First edition decorated with numerous illustrations in the text, with mention of second edition.
Bradel binding in half green cloth, smooth spine decorated with a central gilt floral motif, gilt date and double fillet at tail, brown shagreen title label with slight scratches, almond green marbled paper boards, original wrappers preserved, contemporary binding.
Precious signed autograph inscription by Gabriel Montoya, star performer of Rodolphe Salis's Chat Noir and later inept administrator of the Quat'z-arts which he took over in 1910: "A mon vieil ami Joseph Uzanne, en souvenir des bonnes soirées de La Plume, très cordialement j'offre ce volume." ["To my old friend Joseph Uzanne, in memory of the good evenings at La Plume, very cordially I offer this volume."]
Our copy is enhanced with a postcard, pasted on an endpaper, listing the works of Gabriel Montoya, and, on the following endpaper, an original photograph of the Montmartre performer which he signed at the bottom.
Finally, we also include, on a loose leaf, a handwritten quintain by Gabriel Montoya praising the merits of Vin Mariani: "Lorsque j'ai bu deux doigts de vin Mariani / Je puis allégrement jouer les Hernani, / Et sans peur de faiblir au seuil de ma tirade / Dégoiser de Ruy-Bas la fameuse algarade / C'est par hasard qu'hier je surpris ce propos / Près d'un closet : Mounet parlait à Galipaux." ["When I have drunk two fingers of Mariani wine / I can cheerfully play Hernani, / And without fear of weakening at the threshold of my tirade / Declaim Ruy Blas's famous altercation / It was by chance that yesterday I overheard this remark / Near a closet: Mounet was speaking to Galipaux."]
A whole atmosphere and era!