1928. Letters From Tonkin . Illustrated By Jean Bouchaud . 2 Volumes .

Hubert Lyautey ( 1854- 1934 ) Marshal of France, is one of the last extraordinary figures in French history.
He had an exemplary military career, despite a sickly childhood; he rose to the rank of general after an adventurous and brilliant career, notably with Gallieni, between Madagascar, Vietnam and Morocco. In 1916, he became Minister of War, despite his highly original positions, which were not in line with general opinion (he considered the entry of the whole of Europe into the war in 1914 to be nonsense, worthy of a civil war).
A fervent Catholic and convinced monarchist, he served the Republic with unfailing zeal. Appointed Resident General of Morocco during the protectorate, deeply respectful of the country and opposed to settlement colonization, he laid the foundations for a modern country, building and developing the economy and structures of a modern society. He was removed from office by his lifelong enemy, Petain, whom he nicknamed "la grande vilaine" ...
A lover of the arts, he frequented the artists of his time, and in Morocco founded art and architecture academies.
The artist Jean ouchaud (1891-1977) was one of the first to receive a grant for the Villa Abdel t'if in Algiers, the equivalent of the Villa Medecis on the other side of the river.
He traveled to Laos, Tonkin, Senegal and Dahomey, where he painted non-stop.
He followed in the Resident's footsteps, working for him notably in Morocco, and above all for the decoration of the 1931 colonial exhibition (notably a 1,300-square-meter fresco) for the Palais des Colonnies.
He decorated the luxury dining room of the Normandie, and after the war many CGT liners.
This respectful friendship is shown here in the Illustration of this 1928 edition produced by the Editions Nationales des Lettres du Tonkin correspondances anciennes déjà du Marechal . The plates, vignettes and lamp-ends are absolutely magnificent, enhanced with watercolors.
Lyautey was admitted to the Académie in 1913.
From this exquisite marriage comes a magnificent publication in quarto, here bound in slipcase and signed by Tixier.
One of the numbered copies on velin d'arches and signed by Lyautey, bound in full brown morocco (sunstain on the spine) but velin and illustrations under tracings close to new.