{"product_id":"paul-verlaine-poemes-saturniens-1914-signed-arts-crafts-mosaic-morocco-binding-lazarus-goldschmidt-provenance","title":"Paul Verlaine — Poèmes Saturniens, 1914 — Signed Arts \u0026 Crafts Mosaic Morocco Binding — Lazarus Goldschmidt Provenance","description":"\u003ch1\u003ePaul Verlaine — \u003cem\u003ePoèmes Saturniens\u003c\/em\u003e, 1914 — Signed Arts \u0026amp; Crafts Mosaic Morocco Binding — Lazarus Goldschmidt Provenance\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVERLAINE, PAUL (1844–1896).\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003ePoèmes Saturniens.\u003c\/em\u003e Paris: Albert Messein, 1914. Illustrated by Henri Bouché-Leclercq. Number \u003cstrong\u003e408 of 500 copies on Vélin\u003c\/strong\u003e, from a total edition of 550.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA particularly handsome illustrated edition of \u003cstrong\u003eVerlaine’s first and foundational collection of poetry\u003c\/strong\u003e, preserved in an elaborate \u003cstrong\u003esigned Arts and Crafts binding\u003c\/strong\u003e of full dark brown morocco with extensive gilt tooling and colored morocco inlays.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe covers are centered by a large circular composition of intertwining gilt-tooled stems and foliage, punctuated by delicately inlaid roses and leaves in contrasting pink and colored morocco. The design continues across the spine, which is divided into six compartments by five raised bands, with the title lettered in gilt and the remaining compartments decorated with related floral tooling and mosaic onlays.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe interior is equally accomplished, with richly patterned \u003cstrong\u003ewatered-silk doublures and endleaves\u003c\/strong\u003e, gilt-decorated turn-ins, and gilt top edge. The binding is signed \u003cstrong\u003e“AL”\u003c\/strong\u003e at the lower corner of the rear board.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe result is an unusually successful marriage of Verlaine's Symbolist poetry with the organic floral vocabulary of the Arts and Crafts movement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIllustrated Limited Edition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Messein edition was limited to \u003cstrong\u003e550 copies\u003c\/strong\u003e, comprising 50 copies on Japon and 500 on Vélin, of which this is \u003cstrong\u003enumber 408\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHenri Bouché-Leclercq’s illustrations are printed in warm tones and delicately heightened with color by \u003cstrong\u003epochoir\u003c\/strong\u003e, creating a restrained decorative accompaniment particularly well suited to Verlaine’s poetry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirst published in 1866, \u003cem\u003ePoèmes Saturniens\u003c\/em\u003e was \u003cstrong\u003eVerlaine’s first collection of verse\u003c\/strong\u003e and introduced many of the qualities that would establish him as one of the central figures of nineteenth-century French poetry and a crucial precursor of Symbolism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eProvenance: Lazarus Goldschmidt\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith the engraved bookplate of \u003cstrong\u003eLazarus Goldschmidt (1871–1950)\u003c\/strong\u003e, the distinguished Lithuanian-born Orientalist, Talmudist, bibliographer, translator and noted bibliophile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGoldschmidt was one of the major Jewish scholars of his generation. Among his most important achievements was the monumental first complete German translation of the Babylonian Talmud, produced over several decades. His scholarly interests extended to Hebrew bibliography, Ethiopic literature, the Koran and early Hebrew printing, and he assembled a substantial private library reflecting his life as both scholar and collector.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe presence of Goldschmidt’s bookplate gives this copy particularly appropriate bibliophilic provenance: this was not simply a decorative volume, but a book owned by an important twentieth-century scholar and serious collector of books.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEdition:\u003c\/strong\u003e No. 408 of 500 copies on Vélin; total edition 550\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrator:\u003c\/strong\u003e Henri Bouché-Leclercq\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBinding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full morocco with gilt tooling and colored morocco onlays, signed “AL”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoublures and endleaves:\u003c\/strong\u003e Patterned watered silk\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lazarus Goldschmidt, bookplate\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spine slightly rubbed, otherwise near fine; housed in a custom cloth-lined slipcase.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA distinctive example combining \u003cstrong\u003eVerlaine, early twentieth-century French book illustration, a finely executed signed Arts and Crafts binding, and notable bibliophile provenance\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Breething Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48220452978918,"sku":"BB-000042","price":1950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0733\/7931\/5942\/files\/b_e649888f-eb9c-4928-912f-09655f77e42f.jpg?v=1787332323","url":"https:\/\/www.breethingbooks.com\/products\/paul-verlaine-poemes-saturniens-1914-signed-arts-crafts-mosaic-morocco-binding-lazarus-goldschmidt-provenance","provider":"Breething Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}