166 - GRASSET (Eugène). The Story of the Four Sons of Aymon: Most Noble and Most Valiant Knights. Illustrated with color plates by Eugène Grasset. Introduction and notes by Charles Marcilly.

GRASSET (Eugène). The Story of the Four Sons of Aymon: Most Noble and Most Valiant Knights. Illustrated with color plates by Eugène Grasset. Introduction and notes by Charles Marcilly. Sumptuous binding by Marius Michel, adorned with a large incised leather design on the front cover; one of 100 copies on China paper of this rare edition illustrated by Eugène Grasset, which marks the beginning of Charles Gillot’s invention, known as “gillotage” in color. Paris, H. Launette, 1883. In-4 (230x280 mm), brown morocco, large incised leather inlay on the front cover, featuring the title on a central banner surrounded by a rich decoration of flowers, chivalric attributes (shield, sword, horn, helmet), and real or fantastical creatures (at the bottom, an eagle caught in the jaws of a wild beast; at the top, an eagle and a griffin soaring through the clouds), all rendered in color with some gold highlights, wide interior border of the same morocco leather set within a double gilded frame and bearing the signature “Marius Michel,” linings and endpapers of brocaded silk with floral motifs, animals and sultans in red, green, and gold on an ebony background, gilt edges, original covers preserved, half-maroquin slipcase with striped bands, matching edged slipcase (Marius Michel). 224 pages, nearly 250 color illustrations by Eugène Grasset within the text, around the text, as overprints, or full-page, engraved and printed using the Gillotage process. Minor scuffing on the edges and some corners, very rare and minimal foxing, spine of the cover slightly faded, slight wear on the slipcase. The most beautiful illustrated edition of this text inspired by a medieval legend, adorned with nearly 250 Art Nouveau illustrations by Eugène Grasset, engraved and printed using the Gillotage process, which had just been invented by Charles Gillot. A deluxe edition limited to 200 numbered copies; this one is one of 100 copies on China paper (no. 136). “The first book illustrated using photogravure and ‘chromography,’ techniques invented by Charles Gillot.” (Monod, 6043). “A beautiful volume, very rare and highly valued, especially in large-format paper, which marks an era in the illustration of the modern illustrated book; the beginning of the ‘Gillot’ invention, known as ‘gillotage’ in color. [...]. Preferably seek out a copy on Chinese paper bound in leather incised by Marius Michel.” Carteret, IV, p. 204." A remarkable copy matching the one described by Carteret, in a perfect binding by Marius Michel inlaid with a large piece of incised leather on the front cover.