Le Livre de la Vérité de Parole.
Paris: Chez F.-L. Schmied, (1929). Quarto. (126)pp. One of 150 copies, signed by Schmied. Illustrated throughout with color wood engravings, executed in tones of brown, orange, and blue, including twelve full-page illustrations, each one signed by Schmied. This is a work that Ward Ritchie called "ingenious in its design, one of Schmied's masterworks." (Ritchie 28). Bound by Schmied in dark brown levant with an all-over abstract geometrical design formed from multiple gilt fillets, thin white calf onlays, blind rules, and two bands of dark blue morocco strapwork. A vertically oriented single red rectangular onlay occupies the center of the upper cover. Gilt-ruled turn-ins and gold watered silk doublures face black watered silk endleaves. The cover design echoes Schmied's interior decoration—especially the color wood-engraved tailpieces, the hallmark of his complete approach to book design, which reached its zenith during the 1920s. Housed in a morocco-edged chemise and slipcase, the latter showing edgewear. This is the Chevalier copy, and it is shown as color plate 213 (p. 171) in Art Nouveau and Art Deco Bookbinding by Alastair Duncan and Georges de Bartha (NY, 1989). Item #31718
Price: $9,500.00