Descrizione

AN EXCEPTIONAL COPY OF THIS IMPORTANT EXAMPLE OF FINE PRINTING AND WOOD-ENGRAVING. A livre d'artiste devoted to Gutenberg, illustrated with 15 OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL WOOD-ENGRAVINGS by Deloche, Ernest and Frédéric Florian, Froment and Mathieu after G. Bellenger, Bellery-Desfontaines, F. Florian and Steinlen. From a total edition of only 113 numbered copies, this is ONE OF ONLY 6 COPIES (the best copies aside from the unique copy on real vellum) printed on antique Japanese paper, with two additional suites of the wood-engravings (on Chinese paper and on antique Japanese paper). EACH OF THE WOOD-ENGRAVINGS IN THE SUITES IS SIGNED BY THE ENGRAVER. This copy printed for FELIX LESEUR, a French doctor and atheist who mocked his devoted young wife's beliefs until she too became an atheist. She later recovered her faith and, after she died, he became a priest. Large 4to. BEAUTIFULLY BOUND BY GRUEL (signed) IN FULL JANSENIST CHERRY MOROCCO, with quintuple gilt filets on the turn-ins. Original wraps and backstrip preserved. All edges gilt. FINE AND BRIGHT WITH NO DEFECTS, inside and out. In the original morocco-lined slipcase. A GORGEOUS PRODUCTION, BRINGING TOGETHER LEADING ARTISTS AND ENGRAVERS, AND OF COURSE ONE OF THE GREAT BINDERS OF THE PERIOD. UNIQUE.