LABICHE (Eugène). La Clef des champs. Paris : Gabriel Roux, 1839. - In-8, 218 x 133 : (2 ff.), 232 pp. printed cover. Dark green long-grained morocco, four gilt fillets in frame with fleurons on the corners of the boards, spine ornamented with dark green morocco inside, decorated with gilt fillets and a gilt scroll, gilt moiré silk lining and endpapers, double endpapers, gilt edges on witnesses, cover and spine preserved (E. Maylander). Rare first edition of Eugène Labiche's only novel, printed in only 300 copies, without large papers. The author wrote this text in 1836 and it is only 3 years later that he could publish it. In the absence of success, he withdrew his book from the market himself and this edition became the only one of this novel. Some copies bear the fictitious mention of "second edition". A very fine copy, without edition markings, washed, with practically full margins and perfectly bound by Maylander. Spine faded. Skilful and discreet restorations to the false title and the title. Provenance: Laurent Meeûs, with a trace of his bookplate on the first white endpaper.