De Saedeleer, Valerius ; Hebbelinck, Roger Lot n° 757

VERHAEREN, Émile Vingt poèmes. Ornamented with twenty compositions by Valerius de Saedeleer, etched by Roger Hebbelinck (Bruxelles) Terres Latines 1947 Gr. in-4° (slight browning to title page and bl. p. opposite). Black morocco with frame signed G[abrielle] Claes, japon partially tinted in shades of blue, gray and black on the boards, smooth spine titled gilt throughout and decorated with two white dots, taupe japon lining and endpapers, t. gilt, cons. cover. In bordered slipcase. Superb copy. A selection of poems delicately illustrated in aquatint and etching by Hebbelinck after works by the painter from Laethem-Saint-Martin, who died a few years earlier, including 1 cover vignette and 20 large headbands printed in velvety black. Edition of 200 numbered copies, including this one, printed on Arches vellum for Paul Hartmann. A sumptuous binding whose blacks, whites and grays match the snowy landscapes illustrating the book. Prov. Paul Hartmann (1907-1988), Parisian publisher, director of Mercure de France from 1945 to 1958 (ex. nominative). Ref. Imec-archives.com.