ZOLA (Emile). Contes à Ninon. - Lot 306

ZOLA (Emile). Contes à Ninon. An early collection by Émile Zola, combining fantasy, tenderness and social criticism, and already foreshadowing the themes and sensibilities that would nourish his naturalist work. Paris, Hetzel et Lacroix, s.d. [1864]. In-12, bound by Blanchetière, in red half-maroquin with corners, 5-rib spine, compartmentalized, richly decorated with gilt small irons. Head gilt, margins untrimmed, rare with covers preserved. 320pp. Spine and edges of boards shaded, first jaw rubbed with start of slight splits. Micro tears at edge of front cover. First edition. Consisting of stories written between 1859 and 1864, headed by an introductory text "À Ninon", dated "1er octobre 1864", this is Zola's first published work. Of the eight texts in the collection, arranged in non-chronological order, only "La Fée amoureuse", which appeared in "La Provence", an Aix-en-Provence newspaper, on December 29, 1859 and January 26, 1860, and "Le Sang" and "Simplice", originally entitled "Le Baiser de l'ondine", which appeared in "La Revue du mois" on August 25 and October 25, 1863 respectively, preceded by the title "Contes à Ninette", had already been published. ( cf. Mitterand, Henri and Suwala, Halina, Emile Zola journaliste, bibliographie chronologique et analytique, I, p. 25). Provenance: Juan Hernandez with engraved bookplate. A fine copy in a Blanchetière binding.