Rencontres

Paris: Daragnès. Very good. Loose signatures in chemise and slipcase. 1954. 1st edition, limited to 140 copies. Rencontres [Meetings] . . Avant propos de Colette, Portraits par A. D. de Segonzac [Colo red woodcuts by Jean-Gabriel Daragnes, Foreword by Colette, Portr aits by A. D. de Segonzac. . 3cmx26cm. [2ff.], 118pp., [3ff.] Copy no. 68 of 140. Orange board s, white vellum spine with gilt lettering. Card slipcase. Fargue ’s homage to his long friendship with Daragnes -- published aft er both their death’s by the latter’s wife. Fargue died in 19 47; Daragnes in 1950. The text is previously unpublished and is illustrated with a suite of 28 color wood engravings by Daragnes illustrated the Montmarte area of Paris where his studio was loca ted. Loose signatures on white woven paper in matching chemise. These are Daragne’ last published drawings. Foreword by Colle te discusses the author and artist, illustrated with etched portr aits of both by Segonzac. Only 140 copies were printed on Madame Daragnes’ press for the artist’s friends. With an original pen and ink drawing by Madame Daragnes on the title page and leaf opposite representing the lampposts and balustrades of Montmarte . Fargue [1876-1947] was a French poet and essayist. As an oppon ent of the surrealists, he became a member of the Symbolist poetr y circle. Rilke, Joyce and others declared that Fargue was at the very forefront of modern poetry. Jean-Gabriel Daragnès was a F rench painter, engraver, printer, illustrator and publisher. Ack nowledged in France to be one of the masters of illustrated liter ature of the first half of the 20th century. He was featured in t he exhibition The Masterpieces of Contemporary Illustrators organ ized by the National Committee of French illustrated book at the Toulon Museum-Library in May 1957. . d: The text block and artwork are in fine condition with just a hint of toning to the outer wrappers. The card and vellum chemise is very good; very light wear to the boards but with some discol oration to the vellum spine. Outer slipcase is good only with mod erate wear to edges and several corner splits of 1”-2”. .