HORNUNG, E.W. Un Cambrioleur Ameteur Raffles.

(Paris): Librarie Felix Juven, 1907.  First edition.  Octavo.  293 pages.  The first French publication of the collection of short stories that introduced Arthur J. Raffles a character created by E. W. Hornung, brother-in-law to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes. Raffles is, in many ways, a deliberate inversion of Holmes – he is a “gentleman thief”, living at the Albany, a prestigious address in London, playing cricket for the Gentlemen of England and supporting himself by carrying out ingenious burglaries.  As Holmes has Dr. Watson to chronicle his adventures, Raffles has Harry “Bunny” Manders – a former schoolmate saved from disgrace and suicide by Raffles, whom Raffles persuaded to accompany him on a burglary.  This is a good copy in original printed wrappers.  Some separation at head and tail of spine.