314 - Madame de SÉVIGNÉ.

Madame de SÉVIGNÉ. Letters. Paris, French Illustrated Edition, 1953. 4 in-8 volumes in 2 slipcases, including 2 with bound spines and flaps. Contemporary cream morocco leather, raised ribbed spine accented with blind-stamped fillets, title, author, and volume number gilded, illustrator’s name gilded at the bottom of the spine, gray tabis endpapers, cream morocco leather binding with double gilded fillets on the fore-edges, gilded edges, covers and spine preserved, housed in a marbled slipcase with morocco trim [R. Blaizot] (spine very slightly faded and tarnished; the original watercolors mounted on heavy card are slightly loose at the top, with a few discolorations). Catalog entry: Illustrated volume with wood engravings and color stencils by Henry Lemarié. Limited edition of 420 copies. Copy No. 1 on Imperial Japan paper. Includes two original ornate initials, two original watercolors by the artist, and two sets of the stencils used—mounted on metal, with a few annotations—which were used to color two drawings in the volume. Enriched with a color suite of illustrations on Rives vellum watermarked with the coat of arms of Madame de Sévigné. A beautiful copy, very well bound by Blaizot.