Guy de Maupassant. Le Rosier de Madame Husson. Paris: 1888. First edition, limited....

Description

Guy de Maupassant. Le Rosier de Madame Husson. Illustrations par Habert Dys. Eaux-fortes de E. Abot, d'après Desprès. Paris: Maison Quantin, Compagnie générale d'impression et d'édition, 1888. First edition, papier imperial du Japon issue, limited to forty copies numbered XI to L, of which this is number XIII; from a total limitation of 1,050, following ten on Japon with inserted watercolors with 1,000 on vélin du Marais. Quarto. [2, blank], [2, half-title and limitation], [4], [2, title leaf], [4], 1-38 (interleaved with thirty-eight illustrated but otherwise blank leaves), [2, printer's statement and device], [6] pages. Two engraved title frontispieces and head-pieces after Jules Deprés (sic) by E. Abot, frontispieces with tissue guards; each page of text and one face of each interleaved blank illustrated with monochromatic ornamental borders by Habert Dys, printed in blue, red, gray, gold or copper. Contemporary dark green morocco with boards and spine decorated in gilt; yellow silk band around each board decorated with hand-painted title and illustrations. Marbled endpapers. All edges trimmed; top edge gilt. Housed in custom green leather and marbled paper book-backed chemise, spine lettered in gilt with five raised bands; in green marbled paper-covered slipcase. Barely visible restoration to front hinge, added color to board edges and colors; rear board completely detached; mild edge wear to silk; moderate loss of paint at front and back illustrations. Both free endpapers beginning to split at inner margin; evidence of repairs to front hinge. Regular toning to pages and edges of text block. Faint, occasional thumbsoiling, spot staining scattered throughout. Chemise rubbed; fairly heavy wear with some added color to spine, though gilding still intact; paper-covered flaps cracking though sound; verso yellowed with some mild spotting. Slipcase bumped and edgeworn; some scuffing and insect damage to sides; top panel splitting away but still sound at opposite end, with some fraying at exposed edges. Fair case and chemise housing a very good volume. With bookplate of William W. Goodman on front pastedown. Clipped newspaper article laid in (holograph note in the margin credits it to "G. W. Smalley, in New York Tribune of January 4--1895.") describing the market for Maupassant's books, including record of two sales in Paris of this edition of Le Rosier de Mme Husson.