VERY SCARCE PRESENTATION COPY OF CYRANO DE BERGERAC, FIRST EDITION, WARMLY INSCRIBED BY ROSTAND TO FRENCH HISTORIAN EMMANUEL RODOCANACHI, WITH ORIGINAL WRAPPERS BOUND IN

ROSTAND, Edmond. Cyrano de Bergerac. Paris: Librairie Charpentier et Fasquelle, 1898. Quarto, contemporary three-quarter light brown morocco rebacked, black morocco spine label, raised bands, marbled boards and endpapers, top edge gilt, uncut; with original printed paper wrappers bound in. $14,000.

First edition of Rostand’s romantic masterpiece, a scarce presentation copy to French painter historian Emmanuel Rodocanachi, inscribed, "a Monsieur Emmanuel P. Rodocanachi Souvenir particulièrement cordial Edmund Rostrand."

With Cyrano de Bergerac, "Edmond Rostand achieved a marvelous fusion of romantic bravura, lyric love and theatrical craftsmanship, and its success was overwhelming." Almost immediately after its triumphant debut in Paris on December 28, 1897, "Cyrano became a perennial favourite, not only in France, but in England and America" (Hartnoll, 709). Published only a few months after Paris debut. Handsomely bound by noted French bookbinder Édouard Pagnant, with original wrappers bound in. With the bookplate of recipient Emmanuel Rodocanachi. A historian, Rodocanachi wrote respected histories on ancient Rome and Italy.

Faintest foxing to page edges, expert restoration to board extremities.