[Provençal literature] MISTRAL (Frédéric): Miréio pouémo prouvençau de Frederi Mistral (Avec la traduction littérale en regard). Avignon, J. Roumanille, 1859. One volume. 13.5 by 21.5 cm. (4)-515-(1) pages. Spine decorated, wide gilt lace inside, gilt head, cover preserved. Binding signed GUETANT. Spine slightly faded, the only flaw in this elegant binding. Some scattered light foxing, cover preserved foxed, a small wet spot on the lower corner of the title page. The last 18 leaves have been rebacked. First edition. A precious copy, in which 4 handwritten leaves by the Félibre and scholar Adolphe Michel, of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, have been bound at the head. The two handwritten documents (a letter and a note) are of great interest for the history of Frédéric Mistral's budding fame. The letter, dated March 11, 1859, is addressed to Henri d'Audigier, a columnist with the newspaper La Patrie. Adolphe Michel is a Félibre of whom it has been said "[he] was, [...] by his mastery, energy and drive, the soul of the Félibrée". (Revue du Félibrige, quoted by René Jouveau, in Histoire du Félibrige). He also wrote the first opera libretto based on Mistral's Miréio, before Carré. Henri d'Audigier (1828-1872), from an old Bourg-Saint-Andéol family, a former student at the École Normale, journalist, teacher and influential literary critic for the newspaper La Patrie, published one of the first articles on Mireille, before Lamartine. In his letter, dated March 11, 1859, Adolphe Michel asked Henri d'Audigier to include in La Patrie an article he had written in praise of Frédéric Mistral's work: the handwritten note bound in the book is this article, dated March 10, 1859. D'Audigier's review in La Patrie did not appear until March 16, 1859. We can legitimately assume that it was, at least in part, the consequence of Adolphe Michel's letter. The start of a masterpiece's career