Sale 2497 - Fine Illustrated Books & Graphics, January 29, 2019

138 c   SCHMIED, FRANÇOIS-LOUIS. Le Cantique des Cantiques. Translated by Ernest Renan. 80 pages with lavish wood-engraved illustrations, pictorial or decorative initials and/or borders by Schmied, printed in color, many heightened with gold or silver. 8vo, contents loose as issued in pictorial wrappers; original marbled paper-covered board chemise and slipcase. Paris, 1925   [10,000/15,000] number 109 of 110 copies signed by schmied and the “ most elaborate and curiously illustrated ” of all his books . “Its jewel-like quality and richness make it one of the great Art Deco books of the Twentieth Century. Each page is a dramatic new design concept, though integrated with the whole book”—Ritchie 16. Printed on the handpress by master printer Pierre Bouchet, who also helped Schmied engrave the thousand blocks required to make the art, the entire small limitation was sold out before its completion from just a sample showing of the preliminary pages.