In-4 (268 x 180 mm): [2] ff., 74 pp. [1] f. Full chocolate morocco, floral mosaic decoration of fawn and red morocco, gilt fillet frame, ribbed spine, title, author and date in gilt, gilt head, counterguards lined with marbled paper framed with fillets, protected by a cardboard slipcase (Kieffer).
Sublime edition bound by René Kieffer (1876-1963), on watermarked Arches vellum paper containing a state of the etchings for 32 color compositions, including 6 full-page. Ours, number 74.
Work enriched with an A.L.S. of February 14 from the author to Alphonse Daudet (1840-1897), his "dear master" whom he invites to see a "little play" (Histoire du vieux temps). He hopes to receive a positive response that same evening from his publisher Georges Charpentier (1846-1905). The first performance of the play was at the Troisième Théâtre Français, five days later, on February 19, 1879.
Spine faded, otherwise a very fine copy in artist's binding with very fresh interior.
