JOUHANDEAU (Marcel). Lot n° 189

The Youth of Theophilus. Histoire ironique et mystique. P., NRF, 1921, 4° tellière, half magenta leather with corners, spine with 5 fine bands, author, title, date and head gilt, cover and spine cons. (spine slightly faded, cover browned) (binding signed Semet et Plumelle). First edition of the author's first book. 1/113 first copies reprinted on Lafuma-Navarre laid paper, this one printed in the name of Daniel Wapler, engraver and illustrator. In his interviews published by Pauvert, Jouhandeau remembers his relationship with his first publisher: "I sent Gallimard the first part of La Jeunesse de Théophile in 1919. After six months a year, Gaston Gallimard wrote to me: "I don't read the extracts, I need the whole book. When I have the whole book, I'll decide. I sent him the whole book right away, and maybe six months later, it was the day before the prize-giving at my boarding school, I received a telegram from the publisher: 'Extraordinary book. Expect you tomorrow at ten o'clock'. That was the time of the prize-giving. I told my colleagues what had happened to me and they made me pass through the scaffolding of the platform where we were installed, to go to Gallimard, where I arrived covered in cobwebs. Gide was there to welcome me, it was really one of the most pleasant moments of my life.