L'Éclipse, tête de collection du n°1 du 26 janvier 1868 au n°101 du 26 décembre 1869

First edition comprising all of the first 101 issues of the journal, all illustrated with colored front pages, the vast majority of which were executed by André Gill.

Publisher's half red morocco with red percaline boards, spines with five raised bands decorated with four gilt compartments, boards with various blind-stamped frames, gilt titles on upper boards.

Corners bumped, some foxing and general wear to joints. On the first volume, the lower board joint split at both ends, measuring 11.5 cm and 3 cm. On the second volume, one corner of the lower spine-end also split.

Our edition contains 56 issues including 7 bis for the first volume and 60 issues including 8 bis for the second (some numbering errors: the second no. 39 is actually no. 40; likewise for no. 95 which should be no. 96). This copy presents some defects within the two volumes: a tear at the bottom of the page for nos. 28, 34, 37b and 53b, without affecting the text; a tear at the bottom of the page for the colored front pages of nos. 19 and 48; p. 4 of no. 7 is slightly creased; an angular crease mark throughout all pages of no. 74.

Each issue consists of four pages, the first in color, with the exception of no. 13, whose front page has no illustration, but which features a large composition entitled "Fleurs du jour" appearing on pages 2 and 3. André Gill is not the sole caricaturist to sign the front pages; there are also drawings by Pilotell, Pépin, Blaze, Hadol, A. J. Lorentz, Régamey, Boquillon, Coinchon, Job, Rupp and Montbard.

Our copy contains the two title pages created for the years 1868 and 1869: the first title of 1868 features nine portraits of the principal illustrators and editors; the second title of 1869 is decorated with a composition celebrating the second year of L'Éclipse's activity.