CONFUSIUS - TA'HIO - FEN TCHANG HIA LEANG PIEN I II - TCHOUN - Lot 123

CONFUSIUS - TA'HIO - FEN TCHANG HIA LEANG PIEN I II - TCHOUNG YOUNG: The Four Pillars of Wisdom. Adapted by Joseph Pardo. Illustrations by Jean GRADASSI. Nice, Le Chant des Sphères, Reliure d'Art Sefer, 1988-1989. 4 volumes (2 volumes of illustrated texts, and two volumes for the suites and original drawings). 27 by 37 cm. 140-(8) and 134-(8) pages. Volume 1: Full black morocco, smooth spine with rich Chinese intaglio decoration, upper boards richly decorated with 3 polychrome enameled plates, and a red relief decoration of a Temple, with the pillars of wisdom. Chased gilt head. Inner frame with gilt fillet, red moiré silk endpapers, with gold embroidery of a Chinese character, black half-maroquin slipcase, red moiré silk boards, red moiré silk fleece interior. Volume 2: Same binding, but with color inversion: full red morocco, with temple decoration in black. Black moiré silk, etc. Volume 3: Black half morocco slipcase, red moiré silk boards, containing the sequels in two black suede-style folders, with Chinese characters on the boards, red moiré interior. Volume 4: red half-maroquin slipcase, black moiré silk boards, containing the suites in two black suede-style folders, with Chinese characters on the boards, red moiré silk interior. Art binding signed SEFER. As new. One of 12 bibliophile copies, on Japon nacré, this one N°J. With certificate. These copies include, for each of the 2 volumes of illustrated text: An original in-text from the edition. Two unpublished original color illustrations. A color decomposition of two plates (and not just one, as indicated in the justification), a color suite of the color hors-texte illustrations on japon nacré, and a suite of the chine-red lacquer line of the in- and hors-texte illustrations on japon nacré. Our copy lacks the two framed illustrations. An exceptional set of original illustrations by Jean GRADASSI, a renowned miniaturist, of these great philosophical texts of Chinese wisdom, in a prestige binding. For collectors.