FLAUBERT (Gustave). — Salammbô. - Lot 96

FLAUBERT (Gustave). — Salammbô. Paris, Éditions Mornay, “Les Beaux Livres” series, 1931. Square 8vo, paperback, illustrated color-embossed cover and illustrated spine. Color illustrations by Pierre Noël within and outside the text, including a frontispiece, full-page compositions, headpieces, initials, and ornaments. 463 pp. A very attractive illustrated edition of *Salammbô*, constituting the sixtieth volume of the “Les Beaux Livres” collection published by Éditions Mornay. This edition is particularly sought after for its abundant illustrations by Pierre Noël, characteristic of Art Deco bibliophilia from the interwar period. The illustrations were reproduced in color by Beaufumé. The print run was limited to 1,000 copies intended for sale, in addition to 70 non-commercial copies: 3 on vintage Japanese paper in a custom format with original drawings, 50 on Japanese paper, 45 on Dutch paper, 25 on Rives vellum reserved for the Viau y Zona bookstore in Buenos Aires, and 877 copies on Rives vellum numbered from 124 to 1,000. One of the 877 copies on Rives vellum, this one being No. 761. This identification corresponds to the standard copies of the bibliophile edition cataloged for this publication. The copy is preserved in paperback with its beautiful original illustrated cover, in better-than-average condition for this type of Mornay edition. A few scattered foxing spots, mainly in the margins; slight signs of wear; spine slightly creased with minor flaws at the caps. The interior is nevertheless fresh overall, with well-preserved color illustrations. A beautiful copy of this remarkable Art Deco edition of *Salammbô*, one of Pierre Noël’s finest achievements for Mornay Editions.