El Hadj

LIMITED EDITION of 1,128 numbered copies. One of 1,060 numbered copies on Arches vellum, third paper. Edition illustrated with 24 Persian miniatures, including 6 out-of-text, by Mirza Ali Ispahani.

Very fine copy in a beautiful decorative binding by Vicomtesse Gérard de Mentque, of whom Fléty only tells us that she worked in Paris from 1942 to 1946. However, upon closer inspection, she is seen as an amateur binder exhibiting at the 1925 Salon des Arts Décoratifs, mentioned alongside other women such as Rose Adler, Geneviève de Léotard, Germaine Schrœder, and signed numerous bindings of great refinement. Thus, Crauzat notes, casting a glance at female binders:

"It was also realized that female binders, who had until then been more or less disdained and even feigned to ignore, actually existed, that they had carved out a large place in the sun for themselves, that some even occupied important positions, and that through their perfected knowledge of the craft, their highly developed artistic temperament, their sense of balance and harmony, and the boldness of their conceptions, they could henceforth rival professionals and even become serious competitors for them.

Thus, alongside artists P. Legrain, J. Dunand, F.-L. Schmied and R. Bonfils, and binders C. Gruel, G. Canape, H. Noulhac, R. Kieffer, E. Mercier, Lanoë, M. Fonsèque, Levitzki, took their place M"* Germain, Rose Adler, J. Langrand, Marguerite Bernard, G. de Léotard, Martita Garcia, Madeleine Gras, G. Schrœder, Gérard de Mentque [...]"