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☙ Les Fleurs du Mal
1908 - Charles Baudelaire
This copy of Charles Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du Mal, published by Calmann-Lévy in Paris and printed in Coulommiers by Paul Boudard in February 1908, derives its exceptional value from a remarkable provenance: it once belonged to Sylvain Sauvage (1888–1948), one of the most... ☞ Read more
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☙ Les Fleurs du Mal
✑ Charles Baudelaire
LES FLEURS DU MAL PAR CHARLES BAUDELAIRE, PRÉCÉDÉES D'UNE NOTICE PAR THÉOPHILE GAUTIER.
This copy of Charles Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du Mal, published by Calmann-Lévy in Paris and printed in Coulommiers by Paul Boudard in February 1908, derives its exceptional value from a remarkable provenance: it once belonged to Sylvain Sauvage (1888–1948), one of the most elegant and cultivated illustrators of the first half of the 20th century, whose ex-libris appears in this volume. Sylvain Sauvage, whose artistic universe was deeply nourished by Symbolist and Decadent poetry, could only have kept Les Fleurs du Mal in his personal library. This collection, the absolute masterpiece of modern French poetry, is here presented in the Calmann-Lévy edition that was for decades the reference version for the educated general public, enriched by Théophile Gautier's celebrated biographical and critical preface. The combination of this foundational text, this historic edition and this illustrious provenance makes it a collector's object of uncommon symbolic and cultural density.
Why add it to your collection?
- A copy that once belonged to Sylvain Sauvage (1888–1948), one of the most refined illustrators and bibliophiles of the first half of the 20th century, whose ex-libris confers on this volume an exceptional provenance and considerable collector's value
- A Calmann-Lévy edition of Les Fleurs du Mal with the celebrated preface by Théophile Gautier, representative of how Baudelaire was disseminated at the beginning of the 20th century, a pivotal moment in the poet's definitive consecration
- A direct link between two great figures of French artistic sensibility: Baudelaire, father of poetic modernity, and Sylvain Sauvage, heir to this aesthetic universe in the art of the illustrated book
- Printed in Coulommiers by Paul Boudard in February 1908, this volume bears a precise location and date making it a bibliographically identifiable and traceable object — a rare quality for a trade edition
- An ideal piece for a thematic collection around Baudelaire, French Symbolist poetry, or the reconstructed library of Sylvain Sauvage, whose personal copies are highly sought after
Description
Les Fleurs du Mal and their Editorial Legacy First published in 1857 — in an edition immediately prosecuted for offending public morals — Charles Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du Mal (1821–1867) constitute one of the most influential poetry collections in all of Western literature. A work of tension between ideal and spleen, between beauty and damnation, between formal classicism and thematic modernity, they inaugurate modern poetry and foreshadow Symbolism, Decadentism and much of the artistic sensibility of the 20th century. The Calmann-Lévy edition, widely distributed from the late 19th century, was for a long time the most accessible and widespread version of the collection, contributing to Baudelaire's popular consecration.
The Preface by Théophile Gautier This edition opens with the celebrated preface by Théophile Gautier, a close friend of Baudelaire and one of the first to recognise and champion his genius. Written with the authority of a witness and the pen of a great writer, this preface is itself a primary literary document. It traces Baudelaire's life, analyses his work and defends its aesthetic legitimacy with an eloquence that contributed greatly to establishing the image of the cursed and visionary poet that posterity has retained. Its presence in this edition considerably increases its documentary and literary value.
The Ex-Libris of Sylvain Sauvage The presence of Sylvain Sauvage's ex-libris (1888–1948) in this volume makes it a piece of exceptional provenance. A renowned illustrator, trained in the Art Nouveau tradition and flourishing in Art Deco, Sauvage was one of the great names of the French illustrated book of the interwar period. His personal library, nourished by Symbolist poetry and Decadent literature, directly reflected his artistic sources of inspiration. To own a volume from his library is therefore to come into direct contact with the intellectual and aesthetic universe of a major 20th-century artist.
Material Characteristics Printed in Coulommiers by the Imprimerie Paul Boudard in February 1908, this volume displays the typical characteristics of the carefully produced edition of the early century: quality paper, clear and legible typography, handy format. The copy, in generally satisfactory condition, retains the essential of its original material qualities. Sauvage's ex-libris, clearly visible, constitutes the distinguishing mark that elevates this otherwise ordinary copy to the rank of a collector's piece.
Mark it for later — it might just be waiting for you!
- Year
- ❧ 1908
- Century
- ❧ XX
- Author
- Charles Baudelaire
- Publisher
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- Calmann-Lévy, Paris
- Printer
- Imprimerie Paul Boudard, Coulommiers
- Ex Libris
- Sylvain Sauvage
- Ref #
- FDM-392
- Dimensions
- 120 mm • 185 mm • 18 mm
- Weight
- 320 gram
- Condition
- *** Good
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