Julie de Carneilhan
Paris, Librairie Arthème Fayard, 1941.
1 vol. (125 x 190 mm) of 218 p., [1] and 1 f. Lemon morocco, blind and gilt fillet designs on covers with a black morocco piece forming the decoration, smooth spine echoing the design, gilt title, inner frame of the same morocco, doublures and endleaves of fir-green moiré, edges gilt on the rough, original wrappers and spine preserved, modern blue cloth slipcase (Pierre Legrain – J. Anthoine Legrain).
First edition.
One of 20 copies on Hollande paper, this copy no. 16.
One of 20 copies on Hollande paper, this copy no. 16.
Colette wrote Julie de Carneilhan at the beginning of the Occupation, in January 1941, while contributing articles to several newspapers and magazines, and before she decided to leave Paris. The text first appeared as a serial in Gringoire during the summer of 1941, then in book form in October. The plot follows Julie de Carneilhan, a country aristocrat divorced from a philandering politician, the Comte d’Espivant. He proposes that Julie join him in a dishonest financial scheme at the expense of the new Madame d’Espivant, a young and pretty Jewish woman he had married for her fortune.
A very fine binding with symmetrical decoration, perfectly executed by Jacques-Anthoine Legrain after a design by Pierre Legrain.
A choice copy.
#30041
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