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240 - VERLAINE (Paul). *Poèmes saturniens*.
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Estimate €600 - €800
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Description
VERLAINE (Paul). *Poèmes saturniens*. Paris, Lemerre, 1866. In 12, black half-maroquin with corner caps, gilt fillets on the covers, spine with 5 raised bands, gilt date at the foot, gilt head, preserved lined covers and spine, untrimmed, lined slipcase (Alix binding). [3 ff.], 163 pp., [1 p.]. Printed by D. Jouaust. First edition. Print run of 505 copies, 1/491 on vellum. Verlaine’s first book, which is extremely rare, was published at the poet’s own expense using money given to him by his cousin Élisa. Its success with the public did not live up to Verlaine’s hopes; however, he received this encouragement from Sainte Beuve, the great critic of the time: ‘There is talent here, and I salute it above all else. Your inspiration is lofty; you are not content with inspiration alone, that fleeting thing. You expressed this in your prologue in words that are not easily forgotten.’ And Leconte de Lisle, another luminary: ‘Your poems are those of a true poet, of a highly skilled artist who will soon master the art of expression.’ Vicaire VII, 989; Carteret, II, 413. Included: VERLAINE (Paul). Épigrammes. Paris, Bibliothèque artistique et littéraire, 1894. Small 8vo, paperback. 78 pp., [1 f.], frontispiece by F.-A. Cazals. FIRST EDITION. 1/1000 copies on Angoulême vellum (Vicaire VII, 999). " “This little work was written by a sick man who wished to amuse himself and not to bore his contemporaries too much. Consequently, posterity is asked to regard it merely as a game. P.V. Saint-Louis Hospital, Gabrielle Wing, May–June 1894”.
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About the sale In preparation – The Jean-Paul Delon Bookshop Collection, Part I (Bibliography – Scholarship – Bibliophilia)
Auction location
Auction time 10/05/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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