BARBEY D'AUREVILLY (Jules). Les Diaboliques. P., Dentu, 1874 - Lot 48

BARBEY D'AUREVILLY (Jules). Les Diaboliques. P., Dentu, 1874. In-12, black morocco, 4-nerved spine, lined with red morocco, brocaded silk endpapers, gilt edges, cons. cover and spine, slipcase (Marius Michel). ORIGINAL EDITION, very rare, of which no large paper copies were made. This collection, the writer's most famous, assured him most of his posthumous fame. Put on sale in November 1874, the book caused a scandal and was prosecuted by the Seine public prosecutor's office. Barbey and his publisher were forced to withdraw the book from sale, and some copies were seized and destroyed. An autograph letter from the author (2 pp. in-12 with stamped envelope enclosed) dated December 7, 1883, addressed to Alexandre Piedagnel, Sainte-Beuve's secretary, is bound at the head of the volume. He first talks about the article on Jules Janin he sent to the Constitutionnel, then about his book: "Vous aurez les Diaboliques et le Prêtre marié. Les Diaboliques, it seems, make a diabolical noise. There are fools who can't read the in-between lines of a book, - who have no echo in their foolish souls for the subterranean, but perceptible morality of a bold book - and all this, for the time being, is bellowing against me!" A very fine copy, with the correct cover, free of scratches and very fresh. Thus bound by the master Marius-Michel and enriched by this letter in which Barbey himself judges his book, it is precious.