25 - [ART DECO] KUHN-REGNIER, Joseph, and DONNAY, Maurice. *Praxagora*. An adaptation of Aristophanes’ *The Assembly of Women*.

[ART DECO] KUHN-REGNIER, Joseph, and DONNAY, Maurice. *Praxagora*. An adaptation of Aristophanes’ *The Assembly of Women*. A splendid copy on pearlescent Japanese paper of one of the most beautiful books of the Art Deco era, illustrated with 64 original compositions by Kuhn-Régnier, woodcut by Pierre Bouchet. Paris, Les Centraux Bibliophiles, 1932. Large quarto (260 x 340 mm), loose-leaf, ivory cover on filled Japanese paper without title, with a wooden-patterned paper slipcase and jacket. 193 pp. and 1 f. (printed to completion), one title vignette and 63 in-text color compositions hand-colored using stencils. Signs of wear on the slipcase and dust jacket, creased spine and slight water stain on the title labels, a few foxing spots on the cover. A beautiful Art Deco illustrated edition, first printing of 64 illustrations by Kuhn-Régnier, including a title vignette, a banner, 5 historiated initials, 6 end-piece illustrations, and 51 in-text illustrations. The original woodcuts were engraved by master printer Pierre Bouchet and hand-colored using stencils. Academician Maurice Donnay (1859–1945) reimagines Aristophanes’ feminist utopia with the witty verve of the Roaring Twenties, while Joseph Kuhn-Régnier (1873–1940) displays his signature style, a blend of refined neoclassicism and joyful eroticism. Limited edition of 130 copies, numbered at the press on double pearlescent Japan paper; this copy, No. 64, was printed for Count Ernest de Marchena (1868–1960), a brilliant engineer from the École Centrale, author of several notable scientific works, including a treatise on the mechanical traction of streetcars, which earned him the gold medal from the Society of Civil Engineers and led to his appointment as an Officer of the Legion of Honor in 1933 (biographical note attached). A beautiful, personalized copy as published, with remarkably fresh interior pages.