About the cover:

Full-grain binding Red, coarsely grained marocco leather, a large centre frame with ornamental stamps on both covers, spine with four sturdy bands and hand-gilt title in the second band, squares in the other bands with multi-part Art Nouveau stamp, gilt head edge, hand-stitched silk capital. Gilt inner edges, dark-blue silk mirror on all sides, folded and recessed, flyleaf with the same silk.

Slipcase with leather-lined opening, lined with molleton, covered with grey Romabütten. Perfect classical craftsmanship.

About the content:

Alphonse Daudet: Lettres de mon Moulin

With 69 colour etchings by Valentine Dupré Ex. No. 180 of 412 on Vélin de Rives

Se trouve chez l'Artiste, Paris 1944 Daudet's ‘Lettres de mon Moulin’ is a collection of simple stories that describe the lives of some people in the south of France in an entertaining way.

About the artist: Kurt Dinkelacker grew up in Winterthur. He served an apprenticeship as a bookbinder and later managed his parents’ bookbinding company in Winterthur. After marrying – his wife was from Romandy –, he moved to Lausanne in 1967, where he worked as technical director at Mayer & Sutter SA. Presumably in the 1970s, he became self-employed and ran a bookbinding studio with a few employees and apprentices. The well-versed expert regularly translated texts for the trade journal Bindetechnik. In addition to that, he was active in introductory courses for assistants and examinations for the master’s certificate in the arts and crafts, and as a part-time specialist teacher.

Rumours circulated that he was an “impossible” employer, as well as himself an “obsessed” worker.

Therefore, it is not surprising that he is said to oftentimes sleep on a mattress in the workshop. He also died there.