BOURGET (Paul) and FRAIPONT (Gustave). Sensations d'Italie. - Lot 105

BOURGET (Paul) and FRAIPONT (Gustave). Sensations d'Italie. Unique copy, with 45 original watercolors in color by Gustave Fraipont, in a charming binding by Marius Michel. Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, 1891. In-8 (140x200 mm), duck-blue grosgrain morocco, smooth spine decorated with title and author's name in gilt lettering, double gilt fillet on the edges, large interior roulette with bookbinder's signature "Marius Michel", gilt head on witnesses, covers preserved, untrimmed (Marius Michel). 342 pages, ornamental bands, lettering and endpapers. Spine very slightly oiled, slight rubbing to spine and some edges. First edition. Limited edition of 50 copies numbered and initialled by the publisher, this one of 30 copies on Hollande (N°17). A unique copy, enriched with 45 charming original watercolors in color by Gustave Fraipont, all initialled, placed at the head of each chapter, on the title page and on the masthead. A key Franco-Belgian artist of the Belle Époque, Gustave Fraipont (1849-1923) was a talented painter, watercolorist and engraver, famous for the many posters he produced for railroad companies, as well as for his illustrations for literary works, newspapers and magazines such as Courrier français, Paris illustré and L'Illustration. A very fine copy, perfectly established by Marius Michel (1846-1925).