307 - MUSSET, Alfred de. GIRALDON. MERSON.

MUSSET, Alfred de. GIRALDON. MERSON. Les Nuits. Paris, J. Meynial, 1909. 2 volumes (approx. 31 x 21 cm), 73 pp., a small folio and a long quarto volume of illustrations and sketches. Period taupe morocco leather for the text volume, spine with 4 raised ribs bearing the names of the author and illustrator embossed in blind stamping, upper cover adorned with two large wisteria panels in a mosaic of green and shades of mauve surrounding the title in cold-stamped capital letters, a blue mosaic border adorned with a repeating floral motif in the spandrels on the endpapers, silver tabis linings on the endpapers and flyleaves, gilded edges, cover and spine preserved, housed in a half-navy morocco slipcase with flaps and a gilded title in bands, the whole housed in a navy morocco slipcase with bias-cut edges. For the sequels, navy morocco, spine with 4 raised bands, author and title gilded, same decoration and lining on the endpapers and flyleaves, gilt edges, case with navy morocco bias trim [Marius Michel] (the cover is very slightly tarnished, a few very subtle scuffs on the slipcases; interior in excellent condition). Description: An exceptional copy superbly bound by Marius Michel for the publisher Jules Meynial. Original binding known as *Les Nuits à la branche de glycine*, created for 7 numbered copies for the *Amis de la reliure moderne* (Friends of Modern Bookbinding), whose metal tools were subsequently destroyed. This is No. 6. The illustrations consist of a frontispiece, 4 plates, and 4 vignettes by Luc Olivier Merson, etched by Ch. Chessa and printed using the poupée technique; an engraved title page, half-title, and page borders by Adolphe Giraldon, woodcut by E. Florian. The plates and vignettes are preceded by a color proof with annotations. Limited edition of only 161 copies, printed on Arches vellum with the “A. de Musset, Les Nuits” watermark. This copy was specially printed on Japanese paper for Jules Meynial, one of the 20 copies intended for contributors. Enriched with: -Three sets with notes, bound at the end, including two printed in black and one in color -Sketches of the title-frontispiece, the notes, and color breakdowns for the etchings. - A collection of incoming correspondence bound at the end, consisting of 10 signed autograph letters sent by Giraldon, Merson, or Garamond to Jules Meynial regarding the publication, the binding, and the print runs.