Impressions d'une solitaire en Espagne. by [ AUXAIS D'HAUDIENVILLE (Ida d') ]

Poitiers, Typographie de H. Oudin Frères, 1878. 12mo. 2 leaves. (2 blank leaves). 162 pages. 1 leaf. Half-blue morocco, decorated ribbed spine, marbled upper edge (contemporary binding). First Edition printed in small numbers in Poitiers, and published under the pseudonym of Auxais Léziart de Lavillorée. Ida Marguerite d'Auxais d'Haudienville (1827-1895) was the daughter of a magistrate born in Mortain (Manche) who had a detailed day-to-day account of her trip to Spain printed in order to distribute it to her friends, so that she would not have to write them individually the account of her journey. Carefully printed on beautiful laid Holland paper, the book contains her observations on Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba, Grnade, Malaga, Seville, Jerez and Cadiz, as well as the account of her return through Seville, Madrid and Avila. Copy with a business card of the author mounted on one of the preliminary leaves, and bearing the following autograph note: "Madame Léziart de Lavillorée offre ses compliments respectueux à Mme. Bertrand et lui adresse un petit opuscule écrit spécialement à son intention. Elle s'estimera heureuse si ces pages, toutes féminines et dépourvues d'érudition qu'elles soient, peuvent faire passer une heure agréable à la sœur de son vieil ami. Compliments empressés à Mr. et Mme. de Blainvilliers et à la mi-avril Mme. de Léziart ira les porter en personne à la cité Martignac". The work is so rare that we have only been able to locate a single copy in public collections around the world (Mazarine Library). It is notably missing from the National Library as well as from the heritage funds of the Poitiers Library. Beautiful copy carefully bound in blue half-morocco.