Félix BUHOT: Four volumes of illustrations for Barbey d'Aurevilly and Alphonse Daudet

Price: € 30 000

Exceptional and precious collection of four volumes containing several series of illustrations etched for three novels by Barbey d'Aurevilly: L'Ensorcelée, Le Chevalier Des Touches, Une vieille maîtresse, and for Alphonse Daudet's Lettres de mon moulin, with various trial impressions, some of which have been retouched and annotated, and a handwritten page by Félix Buhot specifying the print-runs for the different series.

See our catalogue about this collection. 

We present an exceptional set of four bound volumes containing Buhot's illustrations for the texts of Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly and Alphonse Daudet. The three volumes devoted to Barbey d'Aurevilly belonged to Léon Schück (1857-1930), who had assembled a very important collection around this author. They were included in the sale of his library in June 1931, under catalogue numbers 37, 42 and 57. (The volume devoted to Daudet does not appear in the catalogue of Léon Schück's sale. The binding was done by another bookbinder, Alfred Farez, who was active until 1930.) Two of these three volumes were later filled with additional proofs of illustrations for these novels. The volume of L'Ensorcelée also contains a handwritten note by Buhot which specifies the print run of the different sets of illustrations. We transcribe this note here:

Les 2 premières séries (Ensorcelée - et Chevalier Destouches) - dans cet état - c’est-à-dire - état terminé avec marges symphoniques - sont de la plus grande rareté. - De la première, il n’y a eu, si je me souviens bien, que six collections ou huit au plus - y compris les 2, une à l’auteur et une à l’éditeur - parmi lesquelles trois seulement sur Japon -

mêmes observations pour le Chevalier Destouches.

- les 2 autres séries (Vieille maîtresse et Lettres) ont fourni avant l’effaçage des marges 35 épreuves - dont 25 à l’Editeur.

La présente collection avait été arrangée par l’artiste pour sa propre bibliothèque - Il n’en reste qu’une seule collection de cet état de l’Ensorcelée et du Chevalier.

[The first 2 series (Ensorcelée - and Chevalier Destouches) - in this state - that is - finished state with symphonic margins - are of the greatest rarity. - Of the first, there were, if I remember correctly, only six collections or eight at most - including the 2, one to the author and one to the publisher - of which only three on Japan paper -

same observations for the Chevalier Destouches.

- the 2 other series (Vieille maîtresse and Lettres) provided before the erasure of the margins 35 impressions - of which 25 to the Editor.

The present collection had been arranged by the artist for his own library - only one collection of this state of l’Ensorcelée and Le Chevalier remains.]

 

Volume 1: L’Ensorcelée

 

In an album in-4 (garnet half morocco, gilt head, binding signed by Noulhac) bearing the bookplates of Léon Schück (1857-1930) and Marcel Lecomte (1914-1996). This volume contains:

- a handwritten note by Buhot in pen and ink

- a portrait of Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly by Paul Adolphe Rajon

- an impression of Idée du premier frontispice pour l’Ensorcelée (B/G 114, undescribed state)

- an impression of Ex-libris pour l’Ensorcelée (B/G 116, 2nd state (of 4)) retouched in pencil

- an impression of Ex-libris pour l’Ensorcelée (B/G 116, 4th state (of 4))

- an impression combining Ex-libris pour l’Ensorcelée (B/G 116, 2nd state (of 4)) and La Maison Maudite B/G 117, 2nd state (of 3)), with white gouache highlights

- an impression of La Maison maudite (B/G 117, 2nd state (of 3))

- a complete series of illustrations for L’Ensorcelée (B/G 85 to 90, 3rd state (of 5)), from the Georges Alfred Barrion’s collection (1842-1903)

- a complete series of illustrations for L’Ensorcelée (B/G 85 to 90, 2nd or 3rd state (of 5))

Detailed content:

- Handwritten note by Buhot in pen and ink on a sheet of CANSON watermarked laid paper bearing Buhot's red stamp in the upper left-hand corner (Lugt 977). See above the transcription of this note.

- Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly by Paul Adolphe Rajon: very nice impression printed on Japan laid paper. Full margins.

- Idée du premier frontispice pour l’Ensorcelée (B/G 114)

Impression of an undescribed state: with added drypoint scratches and two horizontal lines around the title cartouche.

Very fine impression printed on laid paper, inscribed in pencil Premier état avant la planche coupée (first state before reduction of the plate) and signed Félix Buhot. Soiling in the right margin, otherwise in very good condition. Unidentified collector's mark in the lower left corner (five-petal flower, Lugt undescribed). Very rare.

- Ex-libris pour l’Ensorcelée (B/G 116)

Impression of the 2nd state (of 4 according to Bourcard), before the drypoint scratches on the head in the left margin and before the text printed in the title block.

Very fine impression printed on fine wove paper, annotated in pencil in the cartel Ex libris pour une édition à grandes marges ancienne de l’Ensorcelée [Ex libris for an early wide-margined edition of the Ensorcelée] and at the bottom Contre-épreuve du premier état d’un Croquis à l’Eau-forte fait comme Ex Libris d’une Edition de Bibliophile de l’Ensorcelée [Counter-proof of the first state of an Etching Sketch made as an Ex Libris for a Bibliophile Edition of the Ensorcelée].

