VERLAINE (Paul). Romances sans paroles. Sens, Maurice L'Hermitte, 1874. In-12, jansenist pearl-grey morocco, gilt inner fillet, salmon silk lining and endpapers, gilt edges on witnesses, cover and spine, chemise and slipcase sheathed in anthracite morocco and mauve embroidered silk (J. Faki). First edition. Only 300 copies were printed on tinted vellum, without large papers. Romances sans paroles was composed for the most part during Verlaine's fugue in England and Belgium, under the influence of Rimbaud, to whom he wanted to dedicate the work; his friends, fearing scandal, dissuaded him, however. The collection contains Ariettes oubliées, Paysages belges, Birds in the night and Aquarelle. Autograph letter signed: to Félicien Champsaur, / "Il pleure dans mon cœur / comme il pleut sur la ville ["] / Paul Verlaine. In this dedication to the poet and novelist Félicien Champsaur (1858-1934), Verlaine quotes two of his most famous verses, printed in the same collection (Ariettes oubliées, iii, p. 9). The last poem contains six pencil corrections, probably autograph (p. 48). A very fine copy, washed, glued and bound in pamphlet by Joachim Faki, with wide margins and complete with the fragile cover with the address of Paris, chez tous les libraires. Galantaris, n°31 - Montel, 18-20.