Superb complete collection of the 10 stories by Maupassant published in 188 copies
by the Society of Bibliophiles contemporary and printed for their members only, richly illustrated with black and color figures by the best artists of the time.
Maupassant, Guy de. Selected stories published by the contemporary Bibliophiles.
Paris, at the expense and for the associates of the Bibliophiles of the Academy of Fine Books, 1891-1892.
10 works combined in a large octavo volume.
Blue-gray Morocco, framing golden fillets and floral designs on the covers, richly decorated ribbed spine, double gold fillet on edges, wide golden interior roulette, gilded edges on witnesses, covers and spine preserved, case. Ch. de Samblanx.
265 x 175.
Superb complete collection of the 10 stories by Maupassant published by the Society of Bibliophiles of the Academy of Fine Books.
« The complete work consists of ten booklets with pagination and a particular cover for each of them. All these stories were printed on paper made exclusively for the Society with watermark framing each page bearing at the top: Guy de Maupassant; and at the bottom Selected stories.
Some associates have had their copy bound by retaining all the covers, either by leaving them in their place or relegating them to the back of the volume; others have retained the booklets as they are by enclosing them in a case». (Administrative Annals of contemporary Bibliophiles, p. 89).
It consists of a cover, a half-title and a title, accompanied by a colored frontispiece by Paul Avril after Félicien Rops, followed by the following 10 titles, each with its particular cover:
– The Wolf. Hunting story. November 1891. (2 ff.), 12 pp.
Edition entirely engraved, illustrated with 15 aquatint-enhanced etchings by Everet Louis Von Muyden (1853-1922), including one on the title, 12 headers, an initial, and a cul-de-lamp. The text was engraved with a burin by A. Leclère.
– Hautot father & son. 1892. (2 ff.), 20 pp., 3 plates.
Edition illustrated with 12 compositions by Georges Jeanniot, including 3 off-text, mostly in color, retouched with etching and burin by Henry Manesse and printed in polychrome intaglio by the firm Wittmann. Pages 5 to 8 wrongly bound after the title.
– Allouma. 1892. (2 ff.), 30 pp., (1 ff.).
Edition illustrated with 2 color chapter heads and 2 monochrome tailpieces, engraved by Paul Avril.
– Mouche. Souvenir of a Rower. 1892. (2 ff.), 20 pp.
Edition entirely engraved, illustrated on each page with a composition by Ferdinand Gueldry engraved on copper by Fillon. The text was engraved with a burin by A. Leclère.
– La Maison Tellier. 1892. (2 ff.), 44 pp., (2 last white ff.).
Edition illustrated with 25 watercolors by Pierre Vidal in the text, engraved by Hellé et Ruckert, and colored by Grenengaire
– A Night. 1892. (2 ff.), 27 pp.
Edition illustrated with 28 compositions by Georges Scott, engraved on wood by D. Quesnel et Duplessis.
– The Olive Field. 1892. (2 ff.), 34 pp., (1 ff.), 3 plates.
Edition illustrated with 9 compositions by Paul Gervais, including 3 chapter heads, 3 tailpieces and 3 off-texts, heliogravure and printed in intaglio by Boussod et Valadon.
– Mademoiselle Fifi. 1892. Frontispiece, (2 ff.), 22 pp., (1 ff.), 3 plates.
Edition illustrated with 22 compositions byA. Gérardin et Charles Morel including 18 in the text, engraved on wood by Jules Tinayre and 4 off-text, engraved on copper by Hellé, including one in color. Copy enriched with the color plate that was given to the associates after the publication.
– The Wreck. 1892. (2 ff.), 17 pp., (1 ff.).
Edition not illustrated. Copy enriched with 2 very beautiful original watercolors signed (signature difficult to decipher) and dated 1917, as well as a very beautiful original unsigned pencil sketch.
– A Day in the Country. 1892. (2 ff.), 18 pp., (1 blank ff.).
Edition not illustrated. Copy enriched with a color etching byHenri Boutet, which was given to the associates after the publication, and with 3 superb original watercolors signed by Alcide Robaudi (1850-1928), on the half-title and on pages 1 and 18.
« Collection of the 10 stories by Maupassant published by the Society of contemporary Bibliophiles, and printed only for the members of the Society. Each story has distinct pagination, a cover of different color and ornamentation, and offers a particular type of printing, illustration, and engraving. To give the complete work a homogeneous appearance, a general title bearing the associate’s printed name was made, an overall cover, and a beautiful frontispiece engraved by Paul Avril, after Félicien Rops, printed in color. The artists who contributed to the illustration of these stories are: Evert Van Muyden, G. Jeanniot, P. Avril, F. Gueldry, P. Vidal, G. Scott, P. Gervais, A. Gérardin, and C. Morel. » (Catalog of the Library of Alfred Piat, 1446)
The print run was, according to Vicaire, 188 copies on vellum watermark in the name of the author and the collection, not put on the market.
This copy is number 71; it was specially printed for Mr. Léon Guillon. It has been enriched with the prospectus printed on blue paper sent to the associates.
« These 10 booklets are illustrated with black and color figures by Pierre Vidal, P. Avril, Lunois, Paul Gervais, F. Gueldry, Van Muyden, etc.
Frontispiece engraved in color by P. Avril, after F. Rops.
This edition was printed in a very small number of copies, for the members of the Society only ». (Bulletin of the Librairie Damascène Morgand, VI, 26287)
Superb copy with all the original covers of different colors and ornamentations preserved in a very beautiful binding by Charles de Samblanx.
