MÉRIMÉE (Prosper). Letters. S.l., 1900. - In-8, 218 x 140 : portrait, CXXIX pp. (1 f.), 251 pp. (1 f.), printed cover. Dark green jansenist morocco, spine ribbed, orange morocco lining decorated with gilt fillets and fleurons, brown moiré silk endpapers, double endpapers, gilt edges, cover and spine preserved, slipcase (Dupré). Very rare first edition, published at only 42 copies on japon for a private circle. It includes an important preface by Félix Chambon, occupying the first 120 pages. A UNIQUE COPY, SPECIALLY MADE FOR THE BANKER AND BIBLIOPHILE BARON HORACE DE LANDAU (1824-1903). It bears this autograph note signed by Felix Chambon on a leaf at the head: "This copy was selected sheet by sheet from the 42 copies that were printed. It is thus a unique copy", and it makes the inventory of the pieces which were added to it, of which here are the details: - notes obtained by Mérimée in his law exams, document emanating from the faculty of law of Paris, dated February 28, 1900, one page in-4, - autograph letter signed by Prosper Mérimée to Mrs. Récamier, two and a half pages in-8 de Mercey on the publication of the Evangeliaire slavon de Reims by Louis Paris, one page in-4, - autograph letter signed by Prosper Mérimée's father, dated January 3, 1836, to M. Souply on his health and on China colors, 2 pages in-8, - autograph letter signed by Prosper Mérimée to Damas-Hinard to recommend him Mrs. Fortuni, one page in-8, - extract of Prosper Mérimée's death certificate, on the letterhead of the Cannes city hall, issued on August 22, 1899 (tears), - autograph notes of the hellenist Jean-François Boissonade, autograph notes of the hellenist Jean-François Boissonade, professor at the Collège de France, one page in-8, - autograph manuscript of Prosper Mérimée, in Spanish, one page in-8, - autograph manuscript of Félix Chambon of a passage of his preface (pages LXVIII-LXX), one page in-8 (not mentioned in Chambon's list), - autograph letter signed by Prosper Mérimée to Damas-Hinard, autograph letter signed by Prosper Mérimée to Damas-Hinard, recommending Mme Bance, friend of Béranger, one page in-8, - portrait of Adolphe Thiers engraved by Gustave Staal, on chine collé, - autograph letter signed by Prosper Mérimée, to a friend, one page in-8, - autograph letter signed by Victor Cousin to Prosper Mérimée, one page in-16, - autograph note by Charles Delafosse on the two letters to Panizzi, autograph note by Charles Delafosse on the two letters to Panizzi, increased by an autograph note by Felix Chambon, one page in-12 oblong, - autograph letter signed by Adolphe Thiers, to a lady, October 29, 1860, about Chinese objects, three pages in-16, - copy of a letter by Prosper Mérimée, January 6, 1832, one page in-16, - autograph letter signed by Prosper Mérimée about M. Feuillet librarian of the Institute, one and a half page in-8, - autograph bill from Prosper Mérimée for M. Loison, with an original drawing representing a bird, - printed reproduction of the title of the 15th century facétie La Disputation, extracted from the catalog of January 15, 1900 of the bookshop Henri Leclerc, catalog covers enclosed, - cardboard of pages 5-6 and 11-12, - two issues of the review L'Amateur d'autographes, respectively of January 15, 1901 and March 15, 1902, concerning the trial of Mérimée . Nice copy in Dupré's lined binding. Spine faded. Provenance: Baron Horace de Landau (1824-1903), with bookplate. - Viscount de Cossette, with bookplate.