SONNETS ET EAUX-FORTES. - Lot 88

SONNETS ET EAUX-FORTES. Paris : Alphonse Lemerre, 1869. - In-folio, 353 x 261: title, (46 ff.), 42 plates. Dark brown half-maroquin with corners, spine ribbed, gilt head, untrimmed (E. Pouget). First edition of this famous collective collection published by Alphonse Lemerre under the direction of Philippe Burty, comprising 42 sonnets and as many original etchings. The work begins with a title engraved by Alfred Prunaire after a composition by Édouard Renard. The sonnets were written by the leading poets of the day, including Jean Aicard, Joseph Autran, Théodore de Banville, Antoni and Émile Deschamps, Anatole France, José Maria de Hérédia, Arsène Houssaye, Victor de Laprade, Laurent-Pichat, Leconte de Lisle, Catulle Mendès, Sainte-Beuve, Joséphin Soulary, Armand Sylvestre, Sully Prudhomme and Paul Verlaine. Among the etchings, 41 are original engravings by the artists. They include Edmond Morin, Giacomotti, Célestin Nanteuil, Gustave DORÉ, Léopold Flameng and Daubigny, Jean-François MILLET and Édouard MANET, with his Femme à la manille. The sonnet by Paul Meurice is illustrated with an etching after a drawing by Victor Hugo. The edition of this collection was limited to 386 copies; this is one of 350 on laid paper. Back faded, some rubbing from use. A few rare brown spots.