Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller

Eaux-Fortes de Rabelais (Etchings of Rabelais) [COMPLETE COLLECTION OF LOOSE PRINTS]

Bracquemond, Félix; Francois Rabelais

Paris: Alphonse Lemerre, 1872. First edition. Hardcover. Quarto. Unpaginated. 18 loose leaves. Cream-colored cloth chemise, with a red marbled paper label with gilt lettering pasted on the spine. Housed in a red marbled paper slipcase. This collection is comprised of the the complete suite of 16 etchings made by noted French artist Félix Bracquemond (1833 – 1914) based on the works of French Renaissance writer Francois Rabelais. Images include an etched portrait of Rebalais and various scenes taken from his series The Life of Gargantua and of Pantagruel (1532-1564). These images were originally created for the purpose of illustrating the publisher Lemerre's edition of the works of Rabelais, issued 1868-1893.

Each loose plate is individually tipped in and mounted on heavy stock off-white board, with die-cut mat, measuring an average of 8x5". Each is a double leaf with the image on the recto of first leaf, and a text caption showing the image's title and its noted origin from Rebalais' writings, printed on the recto of the second. Also included are the original front and back tan parchment wrappers, with an engraved publisher's device, and publisher's advertisements, respectively, each separately mounted. A lovely collection of etchings.

Text in French.

Slipcase with some rubbing to extremities, chemise with minor smudges and minor rubbing to corners. Interior extremely clean. All plates quite vibrant and clean, with some minor age toning and smudges, mostly along the edges or in the margins, usually entirely covered by the mats. Slipcase in good+, chemise and plates in very good to very good+ condition overall. g+ to vg+. Item #48458

Price: $375.00