LA FONTAINE (Jean de): Contes et nouvelles en vers. Original - Lot 80

LA FONTAINE (Jean de): Contes et nouvelles en vers. Original lithographs by André DERAIN. Paris, aux dépens d'un amateur, 1950. Two volumes. 18 by 25.5 cm. 270-(8); 417-(4) pages. Full red morocco, smooth spines decorated with squared fillets, boards decorated with large central quatrefoils, framed with mosaic fillets, and elliptical gilt fillet work, all edges gilt, covers and spines preserved, red suedette endpapers. Red half-maroquin band folders, imitation wood paper boards, lined with garnet leather. Binding signed GRAS. Perfect condition. Limited edition of 200 copies. This is one of 10 copies on Montval (N°11). It includes, as indicated in the accompanying text, a suite of 67 lithographs on Chine, and a suite of 15 unused plates on Japon. But it also includes : An original drawing by DERAIN, matted (volume 1) A suite of 67 lithographs on Vellum (Volume 1) A suite of the 15 unused plates on Japon nacré (Volume 2) One suite of the 15 unused plates on Chine (Tome 2) One suite of the 15 unused plates on vellum (Tome 2) Madeleine GRAS (1891-1958) was a Parisian bookbinder from the Arts Décoratifs school, renowned for the quality of her work. This edition was commissioned by Ambroise VOLLARD in 1939. The project was interrupted by the death of this famous patron-collector, and by the war, and was only resumed in 1949 on the initiative of Daniel STIKLES, a great bibliophile... An exceptional copy for the discerning collector.