Le Venin

Paris: Librairie Arthème Fayard, 1938. From the Bart Auerbach Collection. Near fine save some light darkening to the sheets. 8vo. Later buckram, original printed wrappers bound in, untrimmed. First edition. Inscribed by Bernstein on the half-title to the dedicatee's wife, the actress Patricia Patterson: "à la meilleure partenaire de Charles à la Marmanche Pat affecteuresment Henry Bernstein." Patricia Patterson (1910-1978) made more than 20 films, including Charlie Chan Goes to Egypt. It was a case of love at first sight when she was introduced to the actor Charles Boyer by Maurice Chevalier at a wrap party for the film in 1934. Charles Boyer (1899-1978) appeared in more than 80 films between 1920 and 1976, including his celebrated performance in Gaslight (1944). The playwright Henri Bernstein (1876-1953) was associated with Boulevard Theatre. Boyer had appeared in leading roles of several film adaptations of Bernstein's plays, including Orage (1938), the film adaptation of this play (in which Boyer is listed on the cast list). The printed dedication reads: "Au grand acteur qui fut, tant de soirs, sur la scène du Gymnase, à Charles Boyer son ami H. B."

WITH: Another copy: untrimmed sheets, bound uniformly in buckram, printed wrappers bound in. One of 15 copies on Van Gelder Zonen (this is No. 3).