301 - WILLETTE, Adolphe. Pauvre Pierrot.

WILLETTE, Adolphe. Pauvre Pierrot. A bibliophile’s copy on laid paper, featuring a typewritten preface and an embossed print. [Paris, Magnier, n.d. (1887)]. Large quarto (330 x 260 mm), brown half-basane leather with root-stained edges, ribbed spine decorated with gilt friezes and fillets, author’s name and title in gilt, publisher and date at the bottom, original illustrated cover preserved (R. Colley). 1 title leaf and 40 leaves of drawings and texts by Wilette reproduced as heliogravures and printed on the front side only. Slight rubbing, a few foxing spots on the edges and some margins, two mounting corners broken on the last plate. A delightful bibliophile’s copy in which the 41 leaves of the Magnier edition in in-8 format have been mounted on heavy laid paper using corners. It has been enhanced at the beginning with a preface by Paul Arène, entirely typewritten in blue and red (“Reims—Mardi Gras—February 16, 1926”), copied from issue No. 18 of the journal *Le Pierrot*, published in 1888. The volume is complete, including the front cover, which is titled and illustrated in silver with a Pierrot hanging in the moonlight. Copy on Dutch laid paper. Vicaire notes that the large-paper print run of the Magnier edition was limited to 100 numbered copies (50 on Japanese paper and 50 on Dutch laid paper). [Vicaire, VII, 1167]. Included is a print by Willette on Arches Ingres paper (M.B.M. watermark) titled “Marie-Thérèse au jardin d’acclimatation,” captioned, signed, and enhanced with watercolor. A beautiful, tastefully assembled set.