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Lot n° 292

BARBIER (George) - FLAMENT (Albert). Characters...

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BARBIER (George) - FLAMENT (Albert). Characters of Comedy. Paris : Meynial, [1922]. - In-folio, 366 x 282 : (34 ff. 2 first and last blank), illustrated cover. Green jansenist morocco, smooth spine with gilt title, blue-green moiré lining and endpapers, gilt edges, cover and spine preserved, case (Cretté-Lobstein). One of the best Art-deco books and one of the most beautiful books illustrated by George BARBIER. Based on a text by the journalist and novelist Albert Flament, the artist created a headband on the false title (reproduced on the cover), a vignette on the title, 12 full-page figures, 2 headbands, 22 lettering and a cul-de-lampe, all wood-engraved in colour by François-Louis Schmied who also drew the text and printed the book on his hand presses. The edition was printed at 150 numbered copies on wove paper (n° 10). This copy is enriched with two original drawings signed by George Barbier with his initials, on a double sheet (307 x 484 mm), done in Indian ink with blue pencil highlights, for two illustrations of the same book or magazine. They include indications of reproductions in blue. Mottling. Beautiful jansenist binding by Cretté-Lobstein. Spine faded. Transfer of the illustrations to the facing leaves.