BARBEY D'AUREVILLY (Jules). Une vieille maîtresse. Paris, Alexandre Cadot, 1851. 3 volumes in 2 volumes in-8, green half calf, smooth spine decorated, speckled edges, slipcase (period binding). Rare and much sought-after first edition of this novel, which deals boldly with infidelity and lies in love. It caused a scandal, as Barbey had published Les Prophètes du passé (The Prophets of the Past) the same year, a work marked by demanding piety. The sincerity of the writer's faith was strongly questioned. The 1858 edition, somewhat expurgated, contained a plea from the author in the new preface. This "very important and rare work, with the 1851 titles and errata" (Carteret) has been bound here in two volumes instead of three, the second volume being divided between chapters III and IV. The copy has the three titles at the right date (the work having been put back on sale in 1852 and 1853), the false-titles and the errata leaves of the three volumes, which are very often missing. A very precious copy given by Barbey d'Aurevilly to Louise Read with this autograph letter signed in red ink: à Mademoiselle Louise Read, Cette première de mes Diaboliques. Louise Read (1845-1928), whom Barbey called his Black Angel or Mademoiselle Ma Gloire, and whom he made his executrix, accompanied with "infinite solicitude" the last years of the writer, whose friend, secretary, governess and even nurse she was. She had met the author of Les Diaboliques in 1879, through François Coppée and his sister, whose salon she frequented on rue Oudinot. The letter appears in Les Dédicaces à la main de J. Barbey d'Aurevilly (1908, p. 8). Louise Read was given two other editions of the novel by Barbey: the second and the Lemerre editions. Bindings restored, spines slightly faded, spine ends cracked, some foxing and minor dampstaining, tiny angular repair to last leaf. The errata leaves of the first and second volumes have shorter margins. Carteret, I, 105 - Clouzot, 37.