Am. Sam. Gram.
Paris: La Renaissance du Livre, 1922. Oblong quarto. (13)ff., interleaved with twelve pochoir plates. First edition. A poignant fable about the escapades of a magpie—whose body is made of a pinecone—and three little pinecone chicks as they leave the mantel of the fireplace on which they live to venture out into the world. With illustrations by Maby, about whom little is known. Am, Sam, and Gram are the names of the three little birds, who, despite their journey into the exciting territory of a woodland stream, apparently cannot escape their ultimate fate as fireplace kindling. Following the story is an explication of the Moral in the tradition of Aesop and other fable literature. The gorgeous illustrations, with their strong, simple pochoir coloring, are stylistically akin to the work of Theodor Van Hoytema. Bound in linen-backed, pochoir-illustrated boards, which show minor overall soiling and two faint, small stains to the upper right corner. Scattered light foxing to page edges and outer margins of text leaves. A near fine copy of a rare pochoir picture book. Item #22295
Price: $2,500.00