[Binding, Fine- Gruel, Fabulous Forerunner to Cosway Bindings, Deluxe Edition with Watercolor by the Illustrator, Much More ] Celle-Ci et Celle-La

Paris: Librairie A. Rouquette, 1900. First Edition. First Edition. Quarto. 9 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches. A monumental binding by GRUEL, crafted in 1900, with a central original watercolor painting of a couple on a couch kissing, under slightly domed plastic-like covering, appearing to pre-date the first Cosway bindings by a few years. As J. H. Stonehouse, the manager of Henry Sotheran wrote in their Piccadilly Notes of 1913, ìthe firm claimed this style as invented by us 10 years ago,î thus putting the beginning of the Cosway bindings in 1903. Exquisitely crafted full sumptuous black Morocco with copious onlays on both covers and spine in ochre, red-brown, beige, maroon and dark brown comprising geometric swirls, blossoms, stems, and the like, and magnificently tooled in gilt on both covers and spine. Full brown Morocco doublures heavily gilt with ruling, border design and corner designs, and with the bookbinder's signature ìGRUELî stamped in gilt near the bottom. Lavish green silk finely woven endsheets. DELUXE EDITION, THE AUTHOR'S OWN COPY, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS IN FOUR STATES of the plates (versus three), CONTAINING AN ORIGINAL FULL-PAGE WATERCOLOR BY COURBOIN for the ìkissing-on-the-sofaî scene, which is SIGNED BY COURBOIN. THIS IS FRANCIS COURBOIN'S OWN COPY, inscribed to him by the publisher, Rouquette, as stated on a preliminary page [translated]: ìCopy Providedî [in print] ìto Mr. Francois Courboin/ Roquette.î [in manuscript pen]. Courboin has also signed a vignette self-portrait in a prelim page in pencil. All of the illustrations are in four states and the original watercolor for the kissing-on-the-sofa scene is SIGNED BY THE ARTIST). Lavishly illustrated with full page illustrations illustration in four states, including a series of first state proofs, in pure etching and the continuation of the proofs of the main plate of each stamp finished with an addition head-shot. Top edges gilt, the other edges untrimmed, yet still richly gilded. In original richly lined crimson felt chemise and slipcase with superb paper marbling and leather lined edges. The binding is in very fine condition, with absolutely no signs of wear. This is undoubtedly one of Gruel's finest works, and perhaps married with this special illustrated copy with original artwork, a cornerstone of any fine bindings collection.