DELUERMOZ (Henri) - KIPLING (Rudyard). - Lot 117

DELUERMOZ (Henri) - KIPLING (Rudyard). The Jungle Book. -Le Second livre de la jungle. [Paris]: Creuzevault, [1941-1948]. - 2 folio volumes, 346 x 260: (1 f.), 219 pp. (1 f.), illustrated cover; (1 f.), 273 pp. (4 ff.), illustrated cover. Leaves, filled cover, publisher's folder and slipcase. Edition of 250 copies plus a few copies hors commerce, illustrated with 147 drawings, paintings and monotypes by Henri DELUERMOZ (1876-1943), woodcut and printed in Théo Schmied's studio. The work was published "at the expense of an amateur", none other than Jean Bruller, who wrote a text in tribute to the artist, reproduced at the end. Although the "achevé d'imprimer" is dated 1941, this text shows that the edition was put up for sale after this date, since Deluermoz died in 1943. The "Bibliographie de la France" does not seem to mention this edition until 1948. One of the few copies reserved for contributors, this one specially printed for Colette Creuzevault, with a color suite of illustrations and 4 very fine original drawings by the artist for initials, not used in the book. The slipcase of the first volume is missing. Non-missing tear at bottom of spine of Jungle Book cover. Provenance: Colette Creuzevault.