Boule de suif

First separate edition and first illustrated edition of this famous short story which first appeared in Les soirées de Médan in 1880. The illustration contains 58 compositions by François Thévenot engraved on wood by A. Romagnol, a frontispiece portrait, 7 plates and 47 in-text compositions. Limited to 300 numbered copies, one of 40 copies on handmade laid paper additionally containing a separate suite on China paper of the illustrations and a triple suite of the plates (2 of which on China paper). The portrait of Maupassant is also printed in 3 states, 2 of which on China paper.
Contemporary half tawny marbled calf binding with corners signed at the top of the first endpaper Baillot. Spine with 4 raised bands decorated with romantic tools, roulette at foot, fillets. Gilt title. Top edge gilt. Covers and spine preserved. The tissue guards, reduced in size compared to the leaves, have created on the laid paper an occasionally browned border. Apart from this minor flaw, a very fresh copy. Surface wear along the upper joint, the leather being exposed without glaze. 3 small chips on the spine and along the lower joint due to surface wear, the glaze having disappeared in these spots. Perfect freshness of the paper.
Fine copy.