Le Cantique des Cantiques. Traduction de Ernest Renan.
Paris: F.-L. Schmied, 1925. Small 4to 6 1/2 x 9 3/4. Twenty-three gatherings (89 printed pages) plus blanks at beginning and end. Schmied's printed note to the binders and another printed note about the placement of the half-title are laid in. Wood engravings by Schmied throughout, printed in colors, gold, & silver. Unbound sheets as issued in printed wraps with an illustration on the upper wrap, housed in contemporary chemise & slipcase. Some offsetting, particularly from the initials due to the soft black ink Schmied favored; all else fine. Item #9295
"Its jewel-like quality and richness make it one of the great Art Deco books of the Twentieth Century. Each page is a dramatic new design concept, though integrated with the whole book"--Ritchie 16. About a thousand blocks were required. The entire edition was sold out before its completion, from just a sample showing of the preliminary pages.
No. 28 of 110 copies signed by Schmied who designed the book, engraved the illustrations, and printed it on the handpress. Many copies were given permanent bindings; it's unusual to find this book in its original state.
Price: $10,000.00