The head of a man appearing in the upper left margin has been reworked by Buhot in pencil to give it the features of the author of L'Ensorcelée, Barbey d'Aurevilly.

Very rare.

A proof kept in the New York Public Library bears this note by Buhot, who specifies his intention: "I had wished that the publisher would make a more complete suite of illustrations for this magnificent novel. I had created some compositions that had not been published before. As I was hampered in my interpretation by the too small format, I tried some slightly larger illustrations for my own pleasure. In this composition I tried to sum up the general impression of this romantic book”. (translated by us)

- Ex-libris pour l’Ensorcelée (B/G 116)

Impression of the 4th state (of 4) with the sketches in the margins and the text added in the cartel.

Superb impression printed on wove paper, covered with drypoint barbs, annotated 2e Etat avant l’ébarbement [2nd state before trimming] and signed Félix Buhot. Unidentified collector's mark in the lower left corner (five-petal flower, Lugt not described). Very good condition.

- Ex-libris pour l’Ensorcelée (B/G 116) and La Maison maudite (B/G 117)

A very curious and unique impression obtained by printing two plates successively on the same sheet: Buhot first printed an impression of the 2nd state (of 3) of La Maison maudite with a cover revealing only the top and the right and left edges of the plate, then printed in this space left blank an impression of the 2nd state (of 4) of the Ex-libris pour l'Ensorcelée.

Superb impression printed on wove paper soaked with turpentine, enhanced with white gouache and annotated essais de marges sur le premier état [test of margins on the first state] Very good condition.

- La Maison maudite (B/G 117)

Impression of the 2nd state (of 3) before reduction of the plate.

Superb impression printed on thin wove paper, inscribed Premier état avant la planche coupée [First state before the plate was cut down] and signed Félix Buhot. Unidentified collector's mark on the lower left (five-petalled flower, Lugt undescribed). Very good condition.

- Illustrations for L’Ensorcelée (B/G 85 to 90)

This series includes: The Shepherd, A Way of Perdition, She Was Coming Slowly, Thomas Le Hardouay, The Vision, The Burial. Etching and drypoint, approximately 175 x 115 mm each.

Complete series of six plates, impressions of the 3rd state (of 5 according to Goodfriend), in a very rare edition with engraved annotations: 23 July 77 FB. According to Bourcard, these annotations are equivalent to a cancellation of the symphonic margins before they were erased in the 4th state. He indicates that he saw a set of six such impressions "in the hands of Madame Buhot". Goodfriend mentions this edition only for Le Pâtre [The Shepherd] (B/G 85), describing it as a 4th state (of 6). Our impressions can be considered as a 4th state (of 6) for the whole series.

Very nice impressions printed on Japan laid paper. Collector's mark of Georges Alfred Barrion (1842 - 1903) printed in violet in the lower left margin (Lugt 76). Very rare.

- Illustrations for L’Ensorcelée (B/G 85 to 90)

Complete unbound series of six plates, impressions of the 2nd or 3rd state (out of 5 or 6) depending on the plate. Three plates are annotated in pencil 2^e état corrected 3^e état, 3^e état and 3^e état corrected to 4^e état.

Very nice impressions printed on different kinds of laid paper (Japan laid paper, laid paper, PIERRE CAPERONI LPBT watermarked old laid paper), four plates bearing the red or pink stamp of Buhot (Lugt 977). Small margins to all plates, perfect condition. Rare. 

 

Volume 2: Le Chevalier Des Touches

 

 

In an album in-4 (garnet half morocco, gilt head, binding signed by Noulhac). This volume contains:

- Jules Barbey d’Aurevilly by Paul Adolphe Rajon

- a complete series of the illustrations for Le Chevalier Des Touches (B/G 91 to 95, 2nd or 3rd state (of 5 or 6) depending on the plates)

- a complete series of the illustrations for Le Chevalier Des Touches (B/G 91 to 95, 3rd or 4th state (of 5 or 6) depending on the plates), from Armand Royer’s collection.

Detailed content:

- Jules Barbey d’Aurevilly by Paul Adolphe Rajon : very fine impression printed on Japan laid paper. Full margins.

- Illustrations for Le Chevalier Des Touches (B/G 91 to 95)

Complete series of five plates, impressions of the 2nd or 3rd state (of 5 or 6) depending on the plate: B/G 91, 2nd state (of 5) before the drypoint additions in the margin; B/G 92, 3rd state (of 5) with the frogs in the lower margin; B/G 93, 3rd state (of 6), with the fireman's helmet but before additional marginal sketches; B/G 94, 4th state (of 6), with the seated old woman; B/G 95, 3rd state (of 5) with the new sketches.

Superb impressions, with much burr from the drypoint, printed on laid paper. Full untrimmed margins. In very good condition.

- Illustrations for Le Chevalier Des Touches (B/G 91 to 95)

Complete unbound series of five plates in 3rd or 4th state (of 5 or 6) depending on the plate: B/G 91 in 3rd state (of 5); B/G 92 in 3rd state (of 5); B/G 93 in 4th state (of 6); B/G 94 in 4th state (of 6); B/G 95 in 3rd state (of 5).

