Tales. The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse. The Journey to Hanford. The Circus.

LIMITED EDITION. One of 100 copies on Richard-de-Bas hand-made laid paper, numbered in Arabic numerals, printed for Madame de Harting, signed by the artist and the president of the society.

Also included is the ORIGINAL MOCK-UP OF THE WORK, in the same format, printed on Richard-de-Bas hand-made laid paper:- The title page features a collage of an ORIGINAL LEAD PENCIL DRAWING by Henri Laurens. The page is signed by the artist, who also justified it "BaT";- The remaining 9 original woodcuts are glued in their final place in the rest of the work. Some are accompanied by lead pencil annotations ("darker," "horizontal");- The mock-up includes a justification in two states: "Exemplaire imprimé pour Madame de Harting," a sheet signed by the artist and the president of the society; and "Exemplaire n°1 imprimé pour Madame de Harting," a sheet signed by the artist, mounted with adhesive tape on a sheet of Auvergne paper the size of the work;- The mock-up is contained in a blue-grey Auvergne folder, decorated with the engraved woodcut of the cover, with color variations;- Under another blue-grey Auvergne folder, decorated with the engraved woodcut of the cover with color variations, are: a sheet with 2 colored woodcuts (tailpieces), 2 bifolia each with a mounted colored woodcut, and 2 sheets each with colored woodcuts.

Both the copy and the mock-up are each in a cardboard folder covered with pearlescent Japanese fiber paper, with the title printed in gold on the spine, in a similar slipcase

ATTACHMENTS: the set is completed by:- 3 autograph letters signed by Henri Laurens to Madeleine de Harting, regarding the realization of the work (Paris, June 2, 1952 - June 8, 1953).- Invitation card to the opening of an exhibition of collages by Laurens at Berggruen [&] Cie, March 11, 1955.

A bibliophile but above all director of the Champion bookstore and founder of "L'enseigne de la porte étroite," Madeleine de Harting was, throughout her life, in contact with artistic and literary circles. Close to Gide and Valéry, she published many of their texts. As an editor, she was also closely interested in illustrated books and animated the "Cent Une" society.

William Saroyan is an American author of Armenian origin. Born in Fresno, California, he achieved success at 25 with the publication of his first short story, a success that never waned thereafter.

Within the contingent of artist-monuments in which he evolved, Henri Laurens is perhaps the one for whom posterity has been the most unfair. A great artist recognized by his peers, Henri Laurens sculpted, engraved, and painted. Many books have received his woodcuts.

Very beautiful copy of this fine collection of short stories by William Saroyan, superbly illustrated by Henri Laurens and of fine provenance.