Au Phare, à l'Obus, aux Deux Eléphants, au Globe Doré... these famous "cartonnage" bindings are one of the finest editorial achievements of the nineteenth century. Discover the extraordinary journey of the Editions Hetzel.

Less than a half-century was enough for Romanticism to colonize the arts and nations and definitely make its mark in the minds of men. Is there one among us who does not count a romantic work among his favorite pieces?

Made by the best illustrators of the time, these fashion plates, inspired by the great couturiers for the famous Lucien Vogel's periodical are among the finest graphics achievements of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco.

Lutèce, the City of Light, the Capital of Fashion, Gastronomy and Art of Living, Babylon, Paname, Pantin, Pantruche ... From the "bas-fonds" to the Quais de Seine, Paris has been described, illustrated, sang, told, loved, hated, but often with originality and talent.

Suggested or explicit, illustrated or purely textual, sadistic or lesbian, published under the mantle or disclosed openly, loves always maintain an intimate and passionate relationship with literature. No, Curiosa is not a bad thing ...

Woodcut, intaglio, lithography, miniatures ... From the medieval illuminated manuscripts to the modern painters books, the art of illustration, is born with the book and reinvents itself with him on every page of their common history.

This goatskin originally imported from Morocco is used since the sixteenth century for prestige bindings. Made by a good bookbinder, full morocco is still today the most luxurious trim of a precious book.

Major works that have marked the history of human thought.
First editions, often rare, and beautiful ancient editions of these masterpieces are prominently featured in the ideal library of the bibliophile.

This name generally refers to the books from the XVIth to the XVIIIth century enriched with engravings off-text copies sometimes reserved for luxury copies. Always prepared with art, antique books with engravings perpetuate ancestral tradition of illumination.

The illustrated books of the eighteenth century are among the finest achievements of History. "Age d'Or" of the illustration, the Enlightenment's century was also the one of the Artist's books: Coypel, Boucher, Eisen, Gravelot, Moreau, Oudry, Marillier, Fragonard, Prud'hon...

Signed copy. Handwritten dedication by the author to a close relation. A signed copy is a moving echo of the genesis of the work and the links of the writer with his(her) contemporaries: a unique testimony of the life of the author.

French craftsmanship unique in the world:
Calf, lined morocco, mosaic or embossed binding... the book takes on its finest aspects through the work of a few master craftsmen who set the great literary works in leather and gold cases.

Major works that have marked the history of thought.
Original editions, often rare, and beautiful old editions of these masterpieces take a great place in the library of a bibliophile.

They discovered America or penicillin. They explored the immense Terra Incognita and infinite space. They are researchers, explorers or poets. They came, they saw and overcame prejudice and ignorance.
"E pure si muove!"

Founded in 1931 by Jacques Schiffrin, La Pléiade became an editorial reference both for the quality of its implementation and for the critical apparatus that accompanies the complete works of the major writers of the French and international literature.

Marguerite de Navarre, Louise Labé, Mesdames de Sévigné, Lafayette and de Stael, Sand, Colette, Nemirovsky, Beauvoir, Duras, Yourcenar, Sarraute... Women have marked the history of literature that has not always done them justice ...

Beranger, Mistinguett, Joséphine Baker, Serge, Bouglione, Grock, Mime Marceau... On stage or under the marquee, the words fly, twirl, resonate in this selection outgone from the Feu Follet's hat...

In a "de luxe" edition, one of the very first or more important paper, "leading copies" or "prime copies"

Collective editions, illustrated, with unreleased parts or critical notes, the complete works are often elegantly binded at the time. They are a masterpiece of the collection of a bibliophile.

From the XIXth century on, the invention of lithography transformed the art of illustration. Artists seize this technique with almost complete freedom. The painter's book appears and the color illuminates the literature ...

"Bipède volupteur de lyre / Epoux châtré de Polymnie / Vérolé de lune à confire / Grand-Duc bouillon des librairies / Maroufle à pendre à l'hexamètre / Voyou décliné chez les Grecs / Albatros à chaîne et à guêtres / Cigale qui claque du bec
Poète, vos papiers!"

When the dedicatee is prestigious, when the dedication is part of the history of the writer or sheds new light on the work ... the exceptionnal autograph reflects a major event: the meeting of the work with history.

This is our first literary emotion, it is also one of the top art book : romantic cardboard, Editions Hetzel, illustrated books by Robida, Doré, Job, Rabier ... The children's book brings together the arts : text, image and binding.