La Divine comédie

Editions d'art les heures claires, Paris 1959-1963, 26.5 x 33 cm, 6 volumes in leaves in covers, chemises and slipcases.

First print of Salvador Dali's illustrations published with 4765 copies, ours being one of the numbered copies on vélin pur chiffon de Rives paper.

The work is illustrated with 100 original Salvador Dali compositions engraved on wood in colour by Raymond Jacquet.
Spines of the slipcases lightly sun-damaged and some rare slightly foxed leaves.

In 1950, at the request of the Libreria dello Stato in Rome, Salvador Dali undertook to produce one hundred watercolours corresponding to the one hundred songs of Dante's @Devine Comedy#. In 1951, part of the watercolours were exhibited in Rome. As Dali's work continues, the Italian government finally decided that Dante's work should be illustrated by an Italian painter. The contract between Libreria dello Stato and Dali was broken and the painter once again became the owner of his work. In July 1959, Les Heures Claires purchased the exclusivity and all reproduction rights, the collection was engraved and printed under the direction of Jean Estrade.

A pleasant copy of this remarkable achievement.