In 1896, Pierre Louÿs published his first novel, Aphrodite — mœurs antiques, an erotic depiction of courtesan life in Alexandria. It is considered a mixture of both literary excess and refinement. It sold 350,000 copies and was the best selling work by any living French author of the era. Raphael Collin, the author's friend, illustrated the Paris 1909 edition, published by Librairie des Amateurs, A. Ferroud, Paris.
Pierre Louÿs, Aphrodite Mœurs Antiques, illustrated by Raphael Collin, Bookstore of Amateurs, A. Ferroud - F. Ferroud Successor, Paris 1909