Paris, Léon Vanier, 1891.
8vo [184 x 124 mm] of (2) ll., 120 pp. Bound in straight-grained brown morocco, triple gilt fillet on the covers, slightly faded flat spine decorated with a triple gilt fillet, straight-grained fawn morocco doublures decorated with a triple gilt fillet frame, cloth endleaves with geometric patterns, wrappers and spine bound in, gilt over untrimmed edges. Binding signed by Semet et Plumelle.
First edition of this collection of poems by Verlaine. Carteret, II, 428; Clouzot, p. 267.
One of 55 copies on Dutch paper, handwritten details concerning the edition, only issue on large paper, this one bearing n°26.
This collection is actually the last part of the religious polyptich formed by Sagesse, Amour and Parallèlement. The idea of this collection dates from October 1885, but we will have to wait until April 1887 so that Verlaine tackles this “Christian” work. Between May 1887 and the end of April 1891, date of its publication in the bookshops, the poet hesitated to confide it to his usual editor, preferring Albert Savine to whom the poet gave up in 1888 the right to publish the work. Finally, he entrusted Vanier with the publication of Bonheur after having fallen out with the contacted editor.
A beautiful copy preserved in its morocco binding with morocco doublures and its wrappers bound in.
Provenance: from the collections Brayat and H. Bradley Martin with their ex-libris.
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