Alphonse Daudet - Soutien de Famille [1/100 sur Hollande, reliure de Yseux] - 1898

First edition of Alphonse Daudet's last work published in 1898, one of the rare copies printed on Holland paper, numbered 34/100.

Well established in a binding signed Yseux, successor to Thierry-Simier, Bradel-style binding, marbled decoration painted on the spine and covers. Chocolate morocco title label, gilt initials. Good copy, entirely untrimmed, covers and spine preserved.
In good general condition, spine shaded, interior fresh and clean, paper margins a little browned.

Alphonse Daudet died on December 16, 1897. Soutien de famille had been composed in 1893 and was completed in September 1897. This novel was just being published as a serial in L'Illustration when the author died. The novel was therefore published posthumously in early 1898. Émile Zola delivered his eulogy at the funeral at Père-Lachaise. He wrote to Madame Daudet on April 9, 1898: “I have just finished reading [Sustenance de famille], I want to tell you of the delightful hours I spent with the one who is no longer (…) His last book will remain as one of his truest and most poignant.”

Provenance: From the J. van Hernandez library with bookplate.

Alphonse Daudet
Breadwinner
Paris, Charpoentier Library, 1898
in-12 (19x13.5cm); 445pp