About the cover:

Full-grain binding Orange-red marocco leather, smooth spine, over front and back cover and over spine running braid of intertwined, hand-gilt line parts, somewhat denser towards head and spine. Dark blue spine title, gilt edges on three sides, hand-stitched capital. Grey-brown velour leather spine and endpapers. Half-leather chemise with dark brown marocco leather spine and splint on front board, light wood veneer cover. Slipcase: all edges reinforced with dark brown leather, covered with light-coloured wooden paper.

About the content:

Pierre Angélique: Madame Edwarda

With 30 etchings by Jean Fautrier (Jean Perdu), limited edition of 88 copies, 3 of them on Japan paper A, B and C.

This copy: A, printed for D.K.B., with suite: etchings printed in black

Edition Georges Blaizot, Paris 1945, from the collection of Maurice Houdayer. Georges Bataille (1897-1963) wrote Mme Edwarda at the beginning of the Second World War. He published it secretly in 1941 under the pseudonym Pierre Angélique. It was not published under his name until after his death in 1966. Mme Edwarda is one of the most captivating erotic stories ever written. The author draws the reader into his search for satisfaction and leaves him exhausted. It is the silence in which the ecstasy is so strong that there are no words for it. Edwarda, a whore, not only calls herself God, but goes beyond the limits of ecstasy.

About the artist: After studying at the École Estienne, including in the class of Raymond Mondange, Daniel Henri Mercher worked from 1964 in the studio of his father Henri Mercher (1912–1976), probably one of the most innovative binding artists of the 20th century. In 1972, Daniel set up his own business before taking over his father's workshop in 1976 after his father's death.

He particularly favoured hand gilding and gave lessons. In 1994, he left Paris and settled in Wissous, 15 kilometres south of Paris. He retired from his work in 2015.