FLAUBERT (Gustave). Le candidat. Comedy in four acts. Paris, - Lot 452

FLAUBERT (Gustave). Le candidat. Comedy in four acts. Paris, Charpentier, 1874. In-16, 165 p., recent midnight-blue half-chagrin with corners, five-rib spine, gilt author, title and date, gilt fleurons and fillets, gilt head, covers and spine preserved (some moderate russetting). First edition of Gustave Flaubert's only play, first performed at the Théâtre du Vaudeville on March 11, 1874. Interesting provenance identified by a curious period handwritten note on the cover, from an actor who indicates that he bought this copy from Flaubert himself. This was probably Gilles de Saint-Germain (1833-1899), since he mentions having played the role of Gruchet in the play, "... M. Flaubert, who told anyone who would listen that I was an actor of genius, no less...".