BARBEY D'AUREVILLY (Jules) - Lot 89

BARBEY D'AUREVILLY (Jules) Du Dandysme et de G. Brummel. Caen, B. Mancel, 1845. Small square in-12, red morocco, triple gilt fillet, ornate spine, interior lace, gilt edges (Belz-Niédrée). First edition, printed by Trebutien and distributed hors commerce. For a long time, it was advertised as having been printed in an edition of only 30 copies, but its print run was re-evaluated at 250 copies by Barbey himself, and then at 321 copies (cf. Melmoux-Montaubin, Barbey d'Aurevilly, 2001, no. 246). The work is presented as an aesthetic essay in which Barbey attempts to define dandyism, and as a biography of George Brummel, the dandy par excellence, born in London in 1778 and died in Caen in 1840. A fine copy on Hollande laid paper in full contemporary binding. Last endpaper detached. Lower hinge slightly rubbed.