Le PARNASSE CONTEMPORAIN, recueil de vers nouveaux 3 vols. (all published). Ed. by Louis-Xavier de Richard and Catulle Mendès.

Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, 1866-1869-1876. With title-vign. and numerous head- and endpieces. 2 ff., 284, (2) ff.; 2 ff., 401 pp.; 2 ff., 451 pp. 4to (c. 255 x 165 mm). 19th century half cloth, backs with gilt lettering, orig. wrappers bound in. (all published). Ed. by Louis-Xavier de Richard and Catulle Mendès. Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, (1866-1869-1876). First edition of the "Parnasse contemporain", a rare and complete set of the first (1866), second (1869) and third (1876) series (all), in which the work of more than a hundred French poets appeared, mostly previously unpublished. The first volume contains "Les Èpaves" and "Nouvelles Fleures du Mal" by Charles Baudelaire, and early Mallarmé and Verlaine, avante-garde poets of its time. Authors are a.o., Banville, Cros, Villiers, Gautier and Anatole France. The influence of the Parnassians was felt throughout Europe and was particulary evident in the Modernist movement of Spain and Portugal and in the "Jeune Belgique" (Young Belgiums). Many former Parnassians became part of the Symbolist movement in the late 19th century.- Some foxing, otherwise a nice set. LITERATURE: FRENCH ; FRENCH LITERATURE ; LITERATUR: FREMDSPRACHIGE ;