[Binding, Fine- George Huser Striking Mosaic Binding on Scarce Paul Verlaine] Romances Sans Paroles. Ariettes oubliées, Paysages belges, Birds in the night, Aquarelles

Sens: Typographie de Maurice L'Hermitte, 1874. First Edition, First Issue. First Edition, First Issue. 4.75 x 7.5 inches. A stunning and intricate black morocco mosaic binding by Georges Huser (1879-1861), “[a] craftsman of great quality, he was appreciated for the finesse of his bindings, comparable to that of Canape. He was trained in the workshops of David, Noulhac, then Lemardeley, from whom he took over in 1903.” (Dictionnaire des relieurs francais) Both covers with a repeating pattern of small flowers & leaves inlaid in cream, fawn, green & deep pink morocco and tooled in blind, forming a striking and aesthetic effect. Five bands to spine with title and author in gilt to second compartment, remaining compartments with inlaid cream & deep pink borders. Full cream calf doublures with black silk flyleaves, top edge gilt. The book is housed in an extremely attractive morocco-backed marbled chemise with yapp edges, lined with white calf, and matching morocco-edged marbled slipcase, lined with tan morocco. Typography by Maurice l’Hermitte, 1874. Original pale gray printed wrappers bound in, as well as spine. The very scarce first edition, first issue with “Paris chez tous les libraires” on upper cover of wrapper. [One of 300 copies.] Small stain to front endpapers where a bookplate was removed. Extremely fine condition, binding contents and cases. (Inventory #: 6714)