France (Anatole). ABEILLE. 27 illustrations drawn and etched in color and black by Gaston BUSSIERE. Numerous letters decorated in color and gold. Paris, Librairie des Amateurs, A. Ferroud - F. Ferroud suc.1927. Small in-4, 26 x 20 cm, orange half-maroquin with corners, edged with gilt fillet, spine with 4 prominent nerves, edging the title and author, the other caissons, are mosaicked with brown fleurons, affixed to gilt vertical fillets, forming stylized flowers, gilt head, marbled endpapers, red, silver, gold and black, cover boards and spine preserved, , (rel. de Max Fronsèque), ex-libris A. Villet, 130pp, the work is illustrated with etchings drawn and engraved by G. Bussière (3 h.-t., in color, 22 chapter headings in black, 22 lettrines in color and numerous in-t. in color). The work was to have featured 5 color plates, but Bussière's untimely death prevented him from producing them. The two missing etchings are replaced by 2 preparatory drawings in black, which are present in fine. Edition of 500, this is one of 75 copies on Japon impérial, containing two states of the 25 etchings, one with remarks, including the frontispiece. A nominative copy reserved for Mr. Villet and signed by F. Ferroud, for whom this is the artist's finest work.very fine copy.