BARBIER, George (1882-1932), artist, and Pierre LOUŸS (1870-1925), author - photo 1
BARBIER, George (1882-1932), artist, and Pierre LOUŸS (1870-1925), author - photo 2
BARBIER, George (1882-1932), artist, and Pierre LOUŸS (1870-1925), author - photo 3
BARBIER, George (1882-1932), artist, and Pierre LOUŸS (1870-1925), author - photo 4

BARBIER, George (1882-1932), artist, and Pierre LOUŸS (1870-1925), author

Lot 292
13.07.2023 10:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 9 450
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 992875
Lot 292 | BARBIER, George (1882-1932), artist, and Pierre LOUŸS (1870-1925), author
Estimate value
£ 3 000 – 5 000
BARBIER, George (1882-1932), artist, and Pierre LOUŸS (1870-1925), author

Les Chansons de Bilitis. Traduit du Grec. Paris: Pierre Corrard Collection, 1922.

Limited edition, number 88 of 125 copies signed by Barbier and with François-Louis Schmied's red monogram stamp, from a total edition of 133 copies. A superb edition, illustrated with magnificent compositions by Barbier, engraved by Schmied, and specially bound by Susan Allix. The Songs of Bilitis was a collection of erotic poetry with strong lesbian themes written by Pierre Louÿs in the manner of Sappho. Although Louÿs claimed the poems were discovered to have a Greek source, this was eventually revealed as a hoax. Louÿs wrote: 'This little book of antique love is respectfully dedicated to the young ladies of the society of the future.'



This volume is bound by Susan Allix, renowned for creating limited editions from her private press with original prints, letterpress printing and hand binding. Since setting up her own press, she has exhibited internationally, and her work is held by the National Art Library (V&A), British Library; Library of Congress, Harvard and the New York Public Library, among others. Bobins IV, 1413.



Quarto (330 x 265mm). Title in blue with decorative ornaments with vignette, 42 coloured pochoir illustrations, including 19 full-page, heightened with gilt throughout, limitation leaf with Schmied's stamp and Barbier's printed signature (minor scuffs to illustrated wrappers, confined to margins). Designer bookbinding by Susan Allix of pale turquoise and brown goatskin, upper cover with inlaid oblong panel of emerald green, containing an onlaid female portrait in acrylic paint over leather, four recessed semi-circles cut at sides of covers with small onlaid scenes, maroon spine lettered in red, doublures of blue-green Thai paper, marbled free endpapers, publisher's illustrated wrappers bound in, housed in a velvet-lined turquoise cloth box, leather title labels on front and spine (minor marks to box). Provenance: Denis Anthony Collins (ownership stamp on rear free endpaper; specially commissioned binding by Collins with inscription on front fly-leaf by the binder Susan Allix dated 30th October 2000, together with correspondence from Allix to Collins loosely inserted explaining the binding; his sale, Bonhams 16 March 2016, lot 15).





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Auction house category:Printed books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
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13.07.2023
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