Sims Reed Rare Books×

Le Mystère Laïc. Essai d'Etude Indirecte (Giorgio de Chirico)

Chirico, Giorgio de. Cocteau, Jean

Paris. Editions des Quatre Chemins. 1928
A very fine example of the édition de tête with de Chirico's original etchings and corrected proofs by Jean Cocteau.

From the edition limited to 3,330 copies, with this one of 10 édition de tête copies on Japon Impérial, with de Chirico's 2 original etchings loosely inserted, each signed by de Chirico and numbered from the edition of 100; the book is also signed by Jean Cocteau on the half-title and includes two leaves of Cocteau's text printed recto only with manuscript corrections in ink by Cocteau.

The two leaves with manuscript corrections feature text printed on pages 30, 31, 32 and 33. Cocteau has made manuscript excisions, ellisions and additions which amount to substantial changes. In several instances the corrections differ even from the final published text which was completed in December1927; the achevé d'imprimer gives a publication date of 'le Trente Mai Mil Neuf Cent Vingt-Huit'.

[Ciranna 3 / 4].
pp. (blank leaf), 80, (v), (2 blank leaves). Small 4to. (246 x 194 mm). Half-title, printed title with copyright verso and Cocteau's text dated 'Décembre 1927' illustrated with 5 monochrome illustrations by de Chirico each recto only, leaf with justification recto and 'Paru dans la même collection' verso and final leaf with achevé d'imprimer. Original publisher's cream printed wrappers with red printed title and black printed text to upper cover and spine, cloth-backed board chemise and matching box.
#45975

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