ONE OF ONLY 22 SETS: SPLENDID SET OF THE MASTERPIECES OF GEORGE SAND, RICHLY ILLUSTRATED, WITH TWO ADDITIONAL SUITES OF THE PLATES: ONE FULLY HAND-COLORED, THE OTHER PRINTED ON SILK

SAND, George. The Masterpieces of George Sand Now for the First Time Completely Translated into English. Printed Only For Subscribers. Philadelphia: George Barrie & Sons, (1900-02). Twenty-two volumes. Octavo (20 volumes), original full rose crushed morocco gilt, raised bands, morocco-gilt doublures with green, gray, blue and red morocco onlays depicting a rose, watered silk endpapers, all edges gilt. One quarto volume, containing suite of plates with hand-coloring, bound uniform with set; one quarto volume containing suite of plates printed on silk and mounted, loose in full rose morocco portfolio. Each volume except the portfolio housed in leather-edged cloth slipcase.

Limited edition 20-volume set of Sand’s most famous works, number 6 of only 22 sets of the “Edition du Rose Sanglante,” printed on Japan vellum, and profusely illustrated with 125 different photogravures, each illustration in three states. This deluxe set additionally includes two further suites of the plates: one suite printed on Whatman drawing paper, fully and vibrantly hand-colored, bound up in a quarto volume, and another suite printed on silk and matted, the prints collected in a portfolio of rose morocco uniform with the rest of the set.

Several of the works included are here translated for the first time into English. Many of the author’s introductions to first and important later editions are included, as well as a memoir of Sand by J. Alfred Burgan. This exquisite set includes 125 different illustrated plates by noted artists of the day, including Adrien Moreau and J.B. Graff. “French illustration of the Belle Epoque had an international vogue… the most spectacular example of this French influence was the firm of George Barrie and Son of Philadelphia… Robert Barrie scoured Paris in the 1890’s to find illustrations for the thousands of plates which his firm employed in its editions” (Ray, The Art of the French Illustrated Book, 377). The illustrations in each volume are presented in three suites: one “India proof” mounted on Japanese vellum paper; one on Japanese etching-paper, in bistre; and one on wove paper, tipped-in.

Fine condition. An exceptional production.