[TRÉBUTIEN (G.-S.)]. Thirty-six years. Caen, Hardel, 1856. - Lot 167

[TRÉBUTIEN (G.-S.)]. Thirty-six years. Caen, Hardel, 1856. In-12, 7 pp, [1] bl. First edition of this poem, printed in 36 copies (!), dated July 18, 1854 and dedicated to Mme Louise T.... (Louise Astoud-Trolley, 1817-1883, sculptor and painter, wife of François Alfred Trolley de Prévaux, professor at Caen Law School). Followed by a leaflet "36!", translation of the poem into English and verse by "Fanny" ("alas! no longer 'trente-six mais trente-sept'"), printed by Pagny in Caen. Paperback, muted salmon cover, in marbled paper-covered cardboard post folder, turquoise title label. Enclosed: - AUTOGRAPHIC POEM SIGNED "G. Trébutien", dated July 25, 1854, 2 pp. in-8, followed by a stern handwritten apostille from François Alfred Trolley de Prévaux (signed F.A. Trolley and also dated July 25, 1854): "my answer is that such ideas expressed in this way are stupidity in depravity". - another copy of the "36!" folio (translation of the poem into English and verse by "Fanny" ("alas! no longer 'trente-six mais trente-sept'"), printed by Pagny in Caen), 2 pp. and one bl. f. in marbled paper-covered cardboard post folder, turquoise title label. Note that this first edition of "36 ans" is printed in... 36 copies, and that most of Trébutien's later editions will also be printed in 36 copies (see Barbey d'Aurevilly's originals, etc.). De Beaurepaire, in his biography of Trébutien, credits Barbey as the author of this prose poem. In view of Trébutien's autograph in this copy, the doubt (shared by Vicaire himself) is removed. Not to mention the enmity expressed by Barbey towards the woman who broke his poor friend's heart: "[...] the wife of a law professor, an abominable rascal, a monster of baseness and perfidy, whom the poor scholar had the misfortune to love without measure [...]. - Now the poor librarian from Caen [...] lived in the intimacy of the woman I'm talking about, without her granting him the slightest favor, and this coquette made the rooster panic; she took pleasure in ferociously stoking this burning ember [...] and, when this human being was red and transparent like a snoring stove, she fled frightened of the fire she had lit. Trebutien went mad with grief." (quoted by O. UZANNE in Le Livre, June 10 1889, no. 114, pp. 291-292). Very interesting set, all together in a common flap wallet, turquoise half-maroquin, mute spine. Ex-libris J.M. (Vicaire I, 297 and VII, 887.)