DE LÉOTARD, Geneviève, bookbinder. CARCO, Francis. ~ Perversité
Two volumes. No. 28 of 33 copies on hollande paper with an extra suite of the etchings each in four states and one plat refusée in two states.. 20 etchings by André Dignimont. 25.6 x 20.6 cm. 4to., both volumes bound to match by Geneviève de Léotard in 1928 (signed on the upper turn-in) in full tan morocco with a remarkable geometric Art Deco design ruled in gold, platinum and black on sides and spines with black lettering on the spines, doublures of full black morocco and orange silk with design of gilt fillets continuing across the morocco, secondary endpapers of gilded marbled paper, housed in the original morocco edged, marbled paper covered slipcases. Spine slightly faded, otherwise immaculate.
With a presentation inscription from the author to Alexander Shaw.
A psychological horror story of set in the Parisian underworld, Carco’s 1925 work was a great success and was translated into English in 1928 by Jean Rhys, although Ford Madox Ford took the credit. Here we have the first illustrated edition with etchings by André Dignimont, a close friend of the author and noted illustrator who had a particular affinity with cafes, brothels, bars, prostitutes and their clients which he brought to this edition.
The bookbinder Geneviève de Léotard 1899 was a precocious book artist. She began studying bookbinding at the Ecole des Arts Décoratifs in Paris in 1912 when she was only 12, with an emphasis on gilding. On graduation she worked with Pierre Legrain, as did many of the great women binders, becoming an independent binder in 1925. In 1927 she won the Prix Blumenthal and then became a teacher at her alma mater, teaching many of the next generation of women binders. De Leotard was adventurous and rather avant-garde in her choice of modern materials, often mixing different skins and shades with perfect subtlety, and her strong linear, geometric style. Her graphic style was very crisp and her immaculate gilding and design skills were much appreciated by the bibliophiles of her time.