[LA FAYETTE (Madame de). La Princesse de Clèves. Paris, Claude Barbin, 1678. 4 volumes in 2 volumes in-12, marbled half calf with corners, smooth spine decorated, spotted edges (Early 19th century binding). First edition, one of the rarest of the great classical texts. A masterpiece of classical preciosity, this historical novel imbued with Jansenism and libertinism describes in great detail the stages of love between Mlle de Chartres and M. de Nemours at the court of King Henry II. The Princess of Cleves is considered to be the first modern novel in French literature. From the Desmond Flower library, with bookplate. Bindings carefully restored (spines rebacked); without the 5 blank ff. mentioned in Tchemerzine's collation. Tchemerzine, III, 838 - Rochebilière, n°720 - Diesbach-Soultrait, Bibl. Bonna, XVIIe s., n°125.