SARCEY, Francisque. Memories of Youth. - Lot 283

SARCEY, Francisque. Memories of Youth. A copy from the author’s library, on Dutch laid paper, with two letters inserted, and in a beautiful binding signed “Franz.” Paris, Paul Ollendorf, 1885. In-8, full midnight blue morocco, spine with raised bands accented by dotted gold fillets bearing the title, author’s name, and date in gold, panels adorned with small filigree ironwork featuring a triple daisy motif, covers decorated in the Duseuil style with a monogram and triple gilded border fillets, a fine interior border with a gilded scroll, double gilded fillets at the edges, guilloché caps, gilded top edge, untrimmed. Binding signed by Franz. 3 uncut folios, 341 pages, and 1 uncut folio of endpapers; large engraved ex-libris on the first folio. The jaw of the front cover is split at the top; the corners and hinge of the back cover are very slightly rubbed. First edition, one of 10 numbered copies on Dutch laid paper (no. 2), the only edition printed on large-format paper (Vicaire, VII, 360). Beautiful bookplate designed and engraved by Demengeot from the library of Francisque Sarcey. Copy containing two letters: - An autograph, signed letter from Francisque Sarcey addressed to “[h]is dear Director,” likely Antonin Périvier, editor-in-chief of *Le Figaro* from 1874 to 1902, proposing that he appoint a certain “Marcel,” without pay, to the Fine Arts Commission for the 1900 World’s Fair (1 page, oblong in-12, no place, no date [circa 1899]). - Autograph signed letter from the author’s widow addressed to Henry Roujon regarding the library of her husband, who had passed away the previous year (1½ pages on mourning paper, in-16 oblong, Paris, January 18, 1900) A very fine copy.