It should be noted that there are differences between the impressions in these two series and therefore also between these impressions and those described by Bourcard and Goodfriend in the catalogue raisonné. The impressions in these two series are certainly intermediate between the 2nd, 3rd and 4th states (out of 5 or 6) described in the catalogue raisonné, but these descriptions are not complete enough for us to be more precise. We have therefore chosen to indicate the closest states among those described in the catalogue raisonné.

Very fine impressions printed on laid paper. The first plate annotated in pencil in the subject à mon ami A. Royer [to my friend A. Royer] and signed with the initials FB. Armand Royer (1842-1910) was a violinist and painter. It was he who introduced Félix Buhot to Barbey d'Aurevilly in 1871. The prints are captioned in pencil in the lower margin: n°1. L’abbé de Percy traversant la place des Capucins, 2 Les chouans déguisés traversant le pont levis du château de Touffedelys, 3. L’Incendie de la Prison d’Avranches, n°4 Le Marché de Coutances, n°5 Le Moulin Bleu - La Vengeance [n°1. The Abbé de Percy crossing the Place des Capucins, 2 The Chouans in disguise crossing the drawbridge of the Château de Touffedelys, 3 The Fire of the Avranches Prison, n°4 The Coutances Market, n°5 The Moulin Bleu - The Revenge]. A few small remains of paper stuck in the corners or on the edge of the sheet, otherwise in excellent condition.

 

Volume 3: Une vieille maîtresse

 

In an album in-4 (garnet half morocco, gilt head, binding signed by Noulhac). This volume contains:

Illustrations for Une vieille maîtresse (B/G 99 to 108) :

Complete series of 10 plates, impressions of the 3rd, 4th or 5th state (out of 5, 6 or 7) according to the plates: B/G 99: 5th state/7, B/G 100: 3rd state/5, B/G 101: 3rd state/5, B/G 102: 4th state/6, B/G 103: 4th state/6, B/G 104: 3rd state/6, B/G 105: 4th state/6, B/G 106: 4th state/6, B/G 107: 4th state/6, B/G 108: 4th state/6

Very nice impressions printed on laid paper. All plates bear Buhot's red stamp in the lower margin (Lugt 977) as well as an unidentified collector's mark in the lower left corner (five-petalled flower, Lugt not described). The first plate is also signed Félix Buhot in pencil.

 

Volume 4: Alphonse Daudet: Lettres de mon moulin

 

In an album in-4 (garnet half morocco, gilt head, binding signed by Alfred Farez and with the date 1881). This volume contains:

- handwritten title page, in pink and brown ink

- handwritten contents of the volume, in pink ink

- two portraits of Alphonse Daudet by Martinez

- a complete series of the illustrations for Lettres de mon moulin (B/G 109 to 113, 2nd state (of 6)

- a complete series of the illustrations for Lettres de mon moulin (B/G 109 to 113, 4th state (of 6)

- a complete series of the illustrations for Lettres de mon moulin (B/G 109 to 113, 5th state (of 6) 

Detailed content:

Handwritten title page, in pink and brown ink: Lettres de Mon Moulin / Composition et Gravure  / de Félix Buhot / - / Lemerre / Editeur / 1881 [Lettres de Mon Moulin / Composition and etching / by Félix Buhot / - / Lemerre / Editor / 1881]

- Handwritten contents of the volume, in pink ink: 1 - Portrait d’Alph. Daudet / 2 - Titre / 3 - La diligence de Beaucaire / 4 - Le secret de Maître Cornille / 5 - Le Curé de Cucugnan / 6 - Les vieux [1 - Portrait of Alph. Daudet / 2 - Title / 3 - The Beaucaire coach / 4 - The secret of Maître Cornille / 5 - The priest of Cucugnan / 6 - The old]

- two portraits of Alphonse Daudet by Martinez, one on Japan laid paper, the other on Whatman watermarked wove paper

- Illustrations for Lettres de mon moulin (B/G 109 to 113)

This series includes: Titre : Lettres de mon moulin, La Diligence de Beaucaire, Le Secret du Maître Cornille, Le Curé de Cucugnan, Les Vieux. [Title: Lettres de mon moulin, The Beaucaire coach, The secret of Maître Cornille, The priest of Cucugnan, The old].

Complete series of five plates, impressions of the 2nd state (of 6) before any marginal sketches for B/G 110 to 113 and before the sketches in the lower left corner for B/G 109. Very nice impressions printed on laid paper. Full margins, a few light stains in the margins otherwise in very good condition.

- Illustrations for Lettres de mon moulin (B/G 109 to 113)

Complete series of 5 plates, impressions of the 4th state (of 6) before the deletion of the symphonic margins. Superb impressions printed on Japan laid paper. In perfect condition.

- Illustrations for Lettres de mon moulin (B/G 109 to 113)

Complete series of 5 plates, impressions of the 5th state (of 6), the margins erased but before the letter and reduction of the copperplate. Very fine impression printed on watermarked wove paper (Whatman). In perfect condition.