[Ayrton, Michael] Verlaine, Paul. Femmes/Hombres

London: Douglas Cleverdon (for the Arcadia Press), 1972. In two volumes. First and limited deluxe edition, letter K of 15 lettered copies, for Quentin Keynes (from a total edition of 100), and signed by the illustrator Michael Ayrton. Oblong folio. Illustrated by Ayrton with an original pencil drawing, signed by him (being the first version of the frontispiece), verso with a pen and ink drawing by him; suite of 15 etched plates on hand-made paper, each numbered and signed in pencil by Ayrton; suite of 17 preliminary etched proof plates on Japon, each numbered and signed by Ayrton (including two "discarded" plates). Book illustrated with etched frontispiece and 14 etched plates of same images. Publisher's quarter brown morocco over green morocco, front board stamped in blind with a portrait of Verlaine, spine lettered in gilt; top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed; by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. Drawing and plate suites loose as issued in paper folders; in quarter brown morocco over green cloth fall-down-back box; together in green cloth slip case.

Quentin Keynes (1921-2003) was an English writer, explorer, and bibliophile, and the son of Sir Geoffrey Langdon Keynes, great-grandson of Charles Darwin, and nephew of John Maynard Keynes.

This lot is located in Philadelphia.

Provenance

From the collection of Justin G. Schiller

[Ayrton, Michael] Verlaine, Paul. Femmes/Hombres

[Ayrton, Michael] Verlaine, Paul. Femmes/Hombres