WITH DOZENS OF LARGE FOLIO PHOTOGRAVURES AFTER MASTER FRENCH PAINTERS AND ILLUSTRATORS, BEAUTIFULLY BOUND

SOCIETE D’AQUARELLISTES FRANCAIS. Ouvrage d’Art. Publié avec le Concours Artistique de Tous les Societaires. Paris: H. Launette, Goupil, 1883. Two volumes. Tall folio (13 by 19 inches), contemporary full green morocco gilt, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, raised bands, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt. $2200.

Beautifully bound limited edition of this splendidly illustrated survey of the Fifth Exposition of the Société d’Aquarellistes, number 43 of only 110 copies printed on Japon Imperiale.

Among the 24 artists featured in this Cinquième Exhibition catalogue are: Charles Delort, Gustave Doré, Alphonse de Neuville, Edouard Detaille, Jules Jacquemart, Louis Leloir, Maurice Leloir and Gustave Jacquet—comprising not only the great watercolorists of the late 19th century, but also some of the major names in book illustration. Each artist’s profile includes an article written by one of the principal French critics of the day, two full-page (one hors texte) and two vignette photogravure reproductions of the artist’s works, often printed in blue or sepia, as well as numerous in-text wood engravings. Text in French. Bookplates.

Interiors fine, spines with light expert restoration. A beautiful set, very finely bound by Leighton.