Mémoires d'outre-tombe

Rare and sought-after first edition, first issue.

Includes the subscribers' list and the foreword, which were omitted when the remainder of this edition passed into the hands of another publisher, Dion-Lambert. It also retains the pagination error in volume two: page 164 instead of 364. With a letter from the author, bearing his autograph signature, written and dated 14 April 1839, in the hand of his secretary. One page written in black ink on a leaf. Slightly darkened at the upper edge, with occasional foxing, and the usual folds.

Black half-morocco bindings, smooth spines with double gilt fillets and double blind-stamped compartments, black paper boards, slight superficial rubbing to some boards, marbled paper pastedowns and endpapers, sprinkled edges; contemporary bindings. Sparse foxing.

Outstanding copy in a contemporary binding of this masterpiece expertly described by Proust : "Et quand Chateaubriand, tandis qu’il se lamente, donne son essor à cette personne merveilleuse et transcendante qu’il est, nous sourions, car, au moment même où il se dit anéanti, il s’évade, il vit d’une vie où l’on ne meurt point." (Contre Sainte-Beuve, "Essais et articles", Paris, Gallimard, 1989, p. 651-652)