BARBIER (George) - LEPAPE (Georges) - LOUYS (Pierre). - Lot 88

BARBIER (George) - LEPAPE (Georges) - LOUYS (Pierre). Aphrodite, mœurs antiques. Paris: Les Bibliophiles de l'Amérique latine, [1954]. -2 in-8 volumes, 273 x 200: (6 ff. first 2 blanks), IX pp., (1 f.), 159 pp. (2 blanks), illustrated cover; (2 blanks), pp. (161)-333, (5 ff. last 2 blanks), illustrated cover. Leaves, filled cover, publisher's folder and slipcase. One of the most sought-after editions of this text, printed in only 150 copies, illustrated by two of the most important illustrators of the 20th century, George BARBIER (1882-1932) and Georges LEPAPE (1887-1971). The seventh work published by the Compagnie des bibliophiles de l'Amérique latine, it is illustrated with over 100 woodcut compositions by the two artists, printed by Pierre Bouchet, with the collaboration of Pierre Jean Mathan. The history of this edition was an eventful one. In 1929, the Mornay bookshop, buoyed by the success of Vies imaginaires illustrated by George Barbier, embarked on an audacious project: to publish Aphrodite by Pierre Louÿs, enriched with some fifty watercolors by Barbier, destined to be reproduced as color woodcuts by Pierre Bouchet. But ambition came at a price: between royalties (30,000 francs for Fasquelle) and Barbier's remuneration (100,000 francs), the budget exploded, reaching 425,000 francs for a print run limited to 100-125 copies. Mornay withdrew for lack of funds. Barbier, determined, gathered together 15 patrons, each ready to advance 14,000 francs interest-free. Among them were prestigious names: Louis Barthou, André Berlaud, Jacques André, Jean Borderel, and other enlightened enthusiasts. The funds were raised in June 1929, and the dream seemed within reach. But in January 1930, Barbier, struck down by a serious operation, took six months to recover. During this time, the economic crisis further weakened Mornay, who declared himself unable to meet his commitments. Worse still, in 1932, Barbier died, leaving his estate to the Little Sisters of the Poor. This marked the start of a three-year battle for André Berlaud, who negotiated fiercely with the notaries to save the watercolors and recover part of the 75,000 francs already paid. In 1935, an agreement was finally reached: the estate returned 25,000 francs and the precious watercolors. Misfortunes followed: Barthou was assassinated in 1934, Berlaud died shortly afterwards, and in 1944, of the original 15 patrons, only four survived (Jacques André, Georges Crellé, Pierre Guerquin and Paul Harth), joined by Marcel Noiselle, who took over from his father-in-law. An attempt to revive the project that year failed miserably. It wasn't until 1947 that hope was revived, thanks to the Compagnie des Bibliophiles de l'Amérique Latine, chaired by Count Emmanuel de La Rochefoucauld-Montbel. The survivors contributed watercolors, paper and engravings already printed (a quarter of the work). Georges Lepape, faithful to Barbier's spirit, completed the unfinished drawings, while Pierre Bouchet, heir to F. L. Schmied's know-how, devoted himself body and soul to engraving. After a quarter-century of ups and downs, grief and perseverance, Aphrodite finally saw the light of day in two volumes in 1954, under the aegis of the Compagnie. A posthumous tribute to Barbier, but also to those passionate bibliophiles - Barthou, Berlaud and others - whose memory deserves to be celebrated. Their story is a reminder that art sometimes triumphs over time and hardship. (source: Some memories about the present edition by Jacques André.) Of the more than 100 illustrations in this edition, 52 are in color: one for the cover, one for the title page, 8 full-page illustrations and 42 in the text. The illustrations are accompanied by numerous gilded ornaments, including 32 initials and several culs-de-lampe. One of the rare copies on japon, this one nominative, specially printed for Pierre Jean Mathan. It is enriched by Jacques André's extremely rare afterword, entitled Quelques souvenirs à propos de la présente édition, printed in an edition of only 15 copies, the contents of which are summarized above. It is printed here on Arches vellum. Also included is a copy of the menu for the meal given at the March 28, 1952 general meeting of the Amis du livre contemporain, illustrated with the gilded composition of the illustration on page 181, as well as two proofs of the same engraving, in brown and red, without the menu text. Light stains on pages 19 and 68, as well as on the edge of page 189, otherwise a very well preserved copy. The first leaf of the menu is stained. Provenance: Pierre Jean Mathan.