*HERVIEU (Paul). Two jokes. History of a duel. In foreign affairs. Paris : Alphonse Lemerre, 1888. - In-18, 199 x 125 : (5 ff. first 2 blanks), 244 pp, (6 ff. last blank), printed cover. Jansenist red morocco, spine ribbed, dark green morocco lining with gilt fillet, brocaded silk endpapers, double endpapers, gilt edges on witnesses, cover preserved (Marius Michel). First edition of this collection of two short stories full of humor and irony. EDMOND DE GONCOURT (1822-1896), one of the 16 on China paper, enriched with this beautiful autograph sending of the author on the false title : To the great master Edmond de Goncourt - // my deep admiration and my respectful // attachment // Paul HervieuWe also find at the head of the book a note in red signed by de Goncourt, on a separate sheet, concerning the edition and specifying that a page of the autograph manuscript of the book has been added . This autograph page has been mounted between the first two blank leaves; it corresponds to the beginning of the second short story and presents several differences with the printed version, starting with the title which was originally Le Bureau adjoint des services supplémentaires. At the bottom of the sheet, Edmond de Goncourt wrote: "fragment of the second short story, published under the title: Aux affaires étrangères, à moi donné par Paul Hervieu. June 1888. Edmond de Goncourt". Beautiful copy in lined binding by Marius Michel, from the library of René Descamps-Scrive. Spine faded, upper edge of the boards browned. Some foxing. Provenance : Edmond de Goncourt, with a letter from the author and autograph notes. - René Descamps-Scrive, with ex-libris (III, 1925, n° 496).