[CHELONIIDAE PRESS]. LOUYS, Pierre (1870-1925). Leda in Praise of the Blessings of Darkness. Alan James ROBINSON, illustrator. Easthampton, MA: Cheloniidae Press, 1985.

4to (279 x 200 mm). Half-title, 4-color drypoint etched frontispiece, 4 drypoint etchings (2 printed in 4 colors, 1 printed in blue, and 1 printed in sepia) and 7 wood engraved illustrations all by Robinson with the wood-engravings printed by Harold McGrath. Original alum tawed pigskin, upper cover decorated with an inset bas relief paper casting of a swan taken from an original wax sculpture by Robinson backed in the same light blue laid paper as the endpapers over a navy paper-covered board, smooth spine, uncut, by Daniel E. Kelm at the Wide Awake Garage (limitation page).

[With:] An extra suite of the plates, ALL SIGNED BY ROBINSON, comprising: 5 artist's proof ("A.P.") drypoint etched plates (3 printed in 4 colors,1 printed in blue, and 1 printed in sepia). -- 5 "state proof" drypoint etched plates printed in black. -- 5 artist's proof ("A.P.") wood-engraved plates. -- 14 working proof ("W.P.") wood-engraved plates printed in black, and presumably in 2 states of the 7 published wood-engraved plates (2 of which are marked "rejected"). [Also with:] An original pencil drawing, SIGNED BY ROBINSON. Together, 30 leaves. -- All housed in original cloth folding case styled so both sides open to emulate a swan's wings. Provenance: Richard "Dick" Callaway (presentation inscription, printed dedication page).

BINDER'S COPY, LIMITED EDITION, one of 15 numbered copies with the "design bindings" of the "State proof edition," SIGNED BY ROBINSON AND KELM, with the original pencil drawing and 29 additional plates, ALL SIGNED BY ROBINSON.

[Laid in:] LOUYS, Pierre (1870-1925). Autographed letter signed ("Pierre Louys") to an unidentified "Monsieur." Paris, 18 November 1907. 2 pages, on a bifolium, in purple ink with a small stain from a removed staple. Regarding a perceived professional slight, presumably by a publisher, concerning publication promises made.

[Also Laid in:] Publisher's 1p. advertisement broadside for the full prospectus for Leda, printed in navy and black, with a woodcut illustration. PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY ROBINSON: "For Dick Alan." -- Publisher's 4pp. folding folio prospectus describing the editions, with a reproduction of the 4-color drypoint frontispiece and a wood engraving, SIGNED BY ROBINSON on the front wrapper.

Property from the Collection of Robert S. Brown, Cincinnati, Ohio

[CHELONIIDAE PRESS]. LOUYS, Pierre (1870-1925). Leda in Praise of the Blessings of Darkness. Alan James ROBINSON, illustrator. Easthampton, MA: Cheloniidae Press, 1985.

[CHELONIIDAE PRESS]. LOUYS, Pierre (1870-1925). Leda in Praise of the Blessings of Darkness. Alan James ROBINSON, illustrator. Easthampton, MA: Cheloniidae Press, 1985.