Tales Of Perrault

Charles Perrault. Four Tales by Perrault. Illustrated by Édouard de Beaumont. Paris. Boussod, Valadon & Cie. 1888. In-4 (26 x 33 cm) of (2)-72-(2) ff. Publisher's cardboard. Red percaline, golden head. Gilded decoration on the first cover: titles of the four tales in ornate letters; illustrations evoking tales (bluebeard's profile in a medallion, a young sleeping servant, a large pumpkin and a foot above a cushion on which a shoe is placed, jumping frogs). Gilded titles on the spine, fillets, golden monogram of the publisher in the center of the second cover. Four tales (Bluebeard, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and The Fairies), illustrated with 74 compositions in text by Édouard de Beaumont, printed in bistre, sepia or bluish. Probably one of the artist's best illustrations: with great finesse and a touch of humor, the illustration fits very skillfully into the page, dissolving vaporously into the text. Book mounted on tabs, each leaf is printed on strong vellum on the front. The composition of the first course is a great success.