[NOUVEAU Germain (1851-1920)]. G. N. HUMILIS. Savoir aimer. Paris, les amis de l'auteur, 1904; in-12 purple jansenist morocco, ribbed spine, inner lace, gilt edges, cover, slipcase (Semet et Plumelle). Extremely rare first edition of one of the masterpieces of Symbolism, written between 1879 and 1881 and published fifteen years later without the author's consent. As a young man from Aix-en-Provence who "went up to Paris" to devote himself entirely to poetry, Germain Nouveau met Mallarmé, Richepin, the Vivants and the Zutistes. He was Rimbaud's travelling companion (perhaps more so), and the custodian of the Illuminations, and became close to Verlaine after Rimbaud's departure. Stricken by a mystical crisis in 1891, he spent the remaining thirty years of his life on pilgrimage and begging, following the example of Saint Benoît Labre, who had been much mocked in the days of the Chat Noir. He had entrusted the manuscript of Savoir aimer to his friend the Comte de Larmandie, warning him not to show it to anyone. After publication by Larmandie, who could not bring himself to leave the jewel buried, Germain Nouveau, furious, tried to destroy as many copies as possible. Edition of 200 copies (minus those destroyed), without large paper. Handwritten note covering the false title. Attached is an interesting autograph letter from Germain Nouveau to his cousin Léopold Silvy (7 July 1908, 7 pp. in-12). He speaks at length of Larmandie, calling him Le Fâcheux, who has tormented him for 25 years with his verses, of which he has lost interest...