BOUTET DE MONVEL (Louis-Maurice) — Joan of Arc - Lot 39

BOUTET DE MONVEL (Louis-Maurice) — Joan of Arc Paris, E. Plon, Nourrit et Cie, [1896]. Large oblong quarto, 47 pp., publisher’s binding in violet percaline, front cover richly decorated in green and gold with a wreath of foliage surrounding the title, with a scattering of fleurs-de-lis and wreaths on the covers. First edition of one of the major works by Maurice Boutet de Monvel (1850–1913), written and illustrated entirely by the artist. The BnF does indeed list the 1896 Paris edition by Plon-Nourrit, in oblong format and illustrated in color. The book is remarkably illustrated on every page with large-scale color compositions by Boutet de Monvel, some spanning two pages. The title page of this copy bears the inscriptions “Engraved by Ducourtioux and Huillard” and “Inks by Ch. Lorilleux & Co.,” which are characteristic of this color edition; the Morgan Library describes the same edition as having 47 pages and these printing processes. The layout, very modern for its time, blends text and images into sweeping panoramic compositions. The battle scenes are particularly spectacular and represent one of the great achievements of French children’s illustration in the late 19th century. A specialized catalog, moreover, describes this edition as one of the most significant works of children’s literature from this period. This copy does indeed feature the publisher’s purple cloth-bound cover, a variant documented notably by the Morgan Library. However, its condition is noticeably inferior to that of collector’s copies: the percaline is heavily faded and discolored, particularly along the edges and spine; there is rubbing, small stains, and soiling; the corners are rounded; and the headbands and ends of the spine are worn. Nevertheless, the gold lettering remains fairly prominent on the front cover. Inside: some soiling, small foxing spots, and signs of wear; endpapers with scribbles in blue pencil; weakened interior hinges, with visible separation at the endpapers. The book block is nevertheless complete and, above all, the large color illustrations remain very attractive.