BUCKLAND WRIGHT, John. MALLARMÉ, Stéphane. ~ L'Apres Midi d'un Faune.
One of only 25 copies, this letter K. Collotype reproductions of 4 drawings by JBW plus 5 copper engravings in a separate folder with an introduction printed on two sides of one leaf “A Note on the John Buckland Wright Edition of L’Après-midi d’un Faune by Mary Buckland Wright’. Only 25 copies were published, although 50 sets of text sheets had been produced in 1936 [although dated 1935], this is copy ‘K’ (actually bound in 1972). Text printed by the Boucher of the Hague for JBW Editions in 1936. 296 x 215 mms. 4to., bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe in original full white vellum over boards with an image adapted from the 5th copper engraving stamped in gilt on the upper cover, in the original green buckram slipcase with the green buckram folder for the engravings and introduction sheet. An extremely fresh and bright copy of a very rare book.
The last of the three JBW editions, the others were Cupid’s Pastime and Cupid and Psyches which were published in 1935 and 1936. L’Après Midi d’un Faune was begun in 1936 when the letterpress was printed by Mouton & Co. at the Hague. Buckland Wright found it difficult to decide on the best technique for the illustrations and, under pressure from other work, the project was temporarily abandoned although he did keep making drawings and plates for the book. Prints of five of the trial plates have been printed and issued with the book. He also did 4 drawings which his wife Mary believed were his real intention and which she believed he would have produced as etchings had he not died so early.
L’Apres-midi was, as Mary Buckland Wright points out in the two page introduction to the book “never long out of John’s thoughts and it was always close to his heart”...”John was always fascinated by the Pan or Faun theme; possibly because he himself had very pointed ears!” She also notes that JBW chose Bodoni type because “it was essential for the eye to pass easily and without shock from Roman to italic - most typefaces fall down in this respect”.
The Golden Cockerel Press produced an English edition with a translation by Aldous Huxley in the same year. Only the specials of this included copper engravings and then only 4, instead of the 5 in this French JBW edition which was also larger in format than the Golden Cockerel book.