Lot 144: LEGRAIN, Pierre (1889-1929) -- Jacques ANTHOINE-LEGRAIN, Jacques GUIGNARD and others. Pierre

LEGRAIN, Pierre (1889-1929) -- Jacques ANTHOINE-LEGRAIN, Jacques GUIGNARD and others. Pierre Legrain relieur. Répertoire descriptif et bibliographique de mille deux cent trente-six reliures. Paris: Lahure (Letterpress) and Ateliers d'Aulard (heliogravure) for Librairie Auguste Blaizot and the Société de la Reliure Originale, 1965.

Large 4 o (322 x 248 mm). LIMITED EDITION OF 620 COPIES. 7 color-plates and 243 black-and-white reproductions on 72 plates.

BINDING DESIGNED BY PAUL BONET 1968, signed and dated, forwarded by René Desmules, finished by André Jeanne: deep-green morocco, with crimson and scarlet geometric boxcalf inlays, title inlaid with cream calf on front cover, an irradiant design gold-tooled across both covers and spine, red suede doublures and endleaves bordered with calf, gilt edges, original gilt-printed wrappers preserved. Chemise and slipcase.

NO. I OF 100 COPIES RESERVED FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE SOCIéTé DE LA RELIURE ORIGINALE; with a large fold-out autograph design by Pierre Legrain inserted. The original design is executed on transparent paper, in pencil, brown crayon and gold paint, and annotated in ink by the binder. It was executed in 1927 for G. de Menasce on Georges Duhamel's Deux hommes (Mercure de France, 1924, 16 o): no. 277 in the Répertoire, plate LXII.

Bonet's expressed aim for this creation was to reflect Legrain's style. His synthesis succeeds brilliantly. Bonet, Carnets 1625.