Gautier, Theophile and Buckland Wright, John (Illus.) – Mademoiselle de Maupin – A Romance : One Of 50 Special Copies Bound In Full Vellum And With 4 Extra Plates

Golden Cockerel Press, UK : 1938

The First UK Printing published by the Golden Cockerel Press, UK in 1938. Number ’36’ of 50 special copies, (from a total edition of 500) bound in the publisher’s original full vellum, top edge gilt, and gilt titling by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. Printed on Van Gelder paper. These special copies had 4 extra engravings by Buckland Wright, i.e. 12 in total, rather than just the 8 included in the standard edition. The BOOK is in near Fine condition, internally clean with just the merest hint of toning to the spine. Housed in a contemporary cloth slipcase (also near fine) with a silk tie present. Translated from the French into English by R. & E. Powys Mathers. 'In September 1833, Gautier was solicited to write a historical romance 'Mademoiselle de Maupin' based on the life of French opera star Mlle. Maupin, who was a first-rate swordswoman and often went about disguised as a man. Originally, the story was to be about the historical La Maupin, who set fire to a convent for the love of another woman, but later retired to a convent herself, shortly before dying in her thirties. Gautier instead turned the plot into a simple love triangle between a man, d'Albert, and his mistress, Rosette, who both fall in love with Madelaine de Maupin, who is disguised as a man named Théodore. The message behind Gautier's version of the infamous legend is the fundamental pessimism about the human identity, and perhaps the entire Romantic age. The novel consists of seventeen chapters, most in the form of letters written by d'Albert or Madelaine. Most critics focus on the preface of the novel, which preached about art for art's sake through its dictum that "everything useful is ugly" ' (Wiki). A very handsome production and extremely scarce as the special limited edition. Only 3 such special copies have appeared at auction in the last 20 years. Reid A26; Pertelote 131.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Near Fine