ALPHONSE MUCHA (1860-1939) & EMILE GEBHART (1... Lot n° 406

"Cloches de Noël et de Pâques" - Extremely rare copy on 9/35 Japon paper In a knotted folio holder (some cords missing), green cloth cover over cardboard, title engraved in gold, stamp of "L'Edition d'Art" embossed top left, containing the original edition Paris, Piazza & Cie. / Champenois, 1900. In-4, paperback on Japon paper, printed in an edition of 35 copies, this one bearing the hand-inscribed number 9. In addition to these 35 copies, 1 copy was printed on parchment, 1 copy on satin and 215 copies on vellum, for a total of 252 copies. A magnificent 80-page publication, illustrated by the great master of Art Nouveau, Alphonse Mucha. The illustration consists of watercolor stencilled floral frames renewed on each page, executed in the artist's characteristic style. The characters of Émile Gebhart's three stories are set in half-moon pediments. Slightly yellowed and worn. Also in the folio holder, a dozen numbered leaves without text, largely illustrated in monochrome with Mucha's decoration. Leaves with small freckles. Estate of David W. Cooper. Dimensions : 33 x 23 cm