Bonnard, Pierre, illus.; Paul Bonet, binder

Verlaine, Paul.  Parallèlement.  Paris: Ambroise Vollard, 1900



4to (11  1/2  x 9  1/2  in.; 292 x 241 mm).  108 lithographs printed in rose-sanguine and 9 wood-engravings printed in black by Bonnard, printed wrapper with pictorial vignette bound in; occasional very light offsetting or spotting, repair to lower right corner of firt leaf of table of contents (p. 137).  Pale rose morocco by Paul Bonet (1960), spine lettered in gilt, spine and covers with floral arabesque pattern in gilt and silver-gilt, edges gilt, gray suede doublures and gardes edged in dark pink morocco.  Half pale pink morocco chemise, spine lettered in gilt, with slipcase; spine of chemise slightly faded.

Artist and the Book 27; Bonet Carnets 1309; Castleman Century 86; Manet to Hockney 17; Ray French 383

4to (11 1/2 x 9 1/2 in.; 292 x 241 mm). 108 lithographs printed in rose-sanguine and 9 wood-engravings printed in black by Bonnard, printed wrapper with pictorial vignette bound in; occasional very light offsetting or spotting, repair to lower right corner of firt leaf of table of contents (p. 137). Pale rose morocco by Paul Bonet (1960), spine lettered in gilt, spine and covers with floral arabesque pattern in gilt and silver-gilt, edges gilt, gray suede doublures and gardes edged in dark pink morocco. Half pale pink morocco chemise, spine lettered in gilt, with slipcase; spine of chemise slightly faded.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Ambroise Vollard's first book, illustrated by Pierre Bonnard and magnificently bound by Paul Bonet.  One of 170 copies on Hollande (of a whole edition of 200); this copy out-of-series.

Parrallèment, "a pinnacle of the French illustrated book" (Ray), is considered by many to be the first livre d'artiste.  Bonnard's sanguine-rose lithographs, among the finest works of his entire career, changed the course of book illustration in the 20th century.  The languid illustrations seem to wrap themselves around Verlaine's sensuous verse.  Robert Rainwater has written, "Bonnard's lithographs endowed a new space on the page for painters and transferred dominant authority to them in the creation of books in deluxe editions."  Vollard had the work printed at the Imprimerie Nationale.  The French Ministry of Justice, however, apparently demanded that the government imprint on the cover and title-page be removed, after discovering that six of the poems contained lesbian themes.  The present copy preserves the original setting of the title-page and front cover.

Laid in is an ALS from Bonet on his letterhead to the unidentified patron who commissioned the binding.  According to the Bonet Carnets, this is the eighth binding the master designed for Parallèlement.  It was completed in December 1960.