SAINT-JOHN PERSE. - Lot 189

SAINT-JOHN PERSE. Eulogies. Paris: Nouvelle Revue Française, Marcel Rivière & Cie, [July 6, 1911]. — In-16, 190 x 125 :(36 ff., first blank), printed cover. Paperback, black morocco leather slipcase with overlapping flaps, gold-foil-lined paper, black box, with the covers and spine largely covered in green morocco leather (D. Morcrette, D. Jaquillard, L. and C. Berthaux). Vignes and Boudrot, Bibliography of the Editions of the Nouvelle Revue Française, 2011, no. 4, p. 22. An extremely rare first edition, printed in a run of only 110 copies, of Saint-John Perse’s first collection of poetry, published under the name Saint-Léger Léger. The history of this publication is particularly revealing. These early poems were first published in the *Nouvelle Revue Française* between 1909 and 1911. Upon receiving the June 1911 issue, Saint-John Perse was dismayed to discover that his 18 poems, published under the title Éloges, had been, in his own words, “butchered.” An investigation revealed that Gide, then editor of the journal and the sole custodian of the manuscript, had entrusted the copy to an unscrupulous secretary, whose misreading of the author’s handwriting had completely distorted the texts. To rectify this error, Gide took the initiative to have this booklet published, at the expense of the NRF, and it was printed on July 6, 1911. On December 22, 1911, Valery Larbaud wrote a glowing article about it in *La Phalange*. This title is the fourth work published by the Nouvelle Revue Française. *Éloges* is above all an ode to Guadeloupe, the poet’s native island, and to childhood. This collection lays the foundation for Saint-John Perse’s Caribbean cycle and already foreshadows the major themes of his work: exile, the quest for unity, and the evocative power of language. One of 100 copies on laid paper, enhanced with a leaf inserted at the front bearing the author’s dedication to George Robinson: For you, // Dear George Robinson, // from whom I have known nothing but elegance, // thoughtfulness, and personal devotion // in the mysterious realm of // “publishing,” // a friendly and grateful // thought from // St. John Perse // “Les Vigneaux” // Giens Peninsula // Summer 1971 A copy in a beautiful box and morocco leather slipcase, designed by Daniel Morcrette, crafted by D. Jaquillard, and gilded by L. and C. Berthaux, from the prestigious library of Jean A. Bonna. Spine and edges of the case are worn. Some staining on the cover. Provenance: Jean A. Bonna, with bookplate (auction of April 26, 2017, lot 264).