Jules BARBEY D'AUREVILLY.

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Jules BARBEY D'AUREVILLY.
Du dandysme et de G. Brummell. Caen, B. Mancel, 1845. In-12 of VII pp., 118 pp., (1) f. of errata: red morocco, ornate ribbed spine, double gilt fillet framing the boards, gilt filleted edges, gilt silk lining and endpapers, gilt edges on witnesses, cover preserved (E. & A. Maylander) First edition. It was carefully edited in Caen by Trebutien, Barbey d'Aurevilly's friend and confidant, and printed in an edition of 320 copies, 20 of which on coloured paper. One of the few copies printed on pink paper. The historical and somewhat introspective essay also traces the life of George Brummell (1788-1840) whom Barbey had seen in Caen, where the dandy died after sinking into madness. A very nice copy with all margins: it is enriched with three autographed letters, one of which is a mailing: To my Cousins Too frivolous for you perhaps, this Brummell, written in my past fatuity time. Women trembled before Brummel [sic]. It is I who tremble, in offering it to you. J. Barbey d'Aurevilly (1 page small in-12 in red ink, unpublished letter of dispatch.) Two other letters are found mounted at the top: - Letter to Trebutien, without place or date [Paris, 15 October 1844]. Very beautiful letter about the proofs of Dandysme, which were long overdue: "These last days, instead of thinking about my own affairs, I was arranging those of others. I was, in spite of myself, a witness in a duel between two jealous men who wanted to cut each other's throats for a whore, and it was not without difficulty that I calmed down these steaming heads. [...] As we lick our little marcassin as much as possible, I will write here the additions I scribbled in the margin of the proof. [...] There is enough edging on the bottom of our skirt for today. Give your attention to this fringe. [...] I have not yet found an epigraph. Help me a little or I will be obliged to invent one. I only like quotes from unknown books. When it is a question of dandyism, that is, of anti-vulgarity, one must be careful not to be common in anything. [...] If I am there, my friend, you will hardly recognize me. No more colour, no more images, all muscle, nerves and marrow: a style that hardly smells of the thousand flowers of the Dandy, Sir! (3 pages in-8 in black ink, address on the back; published in Barbey, Correspondance générale I, n° 1844/20.) - Letter to Louise Read, without place or date [1885]. "I have nothing to send to Mr. Dewez. I care little for the glory of biographies. Mine is in the obscurity of my life. Let one guess the man through the works, if one can. I have always lived in the centre of calumnies and biographical inaccuracies of all kinds, and I remain there with the pleasure of being very much in disguise at the masked ball. That is the joy of the mask, which one removes at dinner only with the people one loves. [...] (1 page and 2 lines in red ink; published in Barbey, Correspondance générale IX, n° 1885/33.) A perfect copy. From the libraries of Victor Mercier, with ex-libris (1937, n° 34: The volume is described in lemon half-maroquin and without attached letters) and Charles Hayoit, with ex-libris, for whom the binding was rebound by the Maylanders (2001, nº 179)
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