[Fine Bindings] [Bonet, Paul] Vollard, Ambroise, and Pierre Bonnard. Sainte Monique

Paris: Ambroise Vollard, 1930. First and limited edition, #9/25 numbered copies on Japon imperial, and initialed by the author, Ambroise Vollard, and illustrator, Pierre Bonnard (from a total edition of 340). Folio. Illustrated with 29 lithographed plates on Japon imperial, an additional 29 suite of same plates on Arches paper, by Pierre Bonnard, and with his original pen and ink and pencil drawings for all 29 of these lithographs bound in. With in-text illustrations, an additional two etched plates for "Table des hors texte", as well as a suite of 29 etched plates not utilized, and suite of 15 woodcut plates not utilized, all by Bonnard. Finely bound in full purple levant, front and rear board with a Greek cross above angled concentric circles of crushed white morocco and purple levant, spine lettered in gilt; all edges gilt; front and rear inner boards of white crushed morocco with concentric purple crushed levant and crushed white morocco circles; purple moire silk endleaves; by Paul Bonet for art collector Gaston Levy, and with a typed letter by him mounted at rear regarding this binding, dated July 31, 1931 (noting that the work was done by the binder F. Giraldon and the gilder A. Jeanne); blue morocco book-plate of Francis Kettaneh (1897-1976) on front blank, armorial book-plate of Van Sickele on same; in a suede-lined morocco-backed fall-down-back box. From the collection of Gaston Levy, and with his name gilt-stamped on front inner board.

A superb deluxe edition of this collaborative work between Ambroise Vollard and artist Pierre Bonnard, containing all 29 of Bonnard's original pen and ink illustrations for the work's lithographed plates. In an exceptional binding by innovative French bookbinder Paul Bonet (1889-1971). Considered one of the masters of 20th century French bookbinding design, Bonet's career spanned 50 years, and profoundly influenced the trajectory of the craft. he began designing bindings as a hobby, while working as an electrician's apprentice and women's dress designer. In 1924 he showed his work to Henri Clouzot, curator at the Musée Galliera, who then included examples of his work in one of his exhibitions, to much acclaim. From there he began binding professionally, and became the leading bookbinder in France. His sleek Art-Deco-inspired and modern book designs had a profound influence in Europe and abroad, and have since become highly coveted.

Gaston Lévy (1893-1977) was a prominent art collector in Paris who had bought numerous works of Pierre Bonnard's from the dealer Ambroise Vollard.

This lot is located in Philadelphia.

Provenance

From the collection of Justin G. Schiller

[Fine Bindings] [Bonet, Paul] Vollard, Ambroise, and Pierre Bonnard. Sainte Monique

[Fine Bindings] [Bonet, Paul] Vollard, Ambroise, and Pierre Bonnard. Sainte Monique