Van Dongen. – (Rudyard) Kipling.

Van Dongen. - (Rudyard) Kipling. Les plus beaux contes. Paris, Ed. de la Sirène, 1920, 4°. 115 p., 1 leaf, with 23 pochoircolored illustrations by Kees von Dongen (1877-1968), 18 of which are full-page. Brick red half morocco with rich spine gilt, marbled paper endpapers, gilt head edges. Carteret IV, 221. Mahé II, 512. Skira 346. Monod 6553. - First edition of the illustrations, here: unnumbered copy on vélin de rives, 250 (total 300) copies, published only in paperback, enriched by the present attractive hand binding; original pamphlet bound in. Text pages with chapter vignettes in the lower margin, ornamental line fillers and alinea marks. The illustrations standing less for the artist group "Brücke" in Dresden of which van Dongen had been member from 1909, but more for a collage style heightened into the surreal with "a quite bright and delicate palette composed with highest sensitivity to tone" (Vollmer), delicately transferred to the pochoirs of the Marty studio - Very good copy, the extraordinary plates fresh in color and in best condition. Handsome small bookplate, inscribed A. v. Eyll.