BAUDELAIRE, Charles; CROWLEY, Aleister (tr.). Little Poems in Prose.
Paris: Edward Titus, 1928
£ 1,200
8vo (185 x 125mm), pp. xi, [4], 147 (1-143 copied from the 1913 edition) [2 (errata)], [4 (advertisements)], [12 (engraved plates)]. In the original quarter faux suede binding, brown cloth boards with lettered faux suede label to front cover, spine also lettered with author’s name, title and place of publication, glassine wrapper. Top edge gilt, other untrimmed and some unopened, tipped-in slip to half-title: ‘The quota of this edition apportioned to the United States of America sold by Random House, New York’. In a gilt quarter burgundy morocco clamshell box, spine with raised bands, gilt lettering and stamp ornaments, by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. Light rubbing to head and tail of spine, otherwise exceptionally clean and well-preserved copy.
First illustrated edition of Aleister Crowley’s translation of Baudelaire. A most desirable limited edition of 800 copies, of which the present volume is number 57 (stamped to verso of p.147). This work includes the revised text originally published by Wieland & Co in 1913 with several added versions of the epilogue by ‘various hands’ (in fact all by Crowley). It also includes 12 black and white copperplate engravings by Jean de Bosschère interspersed with the main text.
Crowley describes Baudelaire in his translator’s preface as ‘incomparably the most divine, the most spiritually-minded, of all French thinkers. His writings are indeed the deadliest poison for the idle, the optimistic, the overfed. The condition of England and America today makes it a profanation to translate Beaudelaire; yet such is his virtue, that if this volume only fall into the hands of the young, it may produce a crop of saints and artists even in those barren fields.’
Provenance
From the library of Barry Humphries (1934-2023), his bookplate to front pastedown.
References
Yorke 67(b)