BENJAMIN CONSTANT.

Adolphe, anecdote found in the papers of an unknown person, and published by M. Benjamin de Constant. Paris, Treuttel et Würtz, London, H. Colburn, 1816. In-12 of VII, 288 pp. half tobacco morocco à la Bradel, boards painted on a gilt background depicting two evanescent heads on the first of the flowers and a bat on the second, green silk endpapers decorated with embroidery, silk linings of the same hue, blue paper covers preserved (modern binding). First Parisian edition: it follows shortly the London edition, of an outstanding rarity. Three editions appeared in the same year: the other two carry the London address first, with some variants. While in exile in London, Benjamin Constant decided to print the work for financial reasons, not without fearing that the publication would cause him to fall out with Mme de Staël who had taken umbrage with the story as early as 1806. The London edition was still missing from the Bibliothèque nationale de France, at the time of the exhibition devoted to Benjamin Constant in 1967. An autograph letter signed "B. Constant" to Jacques Lofficial of Baugé (Maine et Loire). (Paris, November 14, 1827, 1 page in-12, stamped.) I received in Strasbourg, Sir, the letter by which you kindly recommended me Mr. Méré. Unfortunately, my return having been greatly delayed, I do not know if your relative is still in Paris. I am therefore unable to confer with him about your protégé. I am sorry to have to add that Mr. Laffitte is so overwhelmed with requests that I have little hope of my credit. If, however, Sir, you give me information, I will hasten to pass it on to him, and I will be very happy if I succeed in proving to you by a success that I desire more than I expect, how sweet it is for me to be pleasant to you. Please present to Madame Lofficial the warmest compliments of my wife & my respectful homage & accept the assurance of my inviolable attachment & my high consideration. B Constant Jacques Lofficial (1777-1855), of liberal conviction, founded the mutual school of Baugé in 1818-1819. He thus shared one of the hobbyhorses of Benjamin Constant, member of the Society for the Improvement of Elementary Education. Beautiful copy in a nice painted binding. Ex-libris engraved Christine Arnothy. Copy a little short of margin. Small but not serious paint loss on the first cover. (Courtney, A Bibliography of Editions of the Writings of Benjamin Constant, n° 18b.)