RACINE (Louis). Lot n° 85

Poem on grace. Paris, 1722. In-8, title, x-92 pp. interleaved, fawn calf, spine ribbed and decorated, triple gilt fillet and corner fleurons on the boards, gilt fillet and cross-hatching on the edges, inner gilt lace, gilt edges, half morocco folder with corners, lined slipcase (Period binding). A very precious copy of the author, bearing on interleaved leaves about 450 verses, variants or additions in the hand of Louis Racine. It is described as such in L'Amateur d'Autographes, 1862, pp. 82-83. The Poëme sur la Grace, Louis Racine's first work, was published by Coignard in 1720 and was regarded as an exposition of the principles of Jansenism, without the controversial questions. The old quarrels were revived, the sale of the book was suspended. Coignard recovered the permission to sell it in 1722, by removing the frontispiece and the Privilege. The title of this copy, which does not bear the bookseller's name, has been cut out and reassembled. The Preface and the Avertissement to the Epistre à M. de Valincourt which follows the Poëme sur la Grace are an explanation of the author's life. Regulated copy. This volume belonged to the library of Mlle des Radrets, great-granddaughter of Racine, then to that of M. de la Jarriette, at whose sale (in 1834) it was bought by the scholar Villenave, who affixed a note on a title page. Under this note a mention: bought at the Villenave sale. 1849. Three small typewritten and handwritten notes signed by J. Millot are attached. From the libraries of Louis Racine; Mme Louis Racine; Mlle des Radrets; M. J.L.D. (de La Jariette), (sale on June 9, 1834); Villenave (sale in 1849; cf. l'Amateur d'autographes, 1862, p. 82); Librairie Morgand, which sold it to Albert de Naurois for 30 fr. on February 9, 1891; Lucien-Graux (1956, no. 229, sold for 28,000 fr.); Millot (1975, no. 335) Description: 1 flyleaf, 5 blank ff. (note on verso f. 5), title remounted, x - 92 pp. interfoliated with 1 or 2 ff. between each page, including more than 400 variants and handwritten additions which appear to be in the author's hand.