Art Deco from Rare Illustrated Books

Publications Willy Fischer, 1932. First Edition. Ludo, a comedy in three acts by the renowned French journalist, novelist and playwright, Pierre Scize (pseudonym for Michel Joseph Piot, 1894 -1956). Scize was hit by a shell in the first months of WWI, losing his arm. With all that remained of him, Scize started to write. He wrote… Read more about this item

Montpellier, 1925. Limited Edition. 'Dieu fait le mal sans malice; Avec des oiseaux tués Et le ralenti des limaces Il commence ma statue Il répare les garnitures De la mer, ses haies de houx, Son système de granit, Toujours mû par les mêmes roues. Maintenant, stupides oiseaux, Vous abandonnez la cage; Oui, la cage des mes os. … Read more about this item

Toledo, Ohio, U.S.A.: The De Vilbiss Company, 1928. A stylish catalog of art deco perfume bottles in gift boxes so compelling as to put most twentieth century modernist architecture to shame: "excellent value, as your price list will corfirm". Quarto, bound in gilt-embossed decorated wrappers with yapp edges, 20 pp, 304 mm x 230 mm, colour illustrations, edgewear to… Read more about this item

Nottingham: Courtaulds Ltd, 1925. First Edition. Enchanting catalogue of 1920's women's fashion and textiles for home furnishings and interiors. "Beautiful frocks, like pictures, need an appropriate frame to set off their loveliness, and Courtaulds, whose marvellous development of Artificial Silk has resulted in the existence of the beautiful materials I hve endeavoured to describe to you in this… Read more about this item

Paris: Office Technique Pour l'Utilisation de l'Acier, 1935. First Edition. This impressive publication is a record of a competition for a grand large-scale exhibition building at La Defense on the outskirts of Paris. The competition was organised by O.T.U.A., publishers of the magazine l'Acier [steel], to exemplify the spectacular possibilities of steel in modern building. Thirteen invited entrants accepted… Read more about this item

Melbourne: Palace Theatre, 1922. First Edition. A memento of the first theatrical production to run for two hundred consecutive performances in Melbourne. Souvenir programme: Thursday, October 5th, 1922. Ada Reeve (3 March 1874 - 5 October 1966) was born in London, beginning her career on the stage and screen when she was only four years old. Ten years… Read more about this item

Paris: Meynial, 1925. First Edition. George Barbier. A complete and excellent set of the five annual issues illustrated with a total of sixty beautiful pochoir plates, complete with decorated pochoir title pages. 'Falbalas and Franfreluches' (Frippery and Finery: Fashion Diaries) represents a literary and artistic collaboration of unusual elegance and sophistication. French illustrator, George Barbier (1882 - 1932)… Read more about this item

SYDNEY: ART IN AUSTRALIA, 1932. First Edition. Decadent art deco publication with a splendid assortment of colour advertisements. Illustrated by many notable Australian artists, reproducing Will Ashton in oil and J.J. Hilder in watercolour, and includes a series of beautiful photographs of the Sydney Harbour Bridge by Harold Cazneaux. An article titled 'Our Glorious Surf Beaches' is supported by… Read more about this item

Paris: H. Laurens, 1932. An anthropological study of the French Indochina colonies by professor Antoine Cabaton, including extracts from the writings of Marco Polo, Pavie, Garnier, Monnier, Bonnetain, Pouvourville, Boissière, Lyautey among others. Desirable also for its chic art deco-style binding and bold typography. Bound in original decorated cloth boards, 180mm x 250mm, 256 pages, 148 black and white… Read more about this item

London: George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd, 1929. First Edition. Phyllis A. Trery.. First edition, limited to two hunderd copies only. The author has taken the dramatic works of Bernard Shaw and retold them in a jungle context, replacing Shaw's human characters with animals: an endearing and somewhat eccentric book, brilliantly illustrated in art deco style and hand-coloured in… Read more about this item

Paris: L'Édition, 1922. Marcel Francois. An attractive work of French erotica, with art deco illustrations by Marcel Francois. One of only twelve examples printed on Japon Impérial, of which this is number seven. Edition limited, bound in original printed wrappers, 145 mm x 225 mm, 112 pages, 2 full page and many intricate coloured vignettes throughout, uncut; a fine… Read more about this item

Paris: R. Kieffer, 1925. Limited edition of Kipling's observations of Japan. An immaculately preserved copy in a unique gilt binding with the original wrappers bound in. Limited edition of 1000 copies, of which this is number 942, Bound in vellum with a debossed gilt art deco design. , 150mm x 200mm, Original gilt-decorated wrappers by H. Tirman bound in,… Read more about this item

Tokyo: Seibundô, Shôwa 5, 1930. First Edition. [Shiseidô] AYAO YAMANA. Ayao Yamana (1897-1980) Japanese artist, graphic designer and illustrator largely responsible for the elegant look and style of Shiseido cosmetics. Hundreds of art deco designs for tea rooms, bars and cafes created by Yamana early in his career, prior to his appointment as the art director of… Read more about this item

London: Elkin Mathews and Marrot, 1930. First edition. Pictorial Boards. Very Good. By John Erskine of the Great Books movement, author of the "The Moral Obligation to be Intelligent". Produced in a limited edition of 530 copies, of which this is signed and numbered 155. This copy is of special interest as the pages remain unopened.… Read more about this item

Paris: Verve, Rue Ferou, 1939. First Edition. This issue includes lithograph images of 'The Dance' by Henri Matisse and 'The Garden of Allah' by Andre Derain. This copy is in a remarkable hardcover leather binding with inlaid green and yellow leather spelling 'Verve' on the front board. The back board features the same design in relief with the lettering… Read more about this item

London: George G. Harrap & Co Ltd, 1929. Phyllis A. Trery.. First edition. The author has taken the dramatic works of Bernard Shaw and retold them in a jungle context, replacing the human characters with animals: an endearing if somewhat eccentric book brilliantly illustrated by Phyllis A. Trery. 'The Wizard was wise - but he knew nothing. The… Read more about this item

Paris: Andre Delpeuch, 1927. AGHION, Janine. Deluxe Pochoir Edition. The deluxe pochoir edition of Toussaint's erotic Middle Eastern Tales superbly illustrated in Art Deco style by Janine Aghion. Bound in original printed wrappers, 185mm x 260mm, 160 pages, handmade Marais vellum paper, uncut, 8 pochoir illustrations by Janine Aghion and line drawings throughout; edition limited to 450 copies; a… Read more about this item

Paris: Librairie Georges Crès, 1919. BONFILS, Robert. One of the finest examples of art deco book design. Robert Bonfils (1886-1972) was an illustrator, graphic artist and fashion designer at the forefront of the art deco movement. A member of the organising committee for the famous Paris Art Deco Exhibition of 1925, his work for stylish Parisian fashion magazines… Read more about this item

Paris: René Kieffer Editeur, 1929. BRAUN, G.. Limited edition No. 1 of 50 printed on Papier du Japon. Illustrated by G. Braun, a dazzling gemoetric cover with art deco borders on every page. Mac Orlan's "The House of Sickening Return" was an early influence on French polymath, Boris Vian. A stylish publication, the twentieth title in the L'Amour des… Read more about this item

Melbourne: Keating-Wood, 1925. First Edition. Presentation copy from Leon Heron, dated 11th of September, 1927. Classic set of art deco 'pin-up girl' prints by Leon Heron (including one image of Felix the Cat being disciplined by a scantily-clad redhead): 1. Fascination 2. The Medicine Ball 3. Machéta 4. Folly 5. Naughty 6. Felix, Be Good! 'The… Read more about this item