DOUGLAS, Lord Alfred (1870-1945). Poèmes. Paris: Mercure de France, 1896.

The first edition of Douglas's poetry, a presentation copy to George Meredith. Douglas published this first collection of his poems in France during Wilde's imprisonment—a direct result of a disastrous conflict with Douglas's father instigated by the younger man. This copy is inscribed to the English poet and novelist: "To George Meredith / a tribute of profound admiration from the author. Alfred Douglas. Naples December 1896."

Octavo. Printed in French with facing page English translation. Portrait frontispiece with tissue guard. Original printed wrappers (backstrip creased and joints weak; some toning and wear to wrappers, with bump to lower corner; small area of offsetting to upper cover from facing bookplate inside chemise, touching title and author). Custom slipcase and chemise. Provenance: George Meredith, 1828-1909 (authorial inscription, bookplate) – Donald Stralem (leather bookplate inside chemise; Sotheby's New York, 1 June 1995, lot 36.)