Natural History

Jules Renard

Published by Department of Printing and Graphic Arts Harvard Library, 1960

About this Item

The introduction to this limited edition publication was provided by Philip Hofer, Harvard librarian, book collector and founder and first curator of the Department of Printing and Graphic Arts, Houghton Library. This publication had three sets of publication. The first set 1-50 contained a set of trial proofs of the original lithographs (these were not included in other sets. In addition to the proofs, another set of separate of lithographs was included and each was signed/initialed by the artist, along with a book with the lithographs which is signed by the artist, Walter Stein and the editor-translator,Mr. Hofer, and numbered. All of the components are housed in a clam shell box (special box case). This is number 50 and includes all the items described . The second group 51-150 contains everything in the first group except the proof set. Numbers 151-600 do not have the set of signed lithographs, but the book is enclosed in a slip case. The book has green paper boards with an illustration on the front and plain on the back. The spine cover is in black leather with bright gilt lettering. The paper has areas of discoloration-please loot at pictures of the item provided. A prospectus is included in this box set. The two sets of lithographs are contained in a green paper "envelopes" similar to the books cover. The 13 images, complete, in the "Extra Lithographs are approximately 10 1/4 by 7 1/4 to 4 by 6 1/4 inches and the same as the tipped in images included in the book. There are other images but are printed as part of the book and not tipped in. The "Trial Proofs" has 12 images, are more consistent in size, approximately 10 to 10 /14 inches and 7 1/4 to 8 inches. On the tope edge of one of the images is a small abrasion-not affecting the image. The box containing all th items has more of an olive tree cloth covering with a leather spine cover. The leather is worn and split along the joints. The gilt lettering on the spine remains bright. Seller Inventory # SpSi981

Bibliographic Details

Title: Natural History

Publisher: Department of Printing and Graphic Arts Harvard Library

Publication Date: 1960

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Very Good

Edition: Limited Edition