Théophile Gautier - Émile Bergerat - First edition 1879 with original etching by Félix Bracquemond

A beautifully bound French edition from 1879 about the life and work of Théophile Gautier (1811–1872), one of the most important French writers and art critics of the nineteenth century.

In Théophile Gautier. Entretiens, souvenirs et correspondance, Émile Bergerat collects personal memories, conversations, and letters from the author. Bergerat knew Gautier personally, offering a unique insight into his life, his artistry, and the French literary world of his time.

The edition contains a foreword by Edmond de Goncourt and an original etching by the well-known French printmaker Félix Bracquemond. This image shows the interior of Gautier's room, with several cats nestled among the furniture.

A fitting detail, as Gautier was a great cat lover. In 1869, he even published Ménagerie intime, in which he wrote extensively about his pets, and in particular, his beloved cats.

The etching, titled Intérieur de la chambre de Théophile Gautier, was created specifically for this edition. A copy of the artwork is currently in the collection of the Musée Carnavalet in Paris.

The book is executed in a classic half-leather binding with red-and-black marbled covers and gold-colored spine lettering. The leather spine has faded significantly over the years, but the binding has retained its beautiful shape.

The copy is in very good antiquarian condition. The binding is sturdy, the covers are neat, and the interior is well-maintained. The paper shows slight yellowing and scattered foxing, consistent with its age.

An attractive copy for lovers of French literature, nineteenth-century book arts, and, of course, cats.

Details

• Title: Théophile Gautier. Entretiens, souvenirs et correspondance
• Author: Émile Bergerat
• Subject: Théophile Gautier (1811–1872)
• Foreword: Edmond de Goncourt
• Illustration: original etching by Félix Bracquemond
• Publisher: G. Charpentier, Paris
• Year: 1879
• Language: French
• Extent: XXVIII + 323 pages
• Dimensions: 18 × 12.5 × 2.5 cm
• Binding: hardcover, half-leather binding with marbled covers
• Decoration: gold-colored spine lettering and decorative lines
• Condition: very good antiquarian condition
• Special features: original etching with cats, foreword by Edmond de Goncourt, sturdy historical binding
• Signs of use: faded leather spine, light edge wear, paper yellowing, and scattered foxing
• Origin: France