![VERLAINE, Paul (1844-1896). Femmes. [Bruxelles: Kistemaeckers,] 1890.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2014/CKS/2014_CKS_10773_0214_001(verlaine_paul_femmes_bruxelles_kistemaeckers_1890021458).jpg?w=1)
![VERLAINE, Paul (1844-1896). Femmes. [Bruxelles: Kistemaeckers,] 1890.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2014/CKS/2014_CKS_10773_0214_000(verlaine_paul_femmes_bruxelles_kistemaeckers_1890013827).jpg?w=1)
Details
VERLAINE, Paul (1844-1896). Femmes. [Bruxelles: Kistemaeckers,] 1890.
Octavo (217 x 135 mm). Extra-illustrated with 20 original watercolours by Henri de Sta. (Deckle edges lightly yellowed, occasional light marginal soiling.) 20th-century decorative morocco by George Miller, signed, with an all-over design of applied leather, suede and other materials, showing a woman’s legs spread out over both covers, the vagina centred on the spine, with the original wrappers laid down and bound in; in a burgundy morocco-backed clamshell case.
FIRST EDITION. A UNIQUE COPY OF ONE OF VERLAINE’S MAJOR EROTIC WORKS, WITH ORIGINAL WATERCOLOURS THROUGHOUT BY STA, AND IN A FINE BINDING BY MILLER which takes its cue from the stockinged legs of the courtesans in Sta’s excellent drawings. Henri de Sta (1846-1920), caricaturist and humourist, is one of the pioneers of francophone bande dessinée. Verlaine’s poetry in Femmes ‘equally well-tempered as it can be prey to linguistic triviality, always bears witness to desire and suffering. It therefore deserves its place in the oeuvre of the Damned Poet – a place which it was refused until the canonical edition of his works published in 1989 by Pléiade’ (Eros invaincu). One of 150 copies from an edition of 175 only, this one number 45. Dutel 291; Eros invaincu 86; Pia Enfer, 500. For Sta see also lots 194 & 195.
Octavo (217 x 135 mm). Extra-illustrated with 20 original watercolours by Henri de Sta. (Deckle edges lightly yellowed, occasional light marginal soiling.) 20th-century decorative morocco by George Miller, signed, with an all-over design of applied leather, suede and other materials, showing a woman’s legs spread out over both covers, the vagina centred on the spine, with the original wrappers laid down and bound in; in a burgundy morocco-backed clamshell case.
FIRST EDITION. A UNIQUE COPY OF ONE OF VERLAINE’S MAJOR EROTIC WORKS, WITH ORIGINAL WATERCOLOURS THROUGHOUT BY STA, AND IN A FINE BINDING BY MILLER which takes its cue from the stockinged legs of the courtesans in Sta’s excellent drawings. Henri de Sta (1846-1920), caricaturist and humourist, is one of the pioneers of francophone bande dessinée. Verlaine’s poetry in Femmes ‘equally well-tempered as it can be prey to linguistic triviality, always bears witness to desire and suffering. It therefore deserves its place in the oeuvre of the Damned Poet – a place which it was refused until the canonical edition of his works published in 1989 by Pléiade’ (Eros invaincu). One of 150 copies from an edition of 175 only, this one number 45. Dutel 291; Eros invaincu 86; Pia Enfer, 500. For Sta see also lots 194 & 195.
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