FLAUBERT, Gustave, and WALCOT, William. *Salammbô*. - Lot 178

FLAUBERT, Gustave, and WALCOT, William. *Salammbô*. One of the 15 limited-edition copies on antique Japanese paper of this “highly sought-after publication, especially in large-format paper” (Carteret), featuring two versions of the 26 original compositions by William Walcot—including 3 rejected ones—and a hand-signed watercolor by the artist; this copy, bound in full ebony morocco by Paul Gruel, is also embellished with a suite of 14 of the compositions. Paris, Les Editions d’Art Devambez, 1926. In-4, full ebony morocco, spine with four raised bands decorated in the Art Deco style with broad, uneven vertical fillets and repeated gold square metal motifs along the edges of the covers, inner border of the same ebony morocco, green morocco linings adorned with an antique-style mosaic framing frieze of ochre and brown beads and framed by two wide gilt fillets, one of which is enhanced by a second embossed floral frieze, endpapers of brick-red moiré silk, upper edge gilt, untrimmed, covers and spine intact, in a slipcase. Binding signed “Gruel.” 237 pp., 26 engraved plates, including a frontispiece and 7 insert plates. Spine sun-faded, some slight normal wear and tear, silk on the first endpaper slightly frayed at the margin. A few rare and slight foxing spots. A rare and sought-after edition of Gustave Flaubert’s *Salammbô*, illustrated with 26 original engravings by William Walcot, including 8 insert plates. Limited edition of 237 copies; this is one of the 15 numbered head copies on antique Japanese paper (No. 15), containing two states of the etchings, three proofs of the rejected plates, and an original watercolor drawing signed in pencil by the artist. Our copy is enhanced by a second set of 14 illustrations (including the frontispiece and two of the three rejected plates) at the end of the volume. “A highly regarded publication, especially in large-format paper. Remarkable etchings by a renowned English etcher” (Carteret, IV, 160). William Walcot (1874–1943), a British architect and engraver of Russian origin, created truly beautiful etchings and aquatints characterized by a refined style yet featuring deep tonal variations influenced by the Art Deco movement, which was then in vogue. Paul Gruel, son of the famous bookbinder Léon Gruel (1841–1923), created the charming full morocco binding with mosaic-patterned endpapers.