First editions and fine papers of poetry collections, lyrical works, poems in verse and prose, calligrams

New edition. Portrait frontispiece. Title pages in red and black.

Contemporary full glazed brown calf binding. Decorated smooth spine. Brown calf title-label, black calf volume label. Light rubbing. Fine copy, very fresh.
The first two volumes are devoted to the poetic works, the third to the comedies. These works contain the Odes, Cantatas, Epistles, Allegories, Epigrams, and the comedies (Le flatteur, Le capricieux, Le caffé, La ceinture magique). Jean-Baptiste Rousseau was considered the greatest lyric poet of his time; he is especially credited with writing the first French cantatas, this secular genre that was set to music by the most brilliant composers. However, the academic style of Rousseau's writing did not outlive him.

Second edition, printed in a small number of copies on Hollande laid paper.

3/4 red morocco, five raised bands-spine,  gilt date at foot. Slight, superficial fading to spine, marbled paperboards, pebbled flyleaves and pastedowns, original covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, A finely executed, unsigned binding from the late 19th to early 20th century.

Provenance: from the library of Simone and André Maurois, with their engraved bookplate on front pastedown.

Signed and inscribed copy by Paul Verlaine to the opera singer Marie-Blanche Vasnier : "A Madame Vasnier, hommage respectueux. P. Verlaine." [To Madame Vasnier, with respectful homage. P. Verlaine']

Marie-Blanche Vasnier was the muse of the young Claude Debussy, fourteen years her junior, to whom he dedicated numerous songs of love.

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 on ordinary paper.
Work decorated with a frontispiece illustration by Joan Miro.

Very precious autograph inscription signed by Janine Queneau to her great friend Boris Vian: "A Boris dont je crains d'avoir bien mal suivi les conseils. Avec beaucoup d'affection. Janine." ["To Boris, whose advice I fear I have followed very poorly. With much affection. Janine."]

Provenance: Boris Vian Foundation.