203 - LOUŸS, Pierre. *Aphrodite, moeurs antiques*.

LOUŸS, Pierre. *Aphrodite, moeurs antiques*. First edition, first printing of Pierre Louÿs’s masterpiece. A copy from the library of Simone André-Maurois, in a beautiful binding signed by Charles Septier. Paris, Mercure de France, 1896. Large 12mo, green half-maroquin with corner pieces, spine with four raised bands bearing the author’s name and title in gilt letters, date at the bottom, gilt head, covers and spine intact (Ch. Septier). XIII and 339 pp. and 3 ff. (table of contents and colophon). Leather faded on the spine and along the edges of the covers; slight scuffing in one corner and on one edge; covers slightly soiled and frayed. First edition and first printing with the red monogram “P.L.” beneath the colophon and the “printed” notice dated March 21, 1896. The colophon makes no mention of the 10 copies on China paper, which would not appear until the second printing. A huge success upon its publication, this first novel by the author—which he described as an “ancient novel about women and light”— tells the story of the tormented love affair between the courtesan Chrysis and the sculptor Demetrius in first-century B.C. Alexandria. Alfred Valette, the editor of *Le Mercure de France*, first published it as a serial in *Le Mercure* (under the title *L’Esclavage*, between August 1895 and January 1896), then in this in-12 edition in 1896. A glowing review by François Coppée, published in *Le Journal* on April 15, 1896, brought the work to the forefront, prompting Valette to publish a new edition at the end of the year, this time in 8vo format. From the library of the writer Simone André-Maurois (1894–1968), with her bookplate engraved by J. Jacquin after a drawing by Henri Mondor dated April 1935. A fine copy in the author’s own binding.