Pierre LOUYS. Aphrodite. - Lot 60

Pierre LOUYS. Aphrodite. Paris, Les Bibliophiles de l'Amérique latine, 1954. 2 volumes small in-4, leaves, folder and slipcase. Monod, II-7365 /// i. (3f.)-IX-(1f.)-159 / ii. 161 à 333-(3f.). 51 color compositions by George barbier and Georges Lepape wood-engraved by Pierre Bouchet, including the cover and 8 full-page illustrations. Edition of 150 copies, this one of 125 on Arches vellum, here printed for Gaston Girousse (no. 43), enriched with 3 large unsigned original watercolors used for the illustration, a color suite on Japon, a black line suite on Japon and the menu. We certify one watercolor by Barbier and another by Lepape, and believe the third to be by Lepape. Barbier began illustrating the book, but his death in 1932 left the project unfinished. Lepape was then commissioned to complete the edition, and produced some twenty illustrations. A fine copy.