HISTOIRE DE MANON LESCAUT ET DU CHEVALIER DES GRIEUX

Paris: [Printed by J. Claye for] Glady Frères, 1875. No. 8 OF 50 LARGE PAPER COPIES ON PAPIER CHINE, from a total edition of 333. 225 x 147 mm. (8 7/8 x 5 7/8"). XLIX, [3], 1-372, [4] pp.Preface by Alexandre Dumas fils.
LOVELY DARK BLUE MOROCCO, GILT, BY MARCELLIN LORTIC (stamp-signed on front turn-in, his ticket on verso of front free endpaper), covers with French fillet border, intricate cornerpieces with floral spray and two birds, raised bands, spine compartments with floral vase sporting two tiny birds at center, surrounded by delicately entwined floral vines, gilt lettering, richly gilt turn-ins with floral vines inhabited by birds, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Original vellum wrappers bound in. Housed in a chamois-lined matching morocco-lipped slipcase. With additional engraved title page, four portraits of the author (one as called for, three added), and 34 plates, 12 as called for, 22 from other editions. With a handwritten note laid in: "With much love & many kind thoughts from your most devoted admirer. V. A. B." Carteret V, 160. Board edges bowed slightly inward, one added plate mildly browned, otherwise AN ESPECIALLY FINE COPY, the contents clean and fresh, and the binding lustrous and unworn.

This deluxe Large Paper Copy of a classic French novel is admired for its excellent printing, important preface by a celebrated contemporary author, and lovely illustrations, most of them added from other editions. And our copy is beautifully bound by a distinguished French binder. The tragic tale of a young nobleman and his attractive but mercenary lover, Manon, was first printed in 1731 as the last volume in "Memoirs and Adventures of a Man of Quality." The book was reissued separately in 1733 and became immediately successful--and censored--due to the illicit love and amoral behavior of the principal characters. It was officially published again 20 years later (following many pirated editions), having been extensively revised by the author. There has been some speculation that the story is semi-autobiographical, with its author, usually referred to as Abbé Prévost (1697-1763), having vacillated between religious and military careers, suffering at least one unfortunate love affair, and, for a brief time, living in exile. The present edition includes a famous preface by Alexandre Dumas fils that attests to its enduring allure and celebrity. Dumas, whose own "La Dame aux Camelias" was influenced by the present novel, praises the work while musing on the dangerous intensity of Manon's passion, noting that "She can only live in pleasure, as fish can only live in water." In addition to the excellent plates by French engraver Leopold Flameng, this work has been supplemented with engravings by other noted French illustrators such as Edmond Hédouin and Louis Monzies. Adding to the appeal of this copy is its beautifully preserved binding from an esteemed Parisian workshop. Marcellin Lortic (1852-1928) was trained by his father Pierre (1822-92), one of the great binders of 19th century Paris; the firm was known for their superb interpretations of traditional styles. Flety notes that unlike his father, Lortic fils handled all aspects of a binding himself as designer, binder, and gilder. He was an eccentric workaholic, living alone in his workshop and devoting his life to his craft. According to Flety, "his bindings appeared in numerous libraries of great collectors of his time" who showed their satisfaction and appreciation with persistent loyalty. Protective of his reputation--and also loathe to work with others--he refused to hire an apprentice/successor, choosing instead to sell his equipment and tools when he was no longer able to work..