Description

ONE OF ONLY 26 SETS: BARRIE’S MAGNIFICENT ICONOGRAPHIC DICTIONARY, SUPERBLY BOUND 12-VOLUME LARGE FOLIO SET WITH ELABORATE HAND-COLORED DOUBLURES, RICHLY ILLUSTRATED WITH MORE THAN 2000 PLATES

(ART) The Iconographic Dictionary of the Most Important Painters and Sculptors. Philadelphia: George Barrie’s Sons, 1912. Twelve volumes. Large tall folio, original full dark green morocco gilt, each volume with gilt-decorated brown and navy morocco doublures, the central panel of each front doublure inset with an elaborate hand-painted print form a corresponding plate in each volume, raised bands, silk endpapers, all edges gilt.

“Underwriter’s edition,” letter K of only 26 lettered large folio sets produced of this richly illustrated compendium of the works of the most important European visual artists. With approximately 200 photogravure plates in each volume, for a total of more than 2000 plates altogether, many finely printed in color. Magnificently bound in full morocco gilt with beautiful hand-painted doublures.

This set with hundreds of full-page reproductions of masterpieces engraved by the best French artists of the turn of the century. “French illustration of the Belle Epoque had an international vogue? the most spectacular example of French influence, however, was the firm of George Barrie and Son of Philadelphia? Robert Barrie scoured Paris in the 1890’s to find illustrations for the thousands of plates which his firm employed” (Ray, The Art of the French Illustrated Book, 377). Several volumes with expert joint repairs. Fine condition. A splendid production.