Le Corbeau [The Raven] Illustrated By Edouard Manet [Limited Edition]

720 Fifth Avenue, New York - Cambridge, Mass.: Walker and Company - Harvard College Library, 1968. Stated with number hand-inked at limitation page: "This edition limited to 1,000 copies. Copy number '465'". Rare first edition thus with a new introduction by Phillip Hofer. Large 8.5" x 11" design. Presented in E. A. Poe's original English adjacent Manet's illustrations with Stéphane Mallarmé's French translation following in sequence. This edition was produced by photographing the limited edition from 1875, and makes available to readers what is considered one of history's great artistic and literary collaborations. The original limited edition of Le Corbeau is part of the Rare Book Collections Division at the Library of Congress; one of only 150 known to exist. White marbled boards with black lettering to spine and pictorial design depicting raven's head on front cover, moderate shelf wear, bend, crease to front and back board. Pages very good. String-bind good. Original wrapper with Manet's raven and spine titles, moderate edge wear, rub, some crease; unclipped 10.00, protected in new clear sleeve. Poem in both English and French on adjacent pages. Vintage inscription in French inside cover: "Mars 1973, À Albert Sonnenfeld, de la part d'an disciple (jusqu'ici très peu discipline) en reconnaissant l'influence des leçons du cher maître - Jack Deaver, Marquis de Façades. P. S. Poeme Mallarmien contre la guerre. Ce Mal, l'Arme. Un mâle, larme, Si mal arme, m'alarme. Eh?" Or, approximately translated: "March 1973, To Albert Sonnenfeld, on behalf of a disciple (until now very little discipline) recognizing the influence of the lessons of the dear master. - Jack Deaver, Marquis de Facades. P. S. Mallarmien Poem against War. This Evil, the army. A male, tears. So evil weapon, alarms me. Hey?" Apparently, Albert Sonnenfeld is a French literature and comparative literature educator, food historian and since 2004 a Professor emeritus. He is a Fulbright fellow, 1966-1967; 1958 - 1986: Professor, French and comparative literature Princeton University; 1986 - 2004: M.F. Chevalier professor , French and department chairman University Southern California; and a member of The Athenaeum (London). Also, interestingly, listed as a noteworthy literature educator and historian by Marquis Who's Who. Translation by Stephane Mallarme, whose real name was Etienne Mallarme, was a French poet and critic, and a major French symbolist poet. His work anticipated and inspired several revolutionary artistic schools of the early 20th century, such as Dadaism, Surrealism, and Futurism. Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Prolificly famous for his tales of mystery and the macabre, he was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and considered the originator of detective fiction. He is further credited with contributing to the emerging genre of science fiction and was the first well-known American author to solely rely on his writing, resulting in hard times intersperced w/splendor. The 1875 Parisian edition marked a turning point in the history of the illustrated book. Translated by Mallarmé, w/lithographs by Manet, the bilingual volume was a bold, early attempt at a new type of collaboration -the livre d'artiste, a genre which eventually flourished in the twentieth century. The constellation of Mallarmé, Manet and Poe appealed to the avant-garde in French literature and art. When first published, Le Corbeau faced hostile criticism in regards to Manet's modernist imagery. It sold poorly and nearly twenty-five years passed before any publisher dared a similar combination of art and literature. Nevertheless, a door had been opened. Manet's illustrations are believed to have been printed directly from stone by transfer lithography. Edgar Allan Poe's hazy narrative begins on a night in December when "The Raven" haunts the unnamed narrator who sits reading "forgotten lore" to sublimate the loss of his love, Lenore. A "rapping at his chamber door" reveals nothing, yet excites his soul to "burning". A similar rapping, slightly louder, is heard at his window... Oversize, insured post.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Good/Good. Illus. by Manet, Edouard. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall.