Estampes

Fraternity.

1939 · SPENDERS007080 — Atelier 17 Paris & New York. March 1939. First edition. Octavo. Spender's poem ''Fall of a City'' and Louis Aragon's translation ''Chute d'une Cit�'' together with nine engravings loose within wrappers. The engravings were printed by Atelier 17 and Henri Hecht and include one with aquatint and roulette one with soft ground etching one drypoint and one etching. All are on Montval handmade paper with deckle-edges. Held within the original plain board chemise but lacking the slipcase which had a Hayter titling-piece pasted onto the front. Stanley Hayter founded Atelier 17 in Paris in 1927 and it continues to this day in Rue Didot albeit with the name changed to Atelier Contrepoint. This production was his contribution to the raising of funds to help children orphaned by the Spanish Civil War.101 numbered copies were printed for sale and 12 for the contributors. This copy is unnumbered and hors commerce marked ''h.c'' on the limitation page. Each copy including this one was signed by Spender and Aragon at their respective contribution and by each artist in the lower margin of the etched sheet.Fine in custom burgundy morocco box with ''FRATERNITY'' in gilt on the lid. Very scarce with all nine loose etchings as most sets have been broken up for piecemeal sale. Atelier 17, Paris & New York. March, unknown