Guy de Maupassant; Arthur Symons [intro.] — Boule de Suif

London, William Heinemann, 1899 . First edition. Hardback. The very scarce first separate English edition of Guy de Maupassant's famous story, 'Boule de Suif&apos. A limited edition printed on Japanese vellum. The first separate English edition. First appeared in English in 1897 together with Madame Tellier's girls (La maison Tellier) and The Inheritance (L'Heritage), translated with an introduction by Edwin Ellis.  This edition, printed on Japanese Vellum, is limited to 500 copies. With an introduction by British poet, critic and editor, Arthur Symons.  Very scarce.  In the original paper covered boards, with yapp edges.  Illustrated with fifty-six wood engravings from drawings by Francois Thevenot, including a portrait frontispiece, title page vignette and seven plates. Collated, complete. Boule de Suif is argued to be the most famous short story of 19th-century French author Guy de Maupassant, following a group of French residents fleeing from the recently occupied Rouen. The cast of characters, which includes a prostitute with the eponymous nickname Boule de Suif or "Butterball", a wealthy upper-bourgeoisie factory-owner, and two nuns amongst others, serve to represent different parts of the French population during the late 19th century.  In the publisher's original paper covered boards, with yapp edges. Small losses of paper to back strip, with bumping to back strip head and tail. Small tide mark to tail of front board, with rubbing to board perimeters. Front joint starting, with board firmly held. Tape marks to pastedowns. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Good . Ill.: F. Thevenot. Good .