La Maison du péché

Paris: Société du Livre d'Art. Imprimerie Nationale, 1909. Limited Edition. Near fine. Henri Jourdain. 4to, 10 1/2 x 7 3/4 inches ( 266 x 197 mm); pp. [6], iv, 355, ii, [6]; 66+1 colored etchings by Henri Jourdain; original blue paper wrappers bound in; printed on paper specially-made by Maison Perrigot-Masure, offset on pages opposite the etchings, otherwise paper is bright and clean. This is No. 90 of 130 copies; the first 99 destined to members of the Société du Livre d'Art. It is also one of only 5 copies to contain an EXTRA SUITE of colored etchings. Exquisite binding by E. Maylander (gilt stamped on inside front cover) in emerald green morocco, multiple concentric gilt fillets on boards with a strip of tan morocco, spine with four raised bands, compartments decorated as the boards, gilt titling, a.e.g.; doublures in tan morocco with mosaic (embossed & gilt motif of leaves and chestnuts), green silk endpapers, second set of endpapers in green and gold marbled paper; "chemise" in 3/4 green morocco with raised bands and gilt titling, somewhat sunned; felt-lined board slipcase covered in marbled paper with morocco edges, corners bumped.

From the LIBRARY OF GUY BIGORIE, with his initials ticket pasted (by mistake) on the back marbled endpaper, and formerly the libraries of Bernard Sancholle-Henraux and Sam Berkman.

This EXTRA ILLUSTRATED COPY includes:

* 2 original signed watercolors by Henri Jourdain which served as illustrations for the title headings of chapters 16 and 25 (93 x 145 mm and 67 x 145 mm)
* one of the five suites of 67 colored etchings;
* an engraved menu with color etching, dated January 24, 1910, preceded by a proof sheet of the same etching;
* minutes of the General Meeting of the Société du Livre d'Art, dated 31 May 1910.

[BNF31471637]. Marcelle Tinayre (1870 -1948) was a French woman of letters, author of many anti-clerical-inspired novels. Her decision to turn down the Légion d'Honneur in 1908 caused much controversy. She published her first book at the age of 14 and was a prolific and popular writer throughout her career.
La Maison du péché (The House of Sin), first published in 1902, quickly became popular (40 editions exist) and was chosen by the Société du Livre d'Art for this special edition enriched with etchings by Henri Jourdain (1863 -1931). It is the story of a boy born into a rich and noble family who is raised by an exceedingly pious and cold mother, and whose education is molded by a possessive tutor. He later falls in love, but can love win over his strict education and his stern family? The story and its settings in both city and province, become the inspiration for Henry Jourdain's moody illustrations of the French countryside, village and city streets, gardens and interiors.
This copy is Extra Illustrated with the enhancements described above. The bound-in Minutes of the May 31, 1910 meeting of the Société du Livre d'Art provide precise details of this limited edition project, including the distribution of the copies and original watercolors; and the costs and income generated by this publication and printing undertaking for the Society.
This enriched, Extra Illustrated, exquisitely-bound copy of Marcelle Tinayre's La Maison du péché, illustrated by Henri Jordan, is further enhanced by its esteemed provenance. It will make a distinctive addition to the library of a discerning collector.