[Fine Binding | Painted Vellum] Les Cent Meilleurs Poemes

Auguste Dorchain (ed.). Les Cent Meilleurs Poèmes (Lyriques) de la Langue Française. Paris: A. Picard, 1914. 12mo. An anthology of French lyric verse, selected by Dorchain, issued with publisher’s catalogue at rear. Original front wrapper bound in.

Bound in full vellum, the front cover with a hand-painted blue frame enclosing a cartouche of a stylized flower in red, green, and gilt; small floral devices at the corners, with similar painted ornaments to spine and rear cover. Marbled endpapers. Measures approx. 4" x 6". Vellum with some natural mellowing, some loss/fading to blue paint, and minor handling marks. Text block toned, with some spotting & foxing, wear to top outer edge of text block, page 143-144 loosely inserted in three pieces. Some annotations in pencil.

Inscribed in ink on the half-title: “Andrée Luger[?] / 1915–16 / Ecole David / 9 Florissant / Genève”--a note that may identify the binder of this volume. The "Ecole David" could possibly have been a private Geneva finishing or applied-arts school active during the First World War, with the address noted being the family villa of Professor Théodore Flournoy of the University of Geneva.