A Paper & Printing Tour-de-Force
Le Livre de Demain.
Two chromolithographs, four etchings, four illus. of the chromatic circle on two plates, six full-page silhouettes, two photolithographs, two leaves of limitation & colophon, & eleven tipped-in paper samples. Printed on 44 different kinds of paper & in many colors. Two parts in one vol. 8vo, orig. printed wrappers bound-in orig. citron morocco signed by Canapé-Beltz; covers panelled in gilt with red, green, & blue morocco inlays; spine divided into six compartments, five with red & black inlays, dentelles gilt with red morocco inlays, a.e.g. [Blois: R. Marchand, 1884].
First edition, and a magnificently bound copy of this tour-de-force of book- and papermaking, limited to 250 numbered copies, signed by the author and the publisher. Originally issued in separate fascicles, this is a remarkable, complex, and beautiful book, printed on 44 different kinds of paper and employing complex combinations of color and printing techniques. The book was issued to demonstrate the newest techniques of printing and styles of book design.
The first three sections contain essays on the history of paper, ink, and the use of color in printing. This third part is particularly dazzling as each typographical border of every page has been printed using different color combinations to demonstrate the contrasts and harmonies of combining colors. The second part — “Applications” — is printed on various kinds of tinted paper (mostly coming from various named French mills but including a few Dutch and English mills), all printed and decorated employing flamboyant combinations of types and ink colors. Eleven original samples of rare papers, from ancient papyrus to modern Japanese, are tipped-in at end.
Rochas d’Aiglun (1837-1914), was a leading French parapsychologist, historian, translator, writer, military engineer, and administrator. He wrote important works on military engineering history, ancient technology, hydraulic organs, water clocks, ancient surveying instruments, temple machinery, Greek artillery, and ancient railways.
This copy contains a presentation inscription from Rochas to Gaston Tissandier (1843-99), the French chemist, meteorologist, aviator, and editor, on the added portrait of Rochas. This portrait has been especially inserted and is not present in most copies.
Very fine copy preserved in the original chemise and slipcase.
Price: $12,500.00
Item ID: 4994
