ZOLA (Émile). Germinal. Paris: G. Charpentier et Cie, 1885. -In-18, 180 x 115: (2 ff.), 591 pp. printed cover. Bordeaux half-maroquin with corners, gilt fillets, spine ribbed, gilt head, untrimmed, cover and spine preserved (20th century binding). Another copy of the original edition. Copy on publisher's paper, enriched with an autograph letter signed by Émile Zola, one page in-8, dated November 10, 1899 and mounted on a tab. This is a letter of refusal addressed to a publisher requesting permission to publish Germinal as a serial in a newspaper: "Alas, dear sir, I can no longer give you permission to publish 'Germinal' free of charge, since I am a member of the Société des gens de lettres. And above all, I cannot authorize you to publish this novel in separate deliveries, which your buyers would then put together, as this would simply be counterfeiting, and my publisher would be entitled to sue me." Used rubbing to spine. Restoration to cover. Provenance: Victor Mercier, with his bookplate bearing the motto "librorum flos illibatus" (not included in his library's sales catalogs).