First Editions on Japon

First edition of 30 copies printed on Japon paper of this offprint of L'Artiste for November 1890.
Contemporary Bradel binding of beige paper boards, ex-libris to pastedown.
Autograph inscription signed from Paul Verlaine to Edmond Bonnaffé on the justification of printing at end: “Exemplaire de Monsieur E. Bonnaffé. P. Verlaine [Monsieur E. Bonnaffé's copy. P. Verlaine]”. Edmond Bonnaffé (1825-1903) was a wealthy collector and noted historian of art, very close to the artistic movements of the age.
These pages by Verlaine are a critical review of the book by Roger Marx of the same name (Paris, 1890). In it, the poet discusses the great names in Art Nouveau, such as Bapst, Chaplet and Gallé. But above all, he writes his famous condemnation of the Eiffel Tower: “This skeletal belfry, that will never outlive, to the contrary indeed! the archi-centenarians of France and Belgium…”. Indeed, on 14 February 1887, Paul Verlaine signed a manifesto of protest published by Le Temps, along with other personalities in the arts and literature, including Charles-Marie-René Leconte de Lisle, Guy de Maupassant, Alexandre Dumas fils, Sully Prudhomme, and so on.
Illustrated with figures in text.
A good and rare copy.
Provenance: collections of Edmond Bonnaffé (ex dono), André Lefèvre (his sale, Paris 16 November 1966), Colonel Daniel Sickles (his sale, Paris 28 & 29 October 1992), Edouard-Henri Fischer.

First edition, one of the rare copies on Japan paper, ours specially printed for Paul Ollendorff.

Half navy blue morocco binding with corners, spine with five raised bands set with gilt dots decorated with double gilt compartments richly embellished with gilt typographical motifs as well as a mosaic piece of hazel morocco, gilt date at foot, very light traces of rubbing without consequence on the spine, double gilt fillet frame on marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt, contemporary unsigned binding but attributable to Lancelin.

Handsome copy agreeably bound.
Provenance: from the library of Paul Ollendorff.

First edition, one of 32 numbered copies on Japon nacré, the tirage de tête.
Illustrated covers with an original lithograph by Alberto Giacometti.
Slight worming to spine.
A good, well-margined copy. 

First edition, one of 32 numbered copies on Japon nacre paper, the tirage de tête.
A fine copy.