c.Early 1900s- Collection of French Nelson Editions | Decorative Cloth Bindings

A wonderfully decorative grouping of sixteen vintage French-language volumes from the celebrated Collection Nelson, published in Paris by Nelson, Éditeurs.

Introduced in Paris in 1910, the Collection Nelson was admired for bringing classic French and European literature into an elegant compact format. Each volume is bound in cream or softly colored cloth with the collection’s distinctive Art Nouveau–influenced ornamentation, ribbon-and-wreath motifs, and central “N” monogram. Together, the time-softened shades of ivory, champagne, blush, and pale gold coloring create a particularly beautiful and cohesive shelf display.

The grouping includes works by Alexandre Dumas, Honoré de Balzac, Théophile Gautier, Alphonse Daudet, Eugène Fromentin, Édouard Rod, and others. Among the identifiable titles are Ange Pitou in two volumes, Une Ténébreuse Affaire, Eugénie Grandet, Le Roman de la Momie, Le Mal d’Aimer, Contes du Lundi, Lettres de Mon Moulin, Dominique, Numa Roumestan, and L’Ombre s’étend sur la Montagne. Several volumes contain a color frontispiece.

The books are written in French and are offered together as one collection. They display beautifully as a softly aged grouping and would be equally appealing to a collector of French literature, early twentieth-century publisher’s bindings, or decorative antique books.

The collection is in very good vintage condition overall, showing the expected age toning, fading, scattered marks, and minor rubbing/bumped corners. The natural variations in color and patina contribute considerably to the grouping’s charm.

Includes total 16 books which include 2 volume book sets.

Size of each volume:  ~4 1/2x 6 1/4”