BARBEY D'AUREVILLY (Jules)

Léa. S.l., Aux dépens de la Société normande du livre illustré, 1907. Small square in-12, bradel pink half calf with corners, ornate smooth spine, black parts, untrimmed, cover and spine (Canape). First bookstore edition of this early work, originally published in the Revue de Caen in 1832. It was published by Louise Read, Barbey d'Aurevilly's secretary and universal legatee, and founder of the museum that bears the writer's name. It was published in an edition of 90 copies. The frontispiece features a medallion portrait of the author, engraved in color by Maccard after a destroyed miniature on enamel by Finck that belonged to Louise Read. A very attractive copy, elegantly bound in decorated pink half calf, from the Charles Hayoit library (2001, no. 196). Portrait of Barbey as a young man, etched by Martinez and printed on chine collé, added at the beginning of the volume. The pages facing the covers are browned.