Montesquieu

Lettres Persanes

1926 · 20423 — Paris: Jean Terquem. Printed by R. Colouma 1926. Limited Edition. Full decorated morocco. Chemise or dust jacket with morocco spine and narrow morocco flaps that embrace edge of book proper. Slipcase with marbled paper pastedown on all morocco trim around opening. Fine. Charles Martin. Gorgeous Art Deco full morocco binding with decorative green onlays and gilt lines interlaced in a strapwork-like border the design embedding an "M" for Montesquieu. The binding was done by by Mercier Fils et Pere in 1931. The binding exudes an uncommon presence and solidity the raised bands rounded to perfection. The green and gilt spine decoration is a variation of that on the boards flowing vertically from one compartment to the next as if they were tunneled under the raised bands a form of decoration virtually never encountered and here done to stunning effect. All edges gilt. Original wrappers bound in. No. 168 of 265 copies in the limited edition. 4to. 25.5 by 20 cm. xii 294 2 pp. With 20 engraved plates each in two states one colored the other b/w. Leaves are of Vélin de cuves de Rives. The slipcase shows minor wear; the chemise has a few rubbed spots on its raised bands. Overall a beautiful production and our copy of the book itself is near flawless. A penciled note in the front states that this copy was presented by H.R.H. the late Duke of Kent to the Red Cross. Besides the fact it doesn't state when this presentation was made and thus which Duke of Kent might have done so we question why the book would have been so presented and thus discount the written assertion. Jean Terquem. Printed by R. Colouma unknown