HERMANT (Abel). La Surintendante. Paris: G. Charpentier et Cie, 1889. - In-18, 182x118: (2 ff.), 400 pp. printed cover. Dark green half-chagrin with corners, gilt fillets, ornate ribbed spine, gilt head, untrimmed, cover preserved (20th century binding). First edition of this novel, giving an extremely vivid picture of the political and administrative world through the story of this superintendent, "both intriguing and passionate, capable of cold combinations and weaknesses", mistress of a student, Constant Berthier, who would become a politician and minister. She married him, used and abused his trust, even compromising him. ONE OF 10 NUMBERED COPIES ON HOLLANDE PAPER. EDMOND DE GONCOURT'S EXAMPLE, enriched with this autograph letter signed by the author on the false title: A mon bien cher Maître E. de Goncourt, // avec ma respectueuse admiration // Abel Hermant A fine copy in a later binding. The binder has preserved the original endpaper on which Edmond de Goncourt has written this note in red ink: "Edition originale. // Un des dix exemplaires sur papier de // Hollande. // Edmond de Goncourt." A very well preserved copy, despite slight rubbing to the covers. The first and last leaves have been browned by the cover. Provenance: Edmond de Goncourt, with dispatch from the author and autograph note.