Gérard de NERVAL et Joseph MÉRY.

L'Imagier de Harlem ou la Découverte de l'imprimerie, dramelégende in five acts and ten tableaux in prose and verse. New edition. Paris, à la Librairie théâtrale, 1851. In-12 : Bradel style cardboard, black morocco title page, untrimmed, cover and spine preserved (Lavaux). Second edition published the same year as the first edition: it is increased by two dedications, to Marc Fournier, director of the Théâtre de la Porte-Saint-Martin, and "to our artists". The premiere of the play took place on December 27, 1851; the original edition appeared in January 1852, the second in February. From January 23 to February 15, Nerval is interned. Autograph letter signed by Joseph Méry on the title page: to Madame Sophie Gay/Hommage de l'auteur/Méry A woman of letters, Sophie Gay (1776-1852) held one of the most popular salons in Paris. Often perfidious, Pierre Larousse noted: "Despite the great number of works left by Mrs. Sophie Gay, her reputation as a woman of spirit will always exceed her reputation as a writer." The sending is all the more moving as it was probably one of the last received by the dedicatee who died shortly after, on March 5, 1852. Modest binding, back faded. Some spotting.