GONCOURT (Edmond de). La Fille Élisa. Paris, Librairie de l' - Lot 94

GONCOURT (Edmond de). La Fille Élisa. Paris, Librairie de l'Édition nationale, Émile Testard ("Collection des Dix"), 1895. In-8, (4)-vii-257-(2) pp, copy with very wide margins, brown morocco, spine ribbed with gilt cock at tail, boards decorated with two large mosaic compositions in polychrome chased leather on a black background, one signed "Ch. Meunier 96", red morocco linings framed with gilded fillets and gilded floral lace with blue leather inlays, olive silk endpapers, gilded edges on witnesses, covers and spine, lined brown morocco spine and band folder, bordered slipcase, rare foxing (Ch. Meunier. 95). EDITION OF 300 NUMEROTES, THIS ONE OF 38 ON CHINESE (after 12 on japon) with triple suite of etchings (one proof before the letter in sepia, 2 state proofs before the letter in black with remark, one proof in black with the letter, quoted below). This novel was originally published in 1877. ILLUSTRATION BY GEORGES JEANNIOT: 10 out-of-text etchings, and 65 sketches, including 3 on the cover (one in color) and 62 in the text. EXCEPTIONAL ART NOUVEAU BINDING BY CHARLES MEUNIER. The polychrome chased-leather motifs depict flowers around which snakes are coiled: on the first plate, poppy feet; on the second, thistle feet. ENRICHED COPY: - GONCOURT (Edmond de). 2 autograph letters signed. S.l., 1876, "Tuesday the 18th" [January, April or July]. " ... If I haven't been to see you, it's because I'M REFURBED IN ELISA. I'm in the process of building a provincial lupanar of women-bestials that has, I believe, character..." - To Philippe Burty. S.l., March 26, 1877. "Here's a copy of LA FILLE ÉLISA worthy of you..." Art critic Philippe Burty, a fan of Japanese art like Goncourt, had just published an article entitled "Les Filles au Japon" in La République des lettres on March 25, 1877. - RASSENFOSSE (Armand). Original watercolor signed. 1892. 218 x 144 mm. Full-length portrait of ELISA A DEMI-NUE. - JEANNIOT (Georges). 3 pieces and a suite: one original watercolor signed. 230 x 155 mm. Scene depicting ELISA KILLING HER Lover. Used as a model for the etching opposite page 198. - An etching refused for the illustration opposite p. 82. - A suite on chine of sketches in the text and on the covers. - Publisher's subscription prospectus. 4 printed ff. and one hors texte etching on chine. - Another publisher's prospectus. Double-page woodcut on chine, unsigned, captioned "La Fille Élisa. Livre d'amateurs". Provenance: the great bibliophile Arthur Meyer, director of Le Gaulois (ex-libris vignette on one endpaper and ex-libris iron on the spine).