CLAUDEL, Paul.

Tête d'or. Paris, Librairie de l'Art Indépendant, 1890. In-8 [224 x 157] of (78) ff : red half-chagrin with bands, gilt filets, spine with a long rib, gilt head, untrimmed, cover and spine preserved (binding of the first half of the XX th century). First edition : confidential publication, without author's name, without title page nor pagination. FIRST BOOK BY PAUL CLAUDEL; UNIQUE EDITION AT 100 COPIES. A disconcerting book by an unknown twenty-two year old, it had the effect of a "bomb" according to André Gide's formula, greeted from the start by Mallarmé and Mirbeau, and then, later, in surrealist circles, though not very inclined to admire the man. Autograph letter signed: To my son-in-law and collaborator // Roger Méquillet // very affectionately // P . Claudel // 11-12-50 Roger Méquillet had married Marie Claudel, the eldest daughter of the writer. Technical director of Grands moulins de Paris, he collaborated in the edition of the Complete Works of his father-in-law. Spine slightly faded, small split at one corner, one corner dulled and some rubbing from use.