LOUŸS Pierre (1870-1925). Aphrodite, Mœurs antiques. Paris, Mercure de France, 1896; in-18, fawn morocco, composition in relief and colour on the upper cover signed LR (painting on modelled calf), ribbed spine, inner frame in the same morocco decorated with gilt fillets and fleurons, brocaded silk lining and endpapers, gilt edges on witnesses, slipcase (E. Carayon). First edition of the collection considered to be Pierre Louÿs's masterpiece, a perfect combination of style, emotion and Hellenism. One of 9 copies printed on Japon impérial (n° 9), first paper followed by 10 Chine and 20 Hollande. Copy with an autograph signed letter from the author to Rodolphe Darzens "in memory of the Revue d'Aujourd'hui and as a token of sincere friendship (1896)". A second letter was affixed later: "Then to Pierre Dauze, who inherited this copy and did him the honour of binding it, with kind regards (1904)". Several items were bound in the volume at Pierre Dauze's request: - an autograph sonnet by Pierre Louÿs entitled Envoi, relating to the binding of the volume and to Aphrodite. - a letter from Pierre Louÿs to Paul Verlaine sending him the proofs of an issue of La Conque. - a letter from Henry Béranger, magnificent, justifying his criticism of Aphrodite published in the Revue des Revues, to which Louÿs had replied with an article in the Mercure de France. Béranger asserts his point of view on Aphrodite and Greek courtesans and accuses Louÿs of being irritable like an ancient poet and of suffering from "pornomania in Hellenic form". - Letter to Valette containing Louÿs's reply to Béranger, to be inserted in the Mercure de France: "A little-known novelist, Mr Henry Béranger, who was once my friend, but who cannot console himself with the fate of Aphrodite by thinking of his own setbacks, attacks me in a little old men's magazine...". Beautifully bound, decorated with a relief painting by Louis Rudeaux depicting Aphrodite emerging from the water. Ex-libris Descamps-Scrive (Cat., II, n° 554). Bibliothèque Pierre Dauze (Cat., 1914, no. 1298). Talvart et Place, XII, p. 324, 10 a1.