Beschreibung:

MACHIAVELLI, Niccolò. Le Prince, préface de André Suarès. Paris: Jou & Bosviel, printed by Louis Jou, 1921. 4° (283 x 202mm). Printed in red and black in Jou's Roman fount. Title with large woodcut portrait of Machiavelli, 32 historiated initials in red and black, 31 head- and 23 tailpieces, woodcut surround to colophon leaf, all by Jou, with an additional suite of the portrait, two large initials (on one leaf) and 30 of the smaller initials (on 5 leaves) bound in. BINDING DESIGNED BY PIERRE LEGRAIN finished 23 February 1929, commissioned by Louis Barthou: dark-brown crushed levant morocco, an overall field of small gilt lozenges, on the front cover the title in gilt with a broad inlaid column of red and brown morocco, tooled in blind and gilt forming the letter P and a stylised crown, blind-tooled inlaid band of dark-blue moroccoextending across both covers, spine lettered in gilt, broad turn-ins gilt-, blind-tooled and inlaid to a similar design, red suede doublures and endleaves, original wrappers bound-in, uncut, black paper chemise with morocco lettering-piece, morocco-edged slipcase, signed on front turn-in: Pierre Legrain Provenance : Louis Barthou (binding, bookplate, sale Auguste Blaizot & fils 6 November 1935 lot 969); Colonel Daniel E. Sickles (armorial bookplate). A VERY FINE COPY OF THE FIRST WORK THAT LOUIS JOU DECORATED AND PRINTED FROM HIS OWN TYPE, BOUND IN A SPECTACULAR AND MUCH REPRODUCED BINDING BY PIERRE LEGRAIN The edition limited to 310 copies, this V of X copies on japon impérial paper. This copy with an additional suite of woodcuts. The binding has been illustrated in at least 4 publications and 2 sale catalogues (see the colour frontispiece in part II of the Barthou sale).