Musset alfred de

1904 · ST19375 — Paris: Librairie L. Conquet L. Carteret et Cie successor 1904. ONE OF 200 COPIES of the text printed on Marais vellum paper this unnumbered copy printed for René Descamps-Scrive; COPY "L. C." OF 30 COPIES of the extra suite of plates designated for Léopold Carteret. 270 x 175 mm. 10 1/2 x 7". 2 p.l. 68 2 pp. <br/> LOVELY CREAM-COLORED CRUSHED MOROCCO INLAID AND GILT BY G. MERCIER stamp-signed G. Mercier Successeur. de son père and dated 1911 covers bordered by inlaid olive green morocco band enclosed by multiple gilt rules inner frame of gilt and inlaid floral vine with 31 inlaid pink morocco blooms 58 pink buds and multiple green leaves raised bands spine compartments with similar border and inlaid floral centerpiece gilt titling SUPERB INCISED LEATHER DOUBLURES signed by Hiard WITH MODELLED AND HAND-PAINTED SCENES showing two birds on branches of berries front and the empty branches without the birds rear iridescent bronze watered silk endleaves marbled flyleaves all edges gilt. In velvet-lined chemise trimmed with green morocco and matching slipcase. With 70 illustrations by Hector Giacomelli engraved on copper by L. Boisson including many repeated arboreal frames and WITH A SUITE OF 29 ETCHINGS AND 29 ARTIST'S PROOFS all signed in pencil by L. Boisson printed on Chine and mounted on heavy paper also with an added copper-engraved portrait of Alfred de Musset on Japon and with FOUR ORIGINAL WATERCOLORS BY GIACOMELLI one signed the other three with a red ink stamp of his initials. A Large Paper Copy. Carteret Illustrés IV 297 this copy. AN IMMACULATE COPY.<br/> <br/> This is a lovely bibliophile's edition of de Musset's philosophical tale of an outcast blackbird illustrated by a leading painter of birds printed for a distinguished collector including a bonus set of plates made for the publisher and beautifully bound--with especially charming doublures--by one of the leading workshops in Paris. A pioneer of the Romantic movement in France de Musset 1810-57 expresses some of his pain over his doomed affair with novelist George Sand in this examination of rejection and "otherness" narrated by a sensitive blackbird who is scorned for his white feathers. The delicate illustrations by Hector Giacomelli 1822-1904 capture both the beauty of belonging especially in the original watercolor frontispiece and the melancholy of separation. These were among the artist's final works. Son and successor to Émile Mercier Georges 1885-1939 graduated first in his class at École Éstienne institute for decorative arts before joining his father's firm; he took over the workshop on his father's death in 1910 and continued the business for the rest of his life. Flety says he knew his craft perfectly and continued the fine tradition of his father whom Prideaux considered the best finisher of his day. Here Mercier has combined delicate inlays and gilt tooling with sculpted and painted doublures inspired by Giacomelli's illustrations. This sumptuous volume has a circular connection to two of France's most discriminating bibliophiles. First it was issued by the bookseller publisher and bibliographer Leopold Carteret 1873-1948 who both produced and collected significant illustrated books. And then it was owned by René Descamps-Scrive d. 1925 who collected beautiful bindings that typified major styles and periods and who was known for his insistence on only acquiring volumes in perfect condition. Finally Carteret catalogued and sold Descamps-Scrive's library after his death. In his renowned bibliography of modern illustrated books Carteret describes this book as "a charming publication especially on Large Paper" as here with "the best illustrations by the painter of birds.". Librairie L. Conquet, L. Carteret et Cie, successor unknown