CONSTANT (Benjamin) - JEANNIOT (Pierre-Georges). Adolphe.... Lot 736

CONSTANT (Benjamin) - JEANNIOT (Pierre-Georges). Adolphe. Anecdote found in the papers of an unknown person. Preface by Paul Hervieu, of the Académie française. Paris : [Pierre-Georges Jeanniot], 1901. - One volume in-4 and 3 volumes in-folio, 397 x 335, for the suites and drawings, 260 x 205: (8 ff.), IX, 167 pp., (2 ff. last blank), 11 plates, printed cover. Black morocco, first cover with a large piece of chased and tinted leather inset, including a reproduction of a drawing by Jeanniot, ribbed spine, gilt floral framing inside, brocaded silk lining and endpapers, double endpapers, gilt edges, cover retained, slipcase; same binding for the volumes of plates and drawings, with a different representation on the first covers, without slipcase (Marius Michel). Published by the painter and illustrator Pierre-Georges JEANNIOT (1848-1934), who produced 54 original etchings, including one on the title, 15 at the head of each chapter, 15 in the text, 12 at the foot of the page and 11 hors texte. This is one of the best books illustrated by this artist. Edition of 131 copies. This one is the most precious, as it is the ONLY EXEMPLAIRE PRINTED ON SATIN, containing separately, in three folio volumes, the suite of original drawings and the various states of all the plates, even those that have been redone. There are a total of 173 original drawings, 85 in the first volume and 88 in the second, glued at the edges on mitered blue card. These drawings, most of them signed, done in graphite, Indian ink and charcoal, and sometimes enhanced in color, are studies and finished compositions for each illustration in the book. The suite volume includes a complete suite of engravings on satin, followed by 9 other satin prints in different states of some of the engravings. A total of 63 proofs in matted mounts. A superb copy in bindings by Marius Michel, featuring a chased and tinted composition on each of the boards, based on a composition by Jeanniot. Those on the three folio volumes are signed by Jeanniot and dated 1911, 1912 and 1913 respectively. The original drawings used to bind the text, the first volume of drawings and the suites have been bound at the head of the corresponding volumes. There are two drawings for the composition of the text volume. A very well preserved copy. Provenance: gilt MR bookplate on morocco, featuring a decoration of a rosebush whose roots wrap around a book.