About the binding:

Full French binding Dark blue morocco leather, smooth spine, with gold-embossed title, decoration on front cover, spine and back cover consisting of numerous very small blind-embossed waves, interspersed with numerous sailing ships and ‘fireballs’ in gold. Hand-carved headband and three-sided gold edging, mirror and flyleaf made of dark blue velour material. Chemise with leather spine and rail made of the same dark blue leather, gold title on spine, coloured paper cover, lined with light beige goat split leather; slipcase with leather-bound opening and the same coloured paper cover.

About the content:

Eugène Montfort: La Belle-Enfant ou l'Amour à Quarante Ans with 94 etchings by Raoul Dufy, number 269 on Vélin d'Arches from 340 copies, Ambroise Vollard, publisher, Paris 1930.

The focus is on a man's relationship with a young woman who reminds him of his own youth and offers him the opportunity to rediscover his lost dreams and passions. The novel highlights the complexity of relationships, the differences between generations and the question of whether true love is possible even in later life. Montfort conveys the message that love can be found in different stages of life.

About the artist: Georges Cretté was a highly skilled craftsman. The famous bookbinder Marius Michel discovered Cretté at the end of his training at the École Estienne and hired Cretté as his first employee. After Michel’s death in 1925, Georges Cretté became his successor.

In the following years, he freed himself from his master’s influence and developed his own style, which came into its own in all his works from around 1930 onwards: simplicity prevailed grandstand play. He attached great importance to precise, perfect work, always with matching leather and in the right colour tone. Style and perfection continued to evolve.