Verlaine - Poems; Drypoints By Jean Frelaut. 1/175.

VERLAINE (Paul) - FRELAUT (Jean, drypoints of) - MAC ORLAN (Pierre, pref. of). Poems of Verlaine. Paris, Editions Arc-en-ciel, (1953). --------------------------------------------A large volume in 4to format (336 x 259 mm) of 308 pp., in sheets, under titled cover with folded flaps and cardboard and domino slipcase, smooth spine, gilt title along the length. Unique edition of only 250 copies (including 25 Hors-Commerce). This one, one of the 175 copies of the numbered edition on Grand Vélin pur-fil from Papeteries du Marais; justified by hand on the colophon. Partly original edition; the preface by Mac Orlan appearing here for the first time. The work is enhanced - here in first printing - by 20 beautiful compositions outside the text engraved with a burin by Jean Frélaut. ''In 1903, Mr. Beltrand introduced him to the profession, but Frélaut perfected his knowledge thanks to the advice of the American engraver DS MacLauglan. Frélaut's art is characterized entirely by this reflection: ''Know yourself well, be frank with yourself, be simple''. In fact, his style has always retained the same qualities as regards his technique, an extreme sureness that did not exclude flexibility. Precise, sensitive to atmospheres, he exerted a certain influence on the engraved landscape of the 20th century''. (in Bailly-Herzberg). ''A student of the Cormon workshop, he exhibited at the main Parisian Salons. A delicate artist with a sure and precise craft, he perfectly evoked the profound and melancholic life of the Morbihan countryside, which he knew in all its aspects''. (in Bénézit). ''The time has come to recognize in Jean Frélaut one of the most elevated, most independent, most complete minds of our time''. (Claude Roger-Marx, quoted in Osterwalder). Monod II, Maneul de l'amateur de livres illustrés modernes, 11133 - Bailly-Herzberg, Dictionnaire de l'estampe en France, p. 123 - Osterwalder II, Dictionnaire des illustrateurs, p. 405 - Bénézit IV, Dictionnaire des peintres, p. 514. Very slight signs of use affecting the slipcase. Otherwise, very good condition.