Six Drawings Illustrating Theophile Gautier's Romance Mademoiselle de Maupin
London: Leonard Smithers and Co., 1898. Aubrey Beardsley. Limited Edition. Loose Plates in Portfolio, As Issued. Tall 4to. Folding portfolio with flaps containing title page and all six photogravure plates. Folding title page, printed in red and black, creased at edges and crimped at spine, with a closed tear not affecting text. Plates discreetly titled in pencil. Portfolio with half dark-green cloth over light gray paper-covered boards. Lacking cloth ties. Boards browned and scuffed, extremities a tad worn. One of fifty copies printed, this is hand-numbered copy 50. Very Good. Item #7192
Though Beardsley intended to illustrate the entire story, the project proved too costly and demanding, and was abandoned in November 1897. The project was revived with Beardsley extant work forming the six plates. It's an interesting set of illustrations, seemingly a conscious attempt to imitate the effects of aquatint. Withal, although the execution is clearly identifiable as within the Beardsley oeuvre, the style is quite different from much of his work.
Price: $1,000.00