Fêtes Galantes. Illustrations de George Barbier.

Paris: H. Piazza, 20 September, 1928.. FIRST EDITION THUS. LIMITED EDITION (75/1025), ONE OF 200 COPIES PRINTED ON PAPIER JAPON IMPÉRIAL WITH AN ADDITIONAL SUITE OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN BLACK AND WHITE. Large 4to. (30 x 23 cm). pp.100+[2, limitation and colophon]+[23 black and white plates]. Contemporary full sapphire morocco richly gilt by Émile Maylander* preserving original wrappers, the sides ruled with inlaid tan morocco borders and gilt fillets, bold floral sprays to corners heightened with inlaid red morocco, the spine with raised bands and richly gilt-decorated compartments, the second compartment lettered in gilt, the others gilt with central fleuron device within border of gilt sprays and inlaid tan morocco, the date gilt to bottom compartment, broad inner dentelles richly gilt with floral sprays, embroidered silk endpapers with additional marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Housed in a custom-made marbled slipcase also by Maylander. 20 pochoir coloured plates (some heightened with silver), 3 pochoir vignettes to title-page and both covers of original wrappers, plus the suite of 23 additional black and white illustrations, all by Barbier. A fine copy of Barbier's exquisite Art Deco rendering of Verlaine's poetry in a superb binding by Parisian bookbinder Émile Maylander, "parmi les praticiens qui assurerent a la reliure francaise la continuite d'un travail de haute qualite apres la Premiere Guerre mondiale" (Sothebys). Associated with the early Symbolists, Verlaine "wrote some of the finest and most musical lyrics in the French language" (Harvey & Heseltine, 738). First published in 1869, Fêtes Galantes reflects the care for form and objectivity characteristic of Verlaine's early poetry. The designs in this splendid production are the work of Art Deco legend George Barbier, who began his career as a costume and set designer for the Ballet Russes and later created décors and costumes for music-halls, movies and the Folies Bergère through Max Weldy Studios. Renowned for his fashion illustrations for the leading magazines of the time, including the Gazette du Bon Ton and Vogue, his artistic style is recognised by a characteristically elegant, stylised line. Emile Maylander (1867-1959) "had a preference for classical designs, which he execute with a faultless technique" (Duncan & De Bartha). Carteret IV, 393.