Idées et sensations

Paris: Libraire Internationale, 1866. First edition. 8vo. [vi], 255, [1] pp. Near contemporary half red pebbled cloth and marbled boards, spine lettered and decorated in gilt, publisher's blue-gray printed wrappers bound in. Light toning to wrappers, else fine. Presentation copy on large paper of the first edition of this collection of bons mots extracted from the Journals. Inscribed on the half-title by Jules de Goncourt to Edouard Thierry (1813-1894), drama critic and director of the Comédie Française.Thierry makes a brief appearance in the 26 December 1867 entry of the Journals: "Été voir Thierry, pour lui demander la lecture aux Français de nos (truncated) cinq actes sur la Révolution. Les politesses de Thierry nous ont fait trembler." Thierry's civility would not prevent him from rejecting the play (La Patrie en danger), which he did on the grounds that its glorification of the Revolution would not be acceptable during the conservative reign of Napoleon III.PROVENANCE: Edouard Thierry (presentation inscription on half-title and his signature on upper wrapper); Poul Linneballe (book-plate); H.P. Rohde (book-plate)REFERENCE: Vicaire III, col. 1052 (Inventory #: 306)