DUMAS, Alexandre (1802-1870). Bouts rimés. Parigi:... Lot n° 35

Bouts-rhymes are a poetic game in which, given an established list of rhyming words with which to end verses, one must write a composition while keeping its order unchanged. Dumas, amused by the idea, issued the challenge, and 350 French poets answered the call by sending in their compositions, which were published here with the help of Joseph Méry. The great novelist's handwritten dedication reads A monsigneur Antonin Schove avec mille compliments, Dumas letting us assume that the recipient was one of the literati participating in the amusing initiative. 12mo, (172 x 158mm). Sheet with autograph manuscript inserted after title page (some blooming). 19th-century binding with percalline spine (gold title to spine) DUMAS, Alexandre (1802-1870). Bouts rimés. Paris: Librairie du Petit Journal, 1865.