BARTA (Lazlo) - MÉRIMÉE (Prosper). - Lot 90

BARTA (Lazlo) - MÉRIMÉE (Prosper). Colomba. Casablanca: Éditions de la Cigogne, 1948. - In-4, 325 x 250 : 245 pp, (7 ff. last 5 blank), illustrated cover. In sheets, filled cover, publisher's folder and slipcase. Fine edition, edited by Jacques Klein, printed in an edition of 250 copies. It is illustrated with 99 compositions by Hungarian painter and engraver László BARTA (1902-1961), including 54 original etchings: one adorns the cover, another serves as frontispiece, a third illustrates the title page, and the remaining 51 are integrated throughout the text. In addition, there are 24 ornaments and 21 bistre lettering, wood-engraved by Pierre Bouchet from Barta's sketches. Bouchet also printed the text on his own presses. A precious copy, one of 15 reserved for artists and collaborators, this one on Rives vellum, specially printed for Pierre Bouchet (no. XI). It has been enriched with the following items: - 2 L.A.S. from Jacques Klein, one countersigned by Barta, addressed to Pierre Bouchet, Saint Tropez October 8, 1945 and Marseille October 19, 1947, 3 pages in-4. - Correspondence of 10 L.A.S. and 2 telegrams from Lazlo Barta to Pierre Bouchet, 26 pages in-8 and in-4. Very interesting correspondence dealing exclusively with the publication of the book, his drawings and their reproductions. - 6 pages of autograph notes by Pierre Bouchet. - Over 60 original drawings of Barta's ornaments for the book, many of them collaged and others on tracing paper. - Original cover design. - Original artwork for the title page. - Trial proofs of 9 ornaments, cut out, enclosed in an envelope addressed to Pierre Bouchet by Barta. - Some 50 original ink letterplates, cut out, in an envelope addressed to Pierre Bouchet by Klein. - 4 in-4 pages of pencil lettering studies. A very well preserved copy, despite the slightly browned cover. Provenance: Pierre Bouchet.