RIMBAUD Arthur (1854-1891). Une Saison en Enfer. Brussels, Alliance typographique, 1873; in-12 paperback, 53 pp, red long-grain morocco spine folder, slipcase. First edition, published in October 1873, of the only book published by Rimbaud himself at the age of nineteen. Les Illuminations was published without his knowledge by Verlaine in 1886 and Le Reliquaire by Rodolphe Darzens in November 1891. This sort of intellectual autobiography, in which the poet revealed the totality of his ideas, sensations and visions, aroused intense interest and multiplied exegeses and interpretations. When his mother asked him about the meaning of this book, he replied: "I wanted to say what it says, literally and in every sense". Edition of 450 or 500 copies on ordinary vellum. Around 20 October, Rimbaud received about ten copies from the printer, half a dozen of which have been identified as gifts from the author. In 1901, a Belgian bibliophile discovered 425 copies in the printer's cellars that Rimbaud had been unable to remove for lack of money. This event caused a sensation in the literary and bibliophilic world. For decades, copies circulated, but then became scarce again, as major institutions and literary collectors wanted this volume to be a milestone in the history of ideas and letters. The black and red cover serves as the title, with the text beginning ex abrupto on page one under five centred asterisks. Throughout, 14 pages have been left blank, either as a result of last-minute censorship - by the author or from outside - or as a result of an error in imposition by the printer, or for some other as yet unexplained reason. An exceptional copy preserved in its original condition in paperback. Monda & Montel, Bibliogr. des poètes maudits, p. 5-18. - Galantaris, Verlaine, Rimbaud, Mallarmé, n° 276-279.