Charles Marie René Leconte de Lisle (1818-1894)

František Kupka (1871-1957)

LES ÉRINNYES, PRIORITY EDITION ON JAPAN PAPER WITH THREE STATES OF ETCHINGS

1908
Book format 4°, 27,5x19 cm. 89 numbered pages, in French. Illustrated by F. Kupka. The book contains three sets (states) of 24 etchings, or etchings with aquatint, along with a series of smaller colored woodcuts marked "E. Gaspé sc." Title page printed in black and red within a decorative colored frame. Full leather custom binding in brown morocco with gilt decoration, silk endpapers, spine with four raised bands and gilt lettering, gilt edges. Front endpaper marked with gold embossing "CH. MEUNIER 1909." The original cover is bound at the beginning of the book. Cardboard slipcase. Published by A. Romagnol in Paris in 1908 in a total edition of 300 copies: the first 10 copies were printed on vélin d’Arches paper and contained three states of the etchings; copies 11–110 contained three states of the etchings and were printed on Japan paper and papier d’Arches; copies 111–300 contained only the final printed state of the etchings and were printed on papier d’Arches. This copy is numbered 52 and printed on Japan paper. An original drawing (pencil, ink, and watercolor) by F. Kupka is bound between the cover and half-title page. At the back, a six-page promotional leaflet for the book is bound in. Yellowed cover, small spots on several sheets, otherwise very good condition.