VERLAINE Paul (1844-1896). Romances sans paroles. Sens, typographie de Maurice L'Hermitte, 1874; in-12, 48 pp, [1] f., 1 bl. f., midnight blue jansenist morocco, ribbed spine, green morocco lining entirely covered with red, light green and havana lotus motifs, old rose silk endpapers, gilt edges, cover and spine, morocco flap folder and spine, slipcase (Huser). This first edition marks Verlaine's transition from Parnassus to Symbolism. Verlaine was detained in Mons at the time the book was printed. He wanted to dedicate these verses to Rimbaud, who "had pushed him hard to write them". Fearing a scandal, his friends managed to convince him not to dedicate the book. The collection contains some of Verlaine's most touching poems, some of them written in Rimbaud's presence: "Il pleure dans mon cœur..." and "Voici des fruits, des fleurs". One of 300 copies on tinted vellum. There was no large paper. - On the cover, the address of Paris, chez tous les libraires was covered by a label of Léon Vanier, who had bought the rights from Verlaine and recovered the unsold copies. Note (in an unknown hand that seems fairly modern) on page 13 and corrections in graphite (old) on pp. 16, 33, 37, 41, 44, 45, 48, perhaps in Verlaine's hand or more likely in that of Edmond Lepelletier. Galantaris, no. 39.