Marie de ROMIEU. The first poetic works of My Damoiselle Marie de Romieu Vivaroise. In-12, red morocco, gilt floral medallion with branches and rose on covers, 5-nerved spine decorated with a repeated rose, interior lace, gilt edges (Trautz-Bauzonnet). Brunet, IV-1370 // Cioranescu, 19288 // De Backer, 371. (4 f.)-49-(1 f.) / a4, A-D12, E2 / 71 x 132 mm. A rare first edition and the only edition of Marie de Romieu's works published by her brother Jacques de Romieu. Very little is known about this woman poet other than that she lived in the 16th century and belonged to a noble family from the Vivarois region. Marie de Romieu's poetry is full of wit, grace and naturalness (Viollet-Le-Duc) and we would add lightness and finesse, but this is only one facet of her poetic work. The volume begins with a Brief discours que l'excellence de la femme surpasse celle de l'homme..., a charming and natural piece she wrote in response to a satire against women that her brother had written. The latter paid tribute to him by collecting his works and publishing them after his death. The verses that conclude his hymn to the rose were engraved on his tombstone: The one that lies here under this cold ash All her life she loved the fresh and tender rose And loved him so much that after his death Would have pushed her to her heart's content on the waves below Wanted her coffin to be surrounded by Roses Like what she loved above all things. A delightful copy in a delicate binding by Trautz-Bauzonnet. Provenance: Count Raoul de Lignerolles (II, 5-17 March 1894, no. 1002), Édouard Moura (bookplate, 3-8 December 1923, no. 285) and Hector De Backer (bookplate, 17-20 February 1926, no. 371).