Lot 288
Dumas, Alexandre
La tulipe noire
Auction: 8 February 2006 at 11:00 GMT
Description
Paris: Baudry, [1850]. First edition, 3 volumes, 8vo., without half-titles and the blanks at the end of volume 2, & 3, contemporary half green calf, marbled boards, spines decorated gilt in compartments, orange and red morocco lettering pieces, some minor scuff marks at the joints and corners, title of volume 3 discoloured and some patches of discolouration to other titles and elsewhere (3)
Note: Carteret I. p. 239; Vicaire Manuel de l'amateur de livres du XIXe sieclè III 389.
One of the most famous French writers of the 19th century, Dumas is best known for his historical novels such as the The three musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo, and The black tulip. Dumas is credited with revitalising the historical novel in France, and along with Balzac and Sue, pioneering the roman feuilleton or serial novel.
In 1850 appeared The black tulip, a romantic adventure set in the 17th century Holland. In the middle of the political struggle for freedom is Cornelius van Baerle, a young man who has devoted himself to tulip-growing. Cornelius is falsely imprisoned for high treason. With the help of Rosa, the daughter of a jailer, he manages to grow a black tulip. Cornelius wins his freedom and hundred thousand guilders in glittering gold pieces as reward for the tulip. "This tulip," continued the Prince, "will therefore bear the name of its producer, and figure in the catalogue under the title, Tulipa nigra Rosa Barlaensis, because of the name Van Baerle, which will henceforth be the name of this damsel."