133 - FRANCE, Anatole and LEBÈGUE, Léon. The Tales of Jacques Tournebroche. Illustrations by Léon Lebègue.

FRANCE, Anatole and LEBÈGUE, Léon. The Tales of Jacques Tournebroche. Illustrations by Léon Lebègue. Illustrated first edition, superbly bound in fine red morocco leather with a mosaic design by Flammarion-Vaillant. Paris, Calmann-Lévy, 1908. In-8 (200 x 147 mm), full cherry morocco, smooth spine richly decorated with two gilt friezes framed by a black morocco band accented with gilt fillets, author’s name and title embossed in gold; covers adorned with a framing design consisting of the same black morocco band, gilded fillets, and richly gilded spandrels; in the center of the upper cover, a multi-lobed medallion accented by the same strip and adorned with a composition on fawn calfskin, incised and painted based on the illustration on page 51 (a couple seated at a table having a meal); the lower cover features a similar central design depicting a still life (roasted poultry, a bowl of fruit, and a pitcher), with an inner frame of cherry-red morocco leather adorned with a border featuring gilded fleurons at the corners, linings and endpapers of moiré silk with plant motifs, gilded fillet at the edges, guilloché caps, gilded headband, untrimmed, covers and spine preserved. Binding by Flammarion Vaillant. 183 pp., 44 color illustrations, most with gold highlights. First edition of this collection of satirical short stories and first printing of the 44 illustrations by Léon Lebègue (1863–1944), including 9 insert illustrations, inspired by medieval illuminations and popular imagery. A beautiful print produced by the Draeger brothers. A very fine copy on satin-finished vellum.