SINDBAD LE MARIN ET D'AUTRES CONTES DES MILLE ET UNE NUITS. ["SINDBAD THE SAILOR AND OTHER TALES FROM THE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS"].

DULAC, EDMUND, Illustrator.

(Paris: H. Piazza, [, 1919]). 305 x 241 mm. (12 x 9 1/2"). 2 p.l., 145, [3] pp. First Edition in French. No. 520 of 1,500 copies.

ESPECIALLY ATTRACTIVE RICH GREEN MOROCCO BY ROOT & SON (signed on rear turn-in), covers framed in gilt with triple rules, the inner rule entwined at corners with ivy leaf terminations, raised bands, spine gilt in compartments formed by double rule and featuring ivy leaf cornerpieces around an inner central panel, wide ruled turn-ins with foliate cornerpieces, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, other edges rough trimmed. Original wrappers preserved. Decorative initials and title page, decorative borders throughout, and 27 COLOR PLATES BY DULAC (each laid down within a decorative frame, and with a captioned tissue guard). Printed in pale orange and black throughout. Front pastedown with bookplate of Joseph H. Haines. Hughey 35h. ◆Upper corners slightly bumped, verso of free endpapers a little discolored (from glue?), otherwise A VERY FINE COPY.

This is an attractively bound collection of tales from the "1,001 Nights," including the famous "Sinbad," charmingly illustrated by Dulac in the styles of Persian miniatures and Japanese prints. This edition contains four more plates than the English printing of the same work in 1914, and the text frames and other decorative elements are also unique to this French translation. Between 1907, when his "Arabian Nights" appeared, and 1920, Dulac's works found an appreciative audience. His illustrations have a sophisticated and exotic tone with rich color, reminiscent of the paintings of Gustav Klimt. The London bindery of William Root & Son consistently turned out excellent work, both on fine bindings as here and on trade bindings of multi-volume sets. This copy's prior owner, Joseph Howell Haines, was an avid book collector and friend of Philadelphia publisher George Lippincott. (ST12780e)

Price: $1,950.00