(PARIS: published by the author), (ca. 1945). An exceptional and complete copy of a creative production between the writer Marcelle Marquet, the illustrator Suza Desnoyer, and the artistic lithographer and Russian artist Boris Nikolaevitch Grosser. Possibly an advance copy for the illustrator pre-dating the ca 1951 edition. The concept of the book was developed in response to Marcelle Marquet’s daughter’s request for a better understanding of the alphabet and Suza Desnoyer joined in to further the imaginative story with her illustrations. Marquet and Desnoyer were friends and associates in the artistic and literary world of 1930s Paris. In this fantastic story, the vowels, a community of personified letters, and the consonants, similarly segregated,, come together at a grand banquet and gala. The ultimate result is the signing of a treaty creating one people, “celui des LETTRES”. Supplementing this colourful event are plates of heavier card, some coloured, featuring the anthropomorphic letters to be cut out and used in games ( games are suggested for adults, as well). Printed on the inside of the lower cover are pieces of a vehicle to be cut out and assembled for containing the cut-out letters. All brilliantly conceived. Cotsen 6918 with a date of 1952 has a different collation with fewer plates. Copies with all the plates and instruction leaves are quite uncommon. “VIVE L’ALPHABET” With All the Plates. Oblong 8vo ( 19.3 x 23.4 cm); (2), 24 pp. printed in colours; 3 ff of fine paper in three different colours; 8 plates in heavy stock (of which 4 are printed entirely in colours). Laid in is a much older description from noted children’s book dealer Michele Noret who notes that the book comes from the illustrator’s personal collection.