Peter Bichsel   Fine Books

Caylus, Marthe-Marguerite. Souvenirs. Préface par Voltaire. Notice de M. de Lescure. Nouvelle édition illustrée par Lionel Péraux. Gravures au burin et à l’eau-forte par Léon Boisson.

With orig. watercolour signed by Péraux, engr. portrait of the author (in 3 „états“, one on china paper), 12 engr. vignettes (of which 4 „hors texte“), all accompanied by a second suite avant la lettre. XXXX, 264 pp. 8vo. Turquise grained morocco over 5 raised bands, boards, spine, and all edges richly gilt. In matching slipcase. Orig. printed wrappers bound in. – Paris, L. Carteret, 1908.

One of 150 copies „de grand choix“ on Japan paper and vélin du Marais of a total limited edition of 350. This one a de luxe copy (no. 31) for Arthur Meyer with ms. dedication of the illustrator on the orig. watercolour, with his exlibris on inner front board and with an pasted-in autograph letter signed by Mme. de Caylus (1673–1729). Voltaire’s preface was originally published in 1770, when he first published the memoirs containing piquant details from the court of Louis XIV. – Carteret IV, 93 (“Belle édition cotée“). – Slipcase with some wear, else a fine to mint copy. – Best.-Nr. 17861