BARBEY D'AUREVILLY (Jules). - Lot 65

BARBEY D'AUREVILLY (Jules). Les Diaboliques. Paris : E. Dentu, 1874. - In-12, 183 x 115: (1 f.), VIII pp. pp. (7)-354, (1 f.), printed cover. Maroquin lie de vin janséniste, spine ribbed, cold roulette between two double gilt fillets inside, gilt fleuron at outer corners, gilt head, untrimmed, cover and spine preserved (Gruel). In French in the text, 300. Sought-after first edition of this collection of 6 tragic and cruel short stories, including: Le Rideau cramoisi, Le Plus Bel Amour de Don Juan, Le Bonheur dans le crime, Le Dessous de cartes d'une partie de whist, À un dîner d'athées and La Vengeance d'une femme. " The publication of Les Diaboliques as a collection came at the end of Barbey d'Aurevilly's literary career, but the project goes back much further. It took shape in the late 1840s, at the time of Barbey's conversion to ultramontane Catholicism. Le Dessous de cartes d'une partie de whist, written in 1848 and published in serial form in La Mode in 1850, was thus conceived as part of a set, which Barbey initially entitled Ricochets de conversations. The other Diaboliques were composed later, between 1863 and 1873. Some first appeared in the press ("Le Plus Bel Amour de Don Juan", 1867; "Le Bonheur dans le crime", 1871), before being included in the work published by Dentu in 1874. Others are unpublished" (Mathilde Labbé, BNF website "Les Essentiels"). The edition was published in 2200 copies, sold out in four days. Despite the book's favorable reception, Paul Girard's article in the November 24, 1874 issue of Charivari led to the author and publisher being charged with outrage against morality and decency. The public prosecutor's office seized the 480 copies still in production, but thanks to the support of Arsène Houssaye and then Gambetta, Barbey d'Aurevilly's case was dismissed on January 21, 1875, although the seized copies were destroyed. This is a first issue, with no mention of the edition and the title in a red band on the cover. As always, the cover is dated 1875 on the spine. Perfectly bound by Gruel, this copy also features a portrait of the author engraved by Rajon on China paper, as well as an autograph card from Barbey d'Aurevilly. This card, measuring 137 by 89 millimeters, is undated and addressed to "Monsieur Dumas". Barbey informs his correspondent that a portrait of himself is to be brought to him: "I find it good, - inasmuch as a devil of a man can be pleased with his portrait. You, who are not me, I hope you will be very pleased with this effigy. The same young man will, if you like, give you the portrait of Mm Akermann, of which he has made a masterpiece." The card does not bear the author's autograph signature, but this is reproduced in green on the reverse. Slightly faded spine. Back cover restored. Provenance: L. Manchon signature on front cover. Manchon on cover. Joint : - ROPS (Félicien). [Dix eaux-fortes pour illustrer les Diaboliques]. [Paris : Alphonse Lemerre, 1886]. - In-8, 9 plates, leaves. Suite des 9 eaux-fortes dessinées et gravées par Félicien ROPS pour les Diaboliques de Barbey d'Aurevilly. The portrait of the author engraved by Rajon is missing, but a copy, on chine, is bound in the book. Beautiful proofs with the letter on laid paper. Without the publisher's portfolio.