Softcover, 228 x 180 mm, tan French flapped wrappers with red lettering to front[1-4, owner’s glassine dustcover, top edge trimmed, printed on thick wove paper without a watermark; pp.: ffl [1-4 h.t., t.p.] 5-154 [2 blanks] colophon to back ffl recto, plus 12 plates with hand-coloured lithographs, extraneous to collation. Pencil and pigment drawing to h.t. signed “
J. D’A” with gift manual inscription “
A Monsieur et Madame Chalamel [sic] ce tardif mais sincère souvenir de sympathie”, signed “
J et Y D’A.” Etching bookplate to front ffl recto: “EX LIBRIS PIERRE CHALLAMEL | JE FONCE DANS LE BROUILLARD”, signed “
J A M” (Jean-Adrien Mercier). The signature
J. D’A stands for Jean d’Angers, while
Y D’A stands for Jean-Adrien’s wife Yvonne (1902—1999), nicknamed Zizi; they married in 1927.
According to J.-P. Dutel, the stated illustrator of this edition, Jean d’Angers is indeed Jean-Adrien Mercier. The text belongs to Gustav Droz and, possibly, Auguste Poulet-Malassis.
Limitation: the book was printed for subscribers in 30 copies on Japon Impériale paper (№№ 1-30) and 250 copies on vélin du Marais paper (№№ 31-280). This copy bears № 123 and was presented as a gift by the artist and his wife to Pierre Challamel.
Title-page (red and black): POUR SERVIR | A L'HISTOIRE | DE NOS MŒURS |
UN ÉTÉ |
A LA CAMPAGNE | CORRESPONDANCE DE DEUX JEUNES PARISIENNES | RECUEILLIE PAR UN AUTEUR A LA MODE | MDCCCLXVIII ||
Catalogue raisonné: Dutel III № 2546;
honesterotica.
Provenance: Pierre Challamel (French, 20th century)
Contributors:
Gustave Droz (French, 1832 – 1895) – author (presumable).
Auguste Poulet-Malassis (French, 1825 – 1878) – author (presumable).
Jean-Adrien Mercier (French, 1899 – 1995) – artist.
Micro photo of the lithography:
Micro photo of the original drawing: