268 - ATALAYA.

ATALAYA. [COMPOSITIONS FOR ARSÈNE HOUSSAYE’S PARISIAN PHRYNÉ]. Paris, 1894. In-8 format (24 x 17 cm), (16) folios, all watercolored with handwritten pages in pencil and highlighted in gold. Contemporary peacock-blue morocco leather, spine with raised ribs bearing the author’s name and title in gold, mosaic floral decoration on the upper cover entwining two metal pieces with relief motifs and an inlaid dedication, silk lining embroidered on the endpapers and half-leaves, gilded fillet framing with fleurons in the spandrels on the endpapers, gilt edges, inner slipcase with morocco flaps and blue sheepskin lining, marbled slipcase [Ch. Meunier, 98] (spine of the cover worn, corners slightly scuffed). Catalog entry: “Unique copy presented by Mariani to Arsène Houssaye” with its label. *La Phryné parisienne* is a collection created in 1894 by the writer Arsène Houssaye and the Spanish-Argentine painter Enrique Atalaya. Housed in a beautiful maroquin case with a mosaic pattern crafted by Meunier. Texts and illustrations inspired by the figure of Mademoiselle Phryné, the archetype of the elegant Parisian socialite of the late 19th century. Begun on July 28 and completed on November 2, 1894. This copy consists of: -An inspired medallion signed by Atalaya with the start date of the work on the reverse; -Half-title page with justification on the reverse; -Title page with a floral ornament on the reverse; -Vignette for the contributors’ page with a floral ornament on the reverse; -Dedication page; -“Lost Paths”: a watercolor; -“Heaven and Earth”: text page with a vignette banner and initial; -“The Journey at My Window”: vignette; -“The Daughters of Eve”: text page with a vignette banner and initial; -“Women Under the Regency”: vignette; -“Mademoiselle Mariani”: text page with vignette banner and initial; -“King Voltaire”: a watercolor; -“Mademoiselle Cléopatre”: text page with vignette banner and initial; -“History of the 41st Seat of the Académie Française”: a watercolor, with a frame for “Notre Dame de Thermidor” on the reverse; -List of illustrations with the completion date on the reverse; -Small medallion with the artist’s address on the reverse.