97 - CHARDONNE, Jacques. *L'Épithalame*.

CHARDONNE, Jacques. *L'Épithalame*. First edition, a limited first printing on Holland paper, in a beautiful binding embossed with the coat of arms of Sir Robert Abdy, crafted in London by Sangorski and Sutcliffe. Paris, Librairie Stock / Delamain, Boutelleau et Cie, 1921. 2 in-8 volumes, full red morocco, spine with raised bands cold-stamped, author’s name and title in gilt letters, gilt eagle’s head and date at the foot, covers embossed with Sir Abdy’s coat of arms, double gilt fillet on the edges, interior edging in the same morocco set with two gilt fillets, untrimmed, covers and spine preserved (Sangorski and Sutcliffe, London). 267 and 363 pages. Spine faded; bindings slightly rubbed and stained. Foxing in the margins. First edition of the debut novel by Jacques Chardonne, the pen name of Jacques Boutteleau (1884–1964), whose entire body of work was devoted to the marital bond and the intimacy of the couple One of the 100 head copies on Holland van Gelder paper—the only large-format paper—numbered and initialed by the publishers (No. 70). Provenance: from the prestigious library of Sir Robert Abdy, dispersed at public auctions in Paris in the mid-1970s, with his coat of arms stamped on the covers and his bookplate on the endpapers. A very fine copy with full margins in a signed binding.