Baudelaire, Charles

12mo (178 x 110mm.), INSCRIBED BY BAUDELAIRE ("à Armand Dumesnil | témoinage d'amitié | Ch. Baudelaire") on half-title, title printed in red and black with red printer's device, contemporary half navy morocco, spine gilt in compartments, upper joint beginning to crack at head

Carteret I, 118

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate. Please note there is a slight abrasion to the front free endpaper.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

FIRST AND UNCENSORED EDITION OF BAUDELAIRE'S KEY SYMBOLIST VOLUME OF POEMS, A PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED TO HIS FREND ARMAND DUMESNIL. There is also a correction in Baudelaire's hand on page 110, where "au" has been corrected to "un".

Dumesnil (1819-1903) was a civil servant in the Ministère de l'instruction publique and was also a published playwright.

Both Baudelaire and the publisher were subsequently prosecuted for "outrage aux bonnes moeurs" and ordered to destroy the edition, though some copies had the offending pages excised instead. The six poems removed from the following 1861 edition are listed on the half-title in a contemporary manuscript note.