140 - (Louis JOU). FRANCE (Anatole). THE OPINIONS OF MR. JEROME COIGNARD.

(Louis JOU). FRANCE (Anatole). THE OPINIONS OF MR. JEROME COIGNARD. Paris, Les Cent Bibliophiles, 1914. In-4°, aubergine morocco, ribbed spine, wide interior borders adorned with a triple gilt fillet, brocaded silk endpapers and linings, gilt edges on endpapers, cover and spine, edged slipcase (G. Cretté, successor to Marius Michel). FIRST BOOK ILLUSTRATED BY LOUIS JOU, who provided 73 remarkable woodcuts, including 24 full-page illustrations. A luxurious edition printed in a limited run of only 130 copies on pure Rives rag-lined paper, printed for Mr. Roger Clinchant. AN EXCEPTIONAL COPY enriched with: - a full-page drawing in ink and wash signed by Louis Jou. - A set of several woodcuts, some bearing Louis Jou’s pencil signature. - 2 original proofs on China and Japan paper of the rare floral cover that was rejected. - An autograph letter with envelope signed by Louis Jou to Pierre Meunié, explaining his difficulties in carving his woodcuts “using a champagne cork as a handle,” his rejection by the publishers of the time who “kindly showed him the door,” his meeting with Anatole France, and all his “possible and imaginable” setbacks with the Société des Cent. This letter recounts “the saddest time of my life.” - An autograph letter on Georges Cretté’s letterhead, dated 1931 and addressed to Pierre Meunié. A very fine copy of this work, considered the first book illustrated by Louis Jou and lavishly enriched. (Carteret, Illustrés, IV 169 “a major work by Louis Jou”) (Feuille, no. 1). SPLENDID COPY IN A CRETTE MOROCCO LEATHER BINDING.