'UNE TRES RARE ET SUPERBE EDITION FORT COTEE.' SCHMIED, FRANÇOIS-LOUIS, illustrator; and JO...

'UNE TRES RARE ET SUPERBE EDITION FORT COTEE.' SCHMIED, FRANÇOIS-LOUIS, illustrator; and JOSEPH-CHARLES MARDRUS. Histoire charmante de l'adolescente sucre d'amour. Paris: F. L. Schmied, 1927. 4to (272 x 215 mm). 7 full-page wood engravings (4 signed in pencil by Schmied), large folding plate forming a triptych, 35 decorative bands and headers, 32 decorated initials and vignettes, numerous line-fillers and letters, all designed by Schmied in the Art Deco style, and hand-colored at the atelier of Jean Dunand. Contemporary burgundy morocco by George Crette (stamped signature on the upper turn-in), spine lettered in gilt, blue morocco doublures, watered silk endleaves, all edges gilt, matching slipcase. Spine sunned, light rubbing to joints, a few scuffs to slipcase. A HIGH SPOT OF ART DECO BOOKMAKING, LIMITED TO 25 COPIES, this one number XXII on Japan, SIGNED by Schmied on the limitation page. This edition had completely different illustrations from another edition of the same title produced in 1927. Schmied raised Art Deco to its highest level in the field of bibliophilic publishing in France and was responsible for every aspect of the production of his books. He engraved all of the woodcut decorations and plates for Histoire and printed them himself as well as designed the layout of the text, which was printed with the assistance of his son Theo and P. Guillemat. His originals, as they were for his 1926 The Arabian Nights: Histoire de la princesse Boudour were sent out to be colored at the studio of Jean Dunand. Mardrus was born in Egypt and educated in Lebanon, and as a physician and eminent Orientalist was a fixture in the intellectual circles of Paris. This was the second Schmied conceived work based on Mardrus's translations of Arabian Nights. In his dedication (printed in facsimile of his autograph), he gives full credit to Schmied for the realization of this work: 'Dear Schmied, it is to please you that this unpublished text has been developed. Without you, without your enthusiasm, it would still be in nothingness. Your friend, J. C. M.' Carteret IV, 263 ('une tres rare et superbe edition fort cotee'). For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing