Profusely illustrated with black & white and hand-colored text illustrations and 10 heliogravure plates by Jean-Francois Raffaelli. With additional folding etching bound in at the front, being a slightly different version of the frontispiece, signed by Raffaelli at the bottom margin. Original front and back wrappers, including spine strip, laid in. (4to) 31x23 cm (12x9"), finely bound in period three quarter green morocco and marbled boards, spine with gilt letters and design, marbled endpapers. No. 29 of 40 copies printed on Japan paper with additional etching signed by the artist. Edition Du Figaro.
Jean-François Raffaëlli was a French realist painter, sculptor, and printmaker who exhibited with the Impressionists. He was also active as an actor and writer.
The volume includes text by 22 well-known contributors, including Edmund de Goncourt, Alphonse Daudet, Emile Zola, Guy de Maupassant, Octave Mirabeau, J. K. Huymans, Stephen Mallarme, Albert Wolff, Henri Greville, Jean Richepin, Paul Bonnetain, Roger Marx, and others. With the illustrated\ted bookplate of Ginette et Marcel Lavergne by Charles Favet. This is a very nice, finely bound copy of the scarce limited edition issued on japan paper with the additional signed etching bound in.
Condition:
Light wear and soiling to leather with light rubbing to extremities, sunning to edges and spine, corners lightly bumped; interior solid with vibrant colors, some light foxing to a few leaves at rear, a handsome copy; very good.