FROMENTIN, Eugène and MAHN, Berthold. Dominique. - Lot 180

FROMENTIN, Eugène and MAHN, Berthold. Dominique. An exceptional set of the two first copies of this illustrated edition featuring 40 compositions by Berthold Mahn —numbered respectively 1 of 25 Arches and I of XXV (not for sale)—accompanied by the artist’s original drawings, watercolored and bearing his editorial annotations in graphite. Paris, Paul Hartmann, 1935. 3 vols. in-8, each bound in olive-green box, plain spine with gilt title, beige box linings and endpapers, double endpapers, gilt top edge, untrimmed, covers and spine preserved (for both volumes on vellum), housed in a single case edged with green morocco. Binding signed “L. Lévêque.” 276 pp., 40 illustrations (in color for the first volume and in black-and-white for the second) and approximately 60 unnumbered folios and 42 watercolors, including 37 full-page ones. Spine very slightly sun-faded, some slight wear from handling. A unique set of three volumes from this edition illustrated by Berthold Mann with 40 original compositions. Limited edition of 1,100 copies. The first volume is number 1 of the first 25 numbered copies on Arches vellum, and the second is number I of the 25 non-commercial copies numbered on Lafuma pure-fiber vellum with the illustrations in black. The final volume contains the preliminary work for this edition and includes all of Berthold Mahn’s (1881–1975) original drawings, which were first painted in watercolor and then corrected with his pencil annotations regarding color placement. Each volume features an excellent full-box lined binding, with all volumes housed together in a single slipcase. A particularly desirable set. Provenance: - Ex-libris engraved by Pierre Guérin on the first blank endpaper of both volumes from the final print run.