Elme-Marie Caro and Gustave Schlumberger the literary world. The "President" of this society is none other than famous actor Coquelin aîné, member of the Comédie française.
Although he does not appear on this invitation, Maupassant played a major role in this infamous group as "Perpetual Secretary of the Permanent Council of the Club des Macchabées".
A precious document bearing witness to the fascinating Countess who inspired Maupassant, Marcel Proust for his Duchesse de Guermantes and Aimé Guerlain who created for her his Shore's Caprice perfume.

First edition, one of the rare copies on Japan paper, ours specially printed for Paul Ollendorff.

Half navy blue morocco binding with corners, spine with five raised bands set with gilt dots decorated with double gilt compartments richly embellished with gilt typographical motifs as well as a mosaic piece of hazel morocco, gilt date at foot, very light traces of rubbing without consequence on the spine, double gilt fillet frame on marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt, contemporary unsigned binding but attributable to Lancelin.

Handsome copy agreeably bound.
Provenance: from the library of Paul Ollendorff.

First edition, one of the rare copies on Holland paper of which no mention is made

Half cherry red morocco binding, spine with five raised bands set with gilt dotted lines decorated with double gilt compartments richly embellished with gilt typographical motifs as well as mosaic pieces of havana morocco, gilt date at tail, double gilt fillet frame on marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt retaining deckled edges, contemporary unsigned binding but attributable to Lancelin.

Fine copy perfectly executed.
Provenance: from the library of Paul Ollendorff.