Stéphane MALLARMÉ. L.A.S. "Stéphane Mallarmé", Paris 89 rue de Rome, Dimanche [March 10, 1895], to Félicien ROPS; 3pages in-12 on laid paper. Concerning Rops' drawing for the frontispiece of Mallarmé's Poésies. [Mallarmé received the reduction of the frontispiece by Félicien Rops (1833-1898), heliographed by Dujardin, whose large plate had appeared in the photolithographed edition of Poésies in 1887 [see 46/2a]. Rops retouched it with fine remarks for the new edition of Poésies, which was not published by Deman until after Mallarmé's death]. "My dear Rops I don't know if this masterpiece of yours, evaporated of its original greatness in my mind and haunting it, here, in reduction, does not remain more precious and gemlike, the definitive jewel of thought and execution. I have no more of my little book Vers et Prose and, indisposed and not going out, I wrote to the publisher Perrin on Saturday asking him to send it to you without delay. One day, I'll write the appropriate dedication. Thank you for all my old affectionate admiration - although, I'm afraid, Rops, the intelligent reader stops at the frontispiece page and stays there".... Provenance: Félicien Rops; - his daughter Claire Demolder; - Raoul Simonson; - Albert Kies; - Bibliothèque Simonson sale, Sotheby's 19 June 2013, no. 199. Correspondence (Austin), t.VII, p.181. - Correspondence (Marchal), n° 2353.