LEBLANC (Maurice). Arsène Lupin. Gentleman Burglar. Preface by Jules Claretie. Paris : Pierre Lafitte & Cie, [1907]. - In-12, paperback. Highly sought-after first edition of the first volume of the "Extraordinary Adventures of Arsène Lupin", gathering 9 short stories that had been previously published in the magazine "Je sais tout" from 1905 to 1907. The titles of these short stories are: "Arsène Lupin's Arrest" - "Arsène Lupin in Prison" - "Arsène Lupin's Escape" - "The Mysterious Traveller" - "The Queen's Necklace" - "The Seven of Hearts" - "Madame Imbert's Safe" - "The Black Pearl" - "Herlock Sholmes Arrives Too Late". The edition is illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of the author, based on a Femina art photograph, and features a composition by Henri Gousse on the cover. A very well preserved copy, with no mention of edition, complete with the coupon for the Arsène Lupin contest and the publicity leaflet of the Lafitte et compagnie publishing house.