298 - KIPLING, Maurice de Becque.

KIPLING, Maurice de Becque. The Jungle Book. Paris, Editions du Sagittaire, published by Simon Kra, 1924. 2 sturdy volumes, large quarto (31.2 x 25 cm). Contemporary Lavallière morocco, plain spine, author’s name and title in gold lettering, an elaborate mosaic design of green and taupe morocco leather covering the covers and spine, depicting an imposing, undulating snake slithering through a tangle of jungle foliage in shades of green, the whole enhanced by fine gilt fillets emphasizing the composition’s movement, 4 engraved and crossed brass plates inlaid on the endpapers, framed by a black fillet and a gilded fillet with 8 mosaic medallions, 4 of which are green in the spandrels and adorned with a gilded fleur-de-lis at their center; endpapers lined with green tabis, gilded edges, covers and spines preserved, housed in a striped demi-maroquin Lavallière slipcase adorned with a mosaic serpent motif inspired by the binding, covers accented with a gold fillet, the whole housed in a marbled slipcase with maroquin trim [Blaizot]. 6 volumes in half-maroquin with corners of the same shade, smooth spines adorned with a design identical to that of the covers described above. (Minimal scuffing on the edges of the 2nd volume, a few signs of wear on the slipcases, minor foxing on a few suites). A set of 8 volumes in large quarto format. Description: A luxurious and unique first edition copy featuring 10 original watercolors, 9 engravings on satin, and 4 copperplate engravings in a superb custom binding by Blaizot. The First and Second Books of the Jungle by Rudyard Kipling, translated into French by Louis Fabulet and Robert d’Humières, superbly illustrated by Maurice de Becque (1878–1938). With 109 superb etchings by Maurice de Becque, printed in color by hand by A. Routy in Roger Lacourière’s workshops in Paris, under the direction of E. Monnard. The illustrations for the First Book include a vignette depicting an elephant on the cover, a frontispiece, 35 vignettes in the text, and 14 plates; for the Second Book, a vignette depicting a tiger on the cover, a frontispiece, 40 vignettes in the text, and 17 plates. Limited edition. Copy No. 1, the only one on Imperial Japanese paper. Enriched with: -4 sets of black etchings: on Japanese paper, Chinese paper, Dutch paper, and vellum, distributed across the 6 volumes of sets. -10 original watercolors (5 bound at the beginning of each Book). -9 etchings printed on white silk satin, including one in duplicate (out of 10 announced). -4 copper plates from the engravings, crossed out (out of 6 announced).