JACQUES DE VORAGINE - LUNOIS (Alexandre). - Lot 76

JACQUES DE VORAGINE - LUNOIS (Alexandre). The Golden Legend. French translation by H. Piazza. Paris: Librairie artistique G. Boudet, 1896. -In-4, 320 x 249: (4 ff. first 2 blank), 152 pp. (4 ff. last 2 blank), illustrated cover. Brown morocco, boards decorated in the center with a panel of repeating foliage mosaic in fawn, green and blue morocco, bordered by a wide frame of gilt fillets intersecting at the corners, ornate smooth spine, double gilt fillet framing the inside, violet silk lining and endpapers, double endpapers, gilt edges, cover and spine preserved, lined slipcase (René Kieffer). First edition of Henri Piazza's translation of this famous work by Jacques de Voragine. This is one of the most brilliant illustrated editions of this text published in the 19th century, featuring 78 color lithographs by Alexandre LUNOIS (1863-1916), including 4 culs-de-lampe, as well as a title and 13 wood-engraved frames by M. Thomas after drawings by the same artist. Edition of 200 copies. This is a unique copy printed on China paper, with this long pencil letter from Lunois on the justification: Mon cher... [name of addressee not inscribed or carefully erased] // Here is the copy I promised you // I chose it with care and all the proofs have been done. I have chosen it with care and all the proofs have been // seen by me at the printers', both for // the text and for the lithographs. the text as well as the lithographs, I don't believe // there is one that is not very good. // May this book please you // Alex Lunois This precious copy has been expertly bound by René Kieffer and includes the following items: - 6 ORIGINAL AQUARELLES SIGNED BY LUNOIS, for the illustrations on pages 29, 31, 43, 83, 97 and 123, - suite in black on chine of lithographs and frames, with the exception of the 4 culs-de-lampe, - 112 additional proofs of most of the lithographs, including 53 in color on various japon, 2 in bistre on japon, 18 in black or bistre on chine and 38 in color on chine, - double cover. A perfectly preserved copy. Provenance: Robert Beauvillain, with bookplate (sale June 5, 2020, no. 345).