Léon LHERMITTE

First edition illustrated with a frontispiece, 26 plates and numerous text vignettes, engraved on wood by Bellenger after Léon Lhermitte, one of the great painters of peasant life.
Half red shagreen binding with corners, spine with five raised bands showing some scratches, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards, pebbled paper endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, upper corners slightly bumped.

First edition known as the "bibliophiles edition" limited to 60 copies, this one personalized and printed on China paper, dedicated and offered by the author: "à Jules Claretie affectueux souvenir de son tout dévoué André Theuriet" ["to Jules Claretie affectionate remembrance from his entirely devoted André Theuriet"].
Illustrated with a frontispiece, 26 plates hors texte and numerous vignettes in the text, engraved on wood by Bellenger after Léon Lhermitte, one of the great painters of rural life. Each plate - except the frontispiece - is protected by a captioned tissue guard.
Near-contemporary half morocco with corners binding, smooth spine with mosaic decoration of wheat ears and a grape cluster in camel morocco as well as a small gilt bird, gilt frame on the spine, gilt fillets on the marbled paper boards, combed paper endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt retaining deckled edges, binding signed Alfred Farez, successor to Carayon.
Some minor rubbing at head and foot of spine, otherwise a handsome copy.