{"product_id":"c-1909-les-cent-meilleurs-poemes-french-poetry-in-hand-painted-vellum-binding","title":"c. 1909 Les Cent Meilleurs Poèmes — French Poetry in Hand-Painted Vellum Binding","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA wonderfully decorative French poetry anthology in a distinctive hand-painted vellum binding. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLes Cent Meilleurs Poèmes (Lyriques) de la Langue Française\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e—\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe One Hundred Best Lyric Poems of the French Language\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e—was selected by French poet and critic Auguste Dorchain and published by Gowans \u0026amp; Gray of London and Glasgow, with Edwin Frankfurter of Lausanne.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFirst published in 1905 and subsequently reprinted in several editions, this early twentieth-century volume brings together one hundred poems representing centuries of French literary tradition. Among the poets included are Charles d’Orléans, François Villon, Voltaire, André Chénier, Alphonse de Lamartine, Victor Hugo, Alfred de Musset, Théophile Gautier, Théodore de Banville, Jean Racine, and Pierre Corneille. The complete text is in French.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA beautiful edition in a cream vellum binding, ornamented by hand with vivid floral designs in red, blue, green, and gold. A large painted rose motif fills the front board within a deep blue decorative frame, while smaller flowers embellish the corners and spine. The rear board has a coordinating floral device, and beautifully marbled endpapers. The publisher’s original Art Nouveau pictorial wrapper, shows a woman playing a lyre beneath a garland of roses.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn early ownership or school inscription dated 1915–16 appears on the half-title and references Florissant, Geneva, providing a connection to the book’s Swiss history. The pages are age-toned with occasional spotting and edge wear. The leaf comprising pages 143–144 has tearing and detachment but no apparent significant loss of text. The binding remains intact.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSize: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn uncommon and visually captivating volume whose hand-painted vellum exterior makes it especially appealing for a collection of French literature, poetry, or decorative bindings.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Honey Bee Mill","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55306636394795,"sku":null,"price":195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0015\/7086\/5251\/files\/IMG_6619_d4431ecc-4c5f-4bf2-97e5-83faa22cc8a9.jpg?v=1788273723","url":"https:\/\/honeybeemill.com\/products\/c-1909-les-cent-meilleurs-poemes-french-poetry-in-hand-painted-vellum-binding","provider":"Honey Bee Mill","version":"1.0","type":"link"}