LAMARTINE (Alphonse de). Harmonies poétiques et religieuses. Paris, Charles Gosselin, 1830. 2 vol. in-8, havana calf, richly decorated smooth spines, gilt garland, brown fillets and cold dent-de-rats with central medallion in cold on the boards, marbled edges (period binding). 342 pp, 336 pp. First edition of perhaps Lamartine's most elaborate collection (Guyard). The Harmonies poétiques et religieuses - a collection of modern Psalms according to their author - mark Lamartine's return to high poetry. Written for the most part in Italy between 1826 and 1827, these hymns reflect the poet's lyrical enthusiasm for the divine Creation; an enthusiasm sometimes clouded by anguish, however, since Lamartine composed some of these Harmonies in 1829, when he was suffering from the loss of his mother. Some of the poems in the collection inspired Liszt to write a cycle of piano pieces under the same title of Harmonies poétiques et religieuses. Copy offered by Lamartine to the poet Jean Rebout, with an E.A.S. from the author to the latter, inscribed on the title page of volume 1: "from the author to the author of L'ange et l'enfant. Lamartine". In 1828, Jean Rebout is the author of the famous L'ange et l'enfant, poem published in "La Quotidienne" and which will ensure him the fame. In 1836, he published his Poems, which he dedicated to Lamartine. The latter will come to visit him in Nîmes. Bound after the same author : Against the death penalty. Paris, Gosselin, 1830. 16 pp. First edition. A Némésis. Paris, Gosselin, 1831. 11 pp. A fine copy of this work with a letter from the author to one of his poet friends. (Vicaire IV, 969 for the Harmonies, 968 for "Contre la peine de mort").