ART NOUVEAU BINDING BY RAPARLIER HARAUCOURT, EDMOND

Description du livre: Paris: Sociétaires de l'Académie des Beaux Livres, 1894, 1894. Paris: Sociétaires de l'Académie des Beaux Livres, 1894, first edition, of the total edition of 180 copies, this copy was produced for Henri Père du Bois (name printed on the colophon). Each of the four stories by Haraucourt is ill'd by a different artist: 18 color lithographs Alexandre Lunois; 38 engravings handcolored with watercolors by Eugène Courbon; 46 Symbolist engravings in black and one plate engraved in gold by Alexandre Séon; and 10 etchings in black + 33 engravings handcolored with watercolors by Carlos Schwabe, each signed in the plate. Text in French, pp. 144, printed on handmade paper watermarked with author's name and floral designs. This book with outstanding Symbolist illustrations is in an outstanding Art Nouveau master binding by the very influential turn-of-the-century binder Paul-Romain Raparlier, signed by the binder twice: on the front panel and turn-in. All edges gilt; gilt decorated doublures and endleaves; the original hand-painted wrappers and backstrip by Léon Rudnicki preserved and bound in. This historically very important multi-color mosaic design of the binding is of exceptional beauty; it is recorded in Beraldi, "La Reliure au XIX Siècle", pp.123-124; and Devauchelle, "La Reliure en France", vol. 3, p.85. The spine of the binding is very slightly toned, overall, this book is in excellent condition, almost as new; housed in a custom slipcase. 11,5 x 9 in (29 x 23 cm). Provenance: 1) from the library of Henri Père du Bois; 2) from the library of N. J. D., with tipped-in (not pasted on) bookplate dated 1900, engraved by W. F. Hopson; 3) Tajan (Paris). References: Monod 5830. N° de réf. du libraire 11342