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4to. (280 x 228 mm). pp. (vi), 224, (xvi). Each page with decorative border and many full page plates and section headings, all in colour after Grasset. Full dark green crushed morocco by Marius Michel with his signature gilt, front board with elaborate cuir ciselé decoration to surround central armorial with title tooled in black, the decoration of floral, foliate and bestial devices in colour calf representing a coat of arms, banded spine in six compartments, turn-ins ruled in gilt, patterned decorative silk doublures and endpapers, original printed and decorative chromolithograph wrappers (two sets) preserved, a.e.g., silk placemarker, marbled board slipcase. Grasset's finest illustrated book and one of the icons of Art Nouveau in a cuir ciselé binding by Marius Michel. From the édition de luxe limited to 200 copies, with this one of 100 numbered copies on papier de Chine. ' . a turning point in the history of illustration.' (Ray) The introduction and notes are by Charles Marcilly and the printing by Charles Gillot. 'For this late popular version of the chansons de geste of Charlemagne and his barons, Charles Gillot persuaded Grasset to provide designs in the 'Merovingian' style through which he could demonstrate the possibilities of chromolithography for book illustration . In technical excellence Gillot showed himself to be the equal of any of the chromolithograph masters . and his book has the further merit of offering compositions which are original.' (Ray, pp. 465 - 466). [Ray 357]. Seller Inventory # 46601
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