New York: Béatrice Coron, 2003. Paperback. Number 2 of 3 copies. Beatrice Coron creates a charming papercut work to illustrate the poem "Le Mot et la Chose" (The Word and the Thing) written by The Abbot of Lattaignant (1697-1779). "Although his name is forgotten, the verses written by the man who was nicknamed in his lifetime 'The great songwriter' have passed through the centuries" [poesie.net].The poem is addressed to "Madame" and Coron's papercut depicts Madame being addressed by the gentleman who composed the poem. Inserted in the folder holding the papercut illustration is what appears to be a charred letter that unfolds to reveal the text of the poem. Housed in a red cloth covered folding box with a black ribbon tie created by Barbara Mauriello. Handcut on Arches paper. In fine condition. Measures 8.5 x 9 x 1 inches.  Coron describes her book work: "For the last 20 years, I have been exploring visual storytelling in artist books, paper cutting and public art. Collecting memories from individuals and communities, I stage narrative allegories in silhouette to create a dialogue with the viewer in playful fantasies. These visual chronicles record archetypal stories that transcend time and space. I have been fascinated by the relation of people to their space and the sense of belonging. Using papercutting where everything is cut from a single piece of Tyvek, the profusion of individual stories makes a coherent whole world." [From her website]. ARTB/081921. Fine. More

New York: Béatrice Coron, 2012. Paperback. Number 4 of 6 copies. Coron describes her book work: "For the last 20 years, I have been exploring visual storytelling in artist books, paper cutting and public art. Collecting memories from individuals and communities, I stage narrative allegories in silhouette to create a dialogue with the viewer in playful fantasies. These visual chronicles record archetypal stories that transcend time and space. I have been fascinated by the relation of people to their space and the sense of belonging. Using papercutting where everything is cut from a single piece of Tyvek, the profusion of individual stories makes a coherent whole world." [From her website]. This work is inspired by a poem by Jean Moreas. Moréas (1856 – 1910)) was a Greek poet, essayist, and art critic who wrote mostly in the French language. The forest leaves of the poem are depicted in twelve hand-cut pages cut from six folded sheets of multi-colored paper that together create a forest. A deer and wolf appear as well. The paper cuts are held in a grey paper folder with the title label on the front cover. In fine condition. Size: 8.5 x 6 inches. ARTB/081921. Fine. More

New York: Béatrice Coron, n.d. Number 2 of 3 copies. Coron and her collaborator the Canadian poet Charles Gill have created an inventive artist's book with Gill's evocative poem on gold seekers illustrated with Coron's intricate papercuts that show the gold hunters in their often desperate attempts to find gold. Coron describes her book work: "For the last 20 years, I have been exploring visual storytelling in artist books, paper cutting and public art. Collecting memories from individuals and communities, I stage narrative allegories in silhouette to create a dialogue with the viewer in playful fantasies. These visual chronicles record archetypal stories that transcend time and space. I have been fascinated by the relation of people to their space and the sense of belonging. Using papercutting where everything is cut from a single piece of Tyvek, the profusion of individual stories makes a coherent whole world." [From her website]. This work is done from hand-cut brown Cave paper with gold leaf appliqué. The text of the poem is printed on four white labels affixed to the bottom margins of the folded pages. Housed in a folder covered with brown textured paper with a paper title label. In fine condition. Measures 6 xx 22 inches when unfolded. ARTB/090821. Fine. More

Paris: Sebastien Hure, 1652. Uncommon edition of the author's writings. Francois de Sales (1567 – 1622) was a Bishop of Geneva and is revered as a saint in the Catholic Church. He became noted for his deep faith and his gentle approach to the religious divisions in his land resulting from the Protestant Reformation. He is known also for his writings on the topic of spiritual direction and spiritual formation, particularly the Introduction to the Devout Life and the Treatise on the Love of God. This edition from Sebastien Hure is an important one. It is a comprehensive compilation of the writings of de Sales, and includes engravings and decorated initials in the Introduction to the Devout Life (Introduction a la Vie Devote) and the Treatise on the Love of God (de l'Amour de Dieu). The letters offering spiritual direction are also a major portion of this volume. Bound in contemporary full brown leather. The leather is chipped, rubbed, worn, and bumped. Chipping along edges reveal the boards underneath. Raised bands and red label to spine. Front hinge has cracked open but text block is still tightly holding to the cords. Page ends were marbled but marbling has faded. Marbled paper pastedowns but marbled free endpapers presumedly missing. Light dampstains to the subject index. Browning and spotting throughout text but pages are still quite legible and relatively clean. Small stamp of Library Sulpician Seminary Washington, DC.Text is printed in two columns that are individually numbered.There are 2308 columns or over 1000 pages. A separate index of subjects of about 70 pages refers the reader to the relevant text column number. Very good. Measures 10 x 15 x 3.5 inches. Heavy book requiring extra postage. REL/102021. More

Paris: Chez Treuttel et Würtz, 1828. Hardcover. Scarce. These three volumes in French on the voyages made by Christopher Columbus to the new world were published as part of Navarrete's five volume collection of the voyages and discoveries made by the Spaniards since the late 15th century. The volumes include two engravings of Columbus, a facsimile of one of his handwritten letters, and two large fold-out maps of the areas he explored. This is a monumental history of the four voyages of Columbus that includes a lengthy introduction, detailed descriptions of each voyage, the texts of his letters, and more. Bound in three quarter brown leather with marbled paper boards and endpapers. Leather is scuffed, bumped, and the spine is sunned. Volume II has an area of exposed board to front cover. Evidence of spine and front cover labels having been removed and round blind stamp to title pages. There is scattered foxing throughout, most heavily in volume II. The plates and maps are in nice condition. A very good copy of this classic work. Octavo. Volume I: 400 pages; Volume II: 489 pages; Volume III: 444 pages. TRAVEL/072021. Very Good. More

Paris: G. Masson, Bibliothèque de La Nature, n.d. [circa 1886]. Hardcover. In his preface, the author says that travel to the United States from Paris was now easy and wonders why his fellow citizens don't sail there to see that beautiful country. He notes that the United States does not have monuments of art, or historic sites, but reminds his readers that it is a very young country. The country does display its extraordinary energy and extreme hard work. The traveler will see there the results of their intelligence and see the grand works that they have accomplished. Albert Tissandier (1839 – 1906) was a French architect, aviator, illustrator, editor and archaeologist. He was the brother of adventurer Gaston Tissandier with whom he collaborated in writing the magazine La Nature, a French language scientific journal aimed at the popularization of science. Tissandier was also a passionate writer and traveller. In 1886, he started a long trip around the world in America, subsequently traveling to the East Indies, Ceylon and many other Asian locales, sending his magnificent illustrations back to Paris so they could appear in La Nature [Wikipedia]. This account in French of his travels in the U.S. naturally focuses on what he finds most interesting - engineering achievements such as the Brooklyn Bridge; natural wonders like the canyons of the west and Niagara Falls; and important developments in transportation and manufacturing. His text is accompanied by his wonderful illustrations. There are eight two-page plates, 82 engravings, and two maps. One of the maps shows Tissandier's route across the United States. Bound in half red leather with marbled paper boards. Spine with raised bands, gilt titling and ornaments. Leather is rubbed with wear along edges and paper boards have some chipping and bumping. Interior pages are clean and bright with a bit of foxing to first and last few pages. Very good condition. Measures 6.25 x 10 inches. 298 pages plus page listing plates and maps. TRAVEL/092121. Very Good. More