Dictionnaire Bibliophilosophique, typologique,iconophilesque, bibliopégique et bibliotechnique á l'usage des Bibliognostes, des Bibliomanes et des Bibliophilistins.

1896. Paris, Imprimé pour les socièteresde l'Académie des Beaux Livres,Bibliophiles contemporains, 1896. 23,5 : 15,5 cm VIII, 364 pages, 2 leaves, 31 etchings hors texte, plus numerous vignettes and decorative initials, all pages with floral borders. Double set of different printed wrappers with Art Nouveau design laid into an Art NNouveau gilt-stamped and embossed vellum chemise wrapper, housed in a linen box with mounted design. First edition, one of 176 numbered copies. A splendid paean to the world of books, discussing, defining and illustrating the myriad aspects of the book, the collectors, the print and book sellers, and the various makers of books. The illustrations include portraits of eccentric bibliophiles, typical French bibliophilic settings and depictions of the various makers of books, including binders, illustrators, illuminators, printers, compositors and hand-colourists. Each page surrounded by a black floral border, the borders of three pages are heightened by several hand applied colours. One speciallity of this copy is that it has been covered by three states of illusstrated wrappers: first is the Art Nouveau wrapper with a peacock on top of a pile of books, signed "G. Belville/96), the second warppaer is printed on a special silver and lavender paper with an Art Nouveau illustration of three young people reading on the front cover and a depiction of Eve in a bibliographical garden of Eden on the rear cover, signed: "Paul Berthon", the third wrapper on heavy Japanese vellum has a beautiful floral design in various shades of green, signed "Feure". One interesting etching appears oposite page 20, showing a masked writer with a earnest grin is at work on his novel. Underneath it reads: "UnAuteur qui désire garder l'anonyme". - Missing the silk ties, otherwise a good copy of this rare and interesting book.