Fin de siècle

1660 · ST19567-160 — Paris: Chez Pierre Lamy 1660. FIRST EDITION. 179 x 120 mm. 7 x 4 3/4". 10 p.l. 496 35 1 pp. <br/> EXTREMELY FINE 19TH CENTURY RED MOROCCO BY HARDY stamp-signed in gilt on front turn-in covers with gilt coat of arms and French fillet border raised bands compartments ruled in gilt and with elegant gilt floral and foliate tooling gilt lettering gilt dentelles all edges gilt. Front free endpaper with bookplate of poet Auguste P. Garnier 1885-1966. Tchemerzine IX 332. ◆Trivial imperfections only: A VERY FINE COPY INSIDE AND OUT.<br/> <br/> In a very handsome binding by one of the most widely sought-after binders of the turn of the 20th century this is a beautifully preserved volume of verse by a founding member of the Académie française. A protégé of Malherbe Honorat de Bueil Seigneur de Racan 1589-1670 is primarily known for his elegant pastoral and religious poetry which as Britannica notes succeeds at "preserving the elegiac lyricism of an earlier age and foreshadowing the gentle melancholy of Alphonse de Lamartine." According to Tchemerzine the present work is "the most complete edition of Racan's religious works" and is in large part composed of his verse interpretations of the Psalms. The Hardy atelier produced luxurious volumes many of them armorial for a range of 19th century connoisseurs. Although we have not been able to identify the coat of arms on the covers the crown with pearls indicates that the owner bore the title of "Comte." Among other connections in the bibliopegic world Henri Hardy employed Jean Marius Michel as a gilder near the start of his career; he also worked with Charles Meunier and Émile Mercier before meeting Robert Hoe in Paris and agreeing to come to New York in early 1896 to serve as foreman of the newly established Club Bindery. In 1917 Hardy along with his compatriots Leon Maillard and Gaston Pilon formed the French Binders with the stated intention of "bringing together distinguished members of the craft to afford them opportunity to work under the most advantageous conditions." The present item is an excellent example of Hardy's earlier work is in outstanding condition inside and out and makes an excellent impression on the shelf. The bookplate on the flyleaf indicates that it was once owned by the French poet Auguste P. Garnier 1885-1966 who later ran the Garnier publishing house established by his family in 1833. Chez Pierre Lamy unknown