Binding by Georges Levitsky, 1927

POE, Edgar Allan (1809-1949). Vingt histoires extraordinaires. Translated by Charles BAUDELAIRE. Illustrated by Alméry LOBEL-RICHE. Paris: Livre de Plantin, [1927].

Outstanding morocco extra binding by Georges Levitsky. One of 15 copies with the full-page etchings present in four states, the etched head-pieces present in two states, and with an original drawing, no. 30 from a total edition of 197. On Arches paper. One of several sumptuous presentations of Poe's work in pre-War France. This copy in a particularly lavish binding, well-suited to the edition. The original drawing is pen and ink and pencil, signed by Lobel-Riche in pencil and captioned "Le marque de la Mort Rouge."

Large quarto (323 x 245mm). 41 etchings by Almery Lobel-Riche comprising 20 etched plates in four states including two with remarques, 20 etched head-pieces and initials, with an interleaved additional suite printed hors-texte with remarques, frontispiece portrait with remarque. Full crushed deep brown morocco extra by Georges Levitsky, pictorial morocco onlays on both covers and on spine, variously depicting bells, a skull and a rat, a beetle, a moth, etc, sea-green morocco doublures richly inlaid with a border of branches and flowers, a skull and a scarab, stamp-signed by Levitsky on the upper turn-in, both upper and lower silk flyleaves with pochoir repetitions of Lobel-Riche's illustrations, plus wide borders incorporating further macabre motifs, backed with silvery marbled paper (slight fraying to silk); original wrappers bound in; morocco-edged chemise and fleece-lined slipcase (some wear to slipcase and spine panel of chemise). Provenance: Sotheby's New York, 18 May 1976, lot 145.