Description
FIRST EDITION.
One of the rare copies on vellum paper very large margins unannounced in colophon.
PIERRE VALDAGNE, then literary director of the Ollendorff publishing house.
AUTOGRAPH SIGNED LETTER TO PIERRE VALDAGNE :
"to Pierre Valdagne
his friend
Abel Hermant
In his memoirs, Rosny stresses the importance of Valdagne's role, who, even after the publishing house changed its name and a new literary director was appointed in 1898, prevented the editions from going under: "The Ollendorff bookshop, after enjoying great success, especially with Ohnet, fell into the doldrums.me. [...] But Valdagne, with discreet vigilance, prevented the house from tumbling down. If Valdagne had been better supervised, perhaps he would have restored the house to some of its vanished splendour."
Olivier Bessard-Banquy, "La maison Ollendorff Splendeurs et misères d'une grande maison littéraire au tournant des XIXe et XXe siècles". Revue française d'histoire du livre, 2016.
Bound in contemporary style. Half vellum, smooth spine decorated with two gilt fillets, red morocco title page, gilt heads. Cover preserved without the spine. Some brown spots.