First edition illustrated with wood engravings in text by Gavarni, Daumier, D'Aubigny... The second volume published in 1843 contains texts by Balzac, Alexandre Dumas, Soulié, Edouard Ourliac, Eugène de Mirecourt... 29 illustrations by Daumier signed in volume 1, 10 in volume 2. 17 plates in the second volume.
Contemporary half dark green sheep binding. Smooth spine decorated with series of fillets. Blue cloth boards. Boards rubbed, corners slightly bumped. Scattered foxing.
Rare publication on the Paris of Louis-Philippe. The work proceeds by subject and articles: The wet nurses' bureau, flower sellers, baths, street lamps, sidewalks, theatre exits, beards and moustaches, the Luxembourg gardens, the Opera ball, auctioneers' hotel, lorettes and courtesans (Alexandre Dumas), restaurants and eating houses, pawnshop, Monographie de la presse parisienne (Balzac), Jockey-club, etc.
"A very important and remarkable work for the beautiful constellation of writers and artists of the Romantic period who collaborated on it." Carteret (Le trésor du bibliophile romantique et moderne).
Privately printed first edition, limited to 200 numbered copies.
Illustrated with 6 photographs.
A rare and appealing copy of this work entirely produced by the students of the prestigious École Estienne.
First collective edition, one of the 23 numbered copies on vélin pur fil Lafuma Navarre, the only deluxe copies ("grands papiers").
Rare and very nice copy.
First edition, one of 50 copies printed anonymously on papier japon.
First edition, one of 50 copies printed anonymously on papier japon.
Illustrated with an erotic frontispiece by Félicien Rops on chine.
Custom chemise and slipcase in half morocco and paper boards signed Boichot, some discreet restorations to the spine and covers, some discreet restorations to the top margin of the frontispiece, not affecting the engraving.
“La Présidente”, honorary nickname given to Apollonie Sabatier (alias Aglaëe Savatier, her real name), was one of the most captivating Salon hostesses of the 19th century. She inspired an ethereal love in Baudelaire who composed his most mystical poems in Les Fleurs du Mal in her honor. The other artists who frequented the apartment on Rue Frochot, during her famous Sunday dinners, had more licentious feelings for this woman of surprising wit and beauty. The sculptor Clésinger portrayed her in his lascivious “woman stung by a snake”; Flaubert wrote sensual letters to her ending with “the very sincere affection of one who, alas, only kisses your hand”; she has long since been recognized as the model for Gustave Courbet's scandalous The Origin of the World.
Gautier sent her this letter in 1850. Sabatier made copies which she never published but privately distributed to her guests:
“In October 1850, Gautier sent her [this] very long letter, farcical and obscene, from Rome, commenting with Rabelaisian exaggeration what himself and his friend Cormenin had learned regarding sexuality during their travels. Gautier knew that his freedom of expression would not offend Madame Sabatier. He had long since accustomed her to it and he prided himself on his “smut” to brighten up the friendly social gatherings of the Rue Frochot.” (Dictionnaire des œuvres érotiques)
Honored indeed by this priapic attention, ‘La Présidente' gave copies to all her guests and the reading of Gautier's “indecent prose” became a popular event at Parisian soirées. However, the letter was ultimately published – luxuriously but confidentially – after the recipient's death in 1890.
After this first edition of 50 copies on papier japon, a second edition on papier vélin followed a few months later with a larger print run and without the Rops frontispiece.
A rare, beautiful and very sought after copy.
