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Le Pater

Mucha

Paris. F. Champenois & H. Piazza & Cie. 1899
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One of ten édition de tête copies with an original signed watercolour by Mucha in a binding by Marius Michel.

Mucha's large original watercolour, executed on the second blank initial leaf, depicts a seated female figure garlanded with flowers face on with elaborately draped skirt and floral patterned chemise. The work is signed in pencil at lower right and dated '99', the year of publication of the book.

From the edition limited to 510 copies, with this one of 10 édition de tête copies printed on japon with an original drawing by Mucha, colour suite of all the plates on 'papier spéciale à la forme du Marais' and an additional suite in monochrome on chine. The illustrated title is present in the monochrome suite in two states: in outline and with the black blocked in.
Folio. 21 of the leaves are fully decorated in colour lithography by Alphonse Mucha. Full burgundy crushed morocco by Marius Michel with his signature gilt, boards with decoration in blind, banded spine in five compartments with gilt title, turn-ins with elaborate decoration in blind and inlaid sections of green and red morocco at corners to form holly and berry motif, patterned silk moiré doublures, marbled endpapers, original illustrated wrappers with gilt heightening preserved, a.e.g., matching slipcase.
#41193