LOUŸS Pierre (1870-1925). Les Chansons de Bilitis, translated from Greek for the first time. Paris, Librairie de l'Art Indépendant, 1895 (completed printing dated 3 December 1894); square in-8, half havana morocco, gilt fillets, smooth spine adorned throughout with cold-engraved foliage and a gilt fleuron, gilt head, cover (Pierson). First edition of the collection that propelled Louÿs into the closed circle of poets acclaimed by both critics and the public. ☞ Edition of 500 copies. One of 480 on tinted vellum, with an autograph letter from Pierre Louÿs on the first blank page: "à M. François Coppée, hommage de profonde et affectueuse reconnaissance, 16 avril 1896". It was on this date that Coppée's article on Aphrodite appeared in the Journal, launching the book and the author. Attached is a letter from Paul Fort to Pierre Louÿs. 📖 Ex-libris of famous libraries: that of the bibliophile theorist Fernand Vandérem, (VIIth sale 1939, n° 603) and that of Lucius Wilmerding, president of the Grolier Club (title absent from the four catalogues of 1950 and 1951); unidentified ex-libris (stylized DD). Talvart et Place, XII, p. 320, 9 a.