Themidore ou Mon Histoire et Celle de ma Maitresse

Paris: Librairie des Amaterus, A. Ferroud, 1907.
First Thus.

27cm x 19cm. 94 pages, 1 original pencil and chalk drawing, 22 pencil sketches on 21 full-size sheets of thin paper, 22 colour lithographs mounted in the text, and 2 additional suites of the plates: one on Chine bound facing the lithographs, and a second suite of the lithographs untrimmed at the rear. Full decorative blue leather, ornate gilt border with red leather inlay, gilt dentelles, silk doublures, all edges gilt, slipcase. Text is in French.

Extra-illustrated and finely bound copy of Godard d’Aucourt’s libertine novel, first published anonymously in 1745, here published for the first time with 22 colour lithographs by Lubin de Beauvais. One of 120 copies on grand velin a la cuve (from a total edition of 150). This copy with an original drawing for one of the plates in pencil and chalk on brown paper, signed by de Beauvais, and 22 pencil sketches of the illustrations on full-sheet tracing paper, each signed or monogrammed, tipped onto the corresponding plates (two vignettes sharing a single sheet). The lithographs are present in three suites: mounted in the text as issued, a suite on Chine bound facing them, and a further suite, untrimmed, bound at the rear. Bookplate of J. Tessier.

Minor cracking to joints. Near Fine Condition.

AU$2,000