258 - PRÉVOST, Marcel.

PRÉVOST, Marcel. Les Demi-vierges. Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, 1894. In-12, (2) ff., VIII-360 pp. Brown half-maroquin with corner pieces, ribbed spine adorned with a gold fillet, author, title, and date in gold, four gold fillets framing the panels, gold fillet on the covers, gold head, untrimmed, cover and spine preserved [Canape] (spine very slightly faded). Provenance: A copy that belonged to René Rouzaud (1905–1976), the famous lyricist and author of, among other works, *La Goualante du pauvre Jean*, performed by Edith Piaf, with his gilt ex-libris on midnight blue paper. Description: First edition printed in a limited run of only 125 numbered copies: one of the 100 on Holland paper (no. 71), numbered and initialed by the publisher. A fine copy in an elegant, signed morocco binding. A novel by the Dreyfusard writer and founder of the *Revue de France*, considered the work that marks the beginning of his second literary period. This period is marked by his desire to reconcile tradition and modernity, reflecting the spirit of his time by advocating for feminist activism in the vein of Paul Hervieu.