THE CRIME OF SYLVESTRE BONNARD (Member of the Institute) ... The Translation and Introduction by Lafcadio Hearn - 1890

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1890. Issued as no. 665 of Harper's Franklin Square Library, New Series. 281 pages, plus [2] pages ads, lacking the final [4] pages of ads. 20.5 x 14.5 cm. Original printed wraps, lacking the rear wrap. Else good only. The spine is chipped and fragile, but holding and with most lettering intact; small chips to front wrap, not affecting lettering; stains and browning to front wrap. Upper corners a little bumped; occasional light marginal soiling; faint marginal scratches to one page; faint offsetting to two other pages. Early bookseller's ink stamp on front flyleaf (Kleinteich's, Brooklyn). Housed in custom-made cloth folder and quarter red morocco slipcase with raised bands and gilt lettering on spine. Slipcase shows a few traces of rubbing and soiling to the leather but is otherwise in very good condition. FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH. The scarce FIRST STATE, with the first page of ads describing "Two Years in the French West Indies" as "in press." BAL's "A" wraps with the list on the inside of the front wrap beginning with number 665. According to records found by BAL, there were reputedly only eight copies of the first state bound in cloth. Presumably, they were not offered for sale and BAL saw only two such copies. Like the present volume, the copyright deposit copy at the Library of Congress was in wraps (first state, "A" wraps). First published in 1881, "Le Crime de Sylvestre Bonnard" was the landmark first novel by Anatole France. Hearn's introduction is a passionate testimonial to the importance of the book and its author in modern literature. BAL 7919.