(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.

Birmingham, Conn: 1881. A rare American trade catalogue of children’s toys manufactured by A B. Ruggles who informs the reader that his production is now backed by new and improved machinery after a disastrous fire. Illustrated objects include a furniture set for girls; a horse drawn hay wagon; a two horse express team; an “accurate” miniature of an Emigrant wagon; a tandem team; an ox cart; a highly ornamented dump cart; and four sizes of platform horses. All these are illustrated, with the exception of there being three, not four, platform horses shown. Most toys would seem to be made of wood, although note is made where iron is used on a part. Sizes and prices are given and, notice of colour painting where applicable. W.A. Shelton of 112 Chamber St. is listed as the New York agent. Charming and rare. Not in Romaine; not located in OCLC. Oblong stapled pamphlet, 9.5 x 15.4 cm.; 12 unnumbered pp. with 9 illustrations from engravings.

(Paris): ca. 1925. This is a production of the wonderful Maison Tolmer: “ a prestigious printing house in Paris, renowned for its superb graphics and luxurious publications and packaging.” ( British Museum.org>term > BIOG 200508). A surprising and very delightful toy paper hatbox decorated on its round sides and lid top with delicate pochoir floral decoration. The lid top shows a scene of a young couple under a tree, the young man, hat in hand, and the young girl seated with a flower in hand. The feeling of the piece is very much in that joyous and elegant spirit found in early 20th century Parisian fashion works so often illustrated by pochoir. With the original ribbon closure system. Inside, in contemporary tissue paper, sits a small straw and netted hat with ribbon surround and tiny artificial flowers. Fine. Decorated paper covered light board circular box, 6 cm. diameter; 4 cm. tall; including removable lid and original ribbon closure.

Paris: Auguste Ghio, n.d., ca. 1865. Illustrated with eight amusing and lovely two-toned lithographed plates of animated flowers. Six of the plates depict people transformed into flowers, with four examples on each plate. The other two plates depict scenes with an Enchanteur or Magician and human beings at the beginning and end of this fantastic tale. The story is loosely based on a variation of the German Faustus the Enchanteur legend, but it is the artistic treatment of the personified flowers that is of interest here. The flower bodies with human heads are similar to Grandville’s illustrations for LES FLEURS ANIMÉES of 1847, but here they are more defined as flowers. The artist’s signature on many of the plates is “Bertrand”; the printer is Becquet, Paris. The author was Rosine de La Salle Theodore Midy who wrote quite a number of works for children, including LA BOTANIQUE ILLUSTRÉE DE LA JEUNESSE and L’ALPHABET. The book is bound in printed floral paper covers with rusticated borders, signed L. Poguet. The covers also bear the name of the publisher Auguste Ghio, Palais-Royal. We find one copy with a different publisher (A. Courcier) at the Bibliothèque Nationale, Tolbiac; another copy is identified, but not located, in OCLC with a Library of Education publisher. Theodore Rosine de la Salle Midy was also published by Library of Education and A. Courcier - this is likely the same person. A very scarce Romantic floral fantasy. Ref. 16667 In the Style of Grandville. 4to (30 x 22 cm.); 54 + (ii) pp. + 8 lithographed plates in two tints.

London: A.M. Davis, n.d. ( ca. 1935). An interactive printed project for children offering cut-out images to be coloured,formed, folded, and arranged to produce a farmstead scene. The scene, itself, is represented on the cover of the cards packet. The images to be coloured and made three dimensional include the farmhouse, its garden and hedges, barn, cornfield, hay cart, pond, and figures of animals and people. This complete set was No. 756 in a series for painting and constructing. Other series (some listed on the packet) were also offered by the Davis firm, famous for greeting cards, kindergarten outline painting and embroidery, etc. The firm was represented at the 1947 British Industrial History fair. Scarce. Ref. 16648 “Hand and Eye are trained to act in unison” Twelve cards printed in black on rectos only with illustrations to be cut out and coloured, each 15.3 x 20.1 cm.; pink paper packet printed and illustrated on front and back, 16 x 21 cm.

New York, Toronto, London: McGraw Hill, 1963. First edition. Illustrated by the author’s husband, Richard Bergere. Each page of this very appealing children’s book is filled with suitably misty scenes in Paris from steep steps in Montmartre, kiosks, exchanges at the children’s local boulangerie, the Eiffel Tower viewed from “La Butte” to the Seine beside Notre Dame, the activity of the Luxembourg Gardens, and back to markets and squares in Montmartre. A big umbrella and little boots escort the children about in a Paris illustrated in a hazy blue/black with splashes of red. A simple text describes the “lashing and splashing” of the Seine and the surprise of sudden spring showers in the gardens. with charming endpapers of parpluies in the rain.iesud Small folio (25.7 x 18.5cm); 32 illustrated pages.

Paris: LeFuel/Delaunay, n.d., ca. 1813. This carefully preserved juvenile geography book centers, in particular, on the city of Paris and the world that emanates from there. Thus, its four maps show, successively: the world; Europe; the French Empire and Kingdom of Italy; and metropolitan Paris. Within the text, special attention and detail is given to the descriptions of Parisian streets, bridges, street names, historic buildings and churches, and the private residences of its famous inhabitants. For the young reader, the history and texture of Paris is placed at the centre of the world. There are, of course, small sections on Spain; Portugal; Italy; Venice; Switzerland; Germany; Bavaria; Prussia; Bohemia and Moravia; Denmark; Norway; Sweden; Russian; Asia; Persia; China; Egypt; Africa; and the Artic and Antartic regions, along with many others. The engraved frontispiece shows a young boy receiving gifts and honors from the figure of L'Étude (Study). This appears to be the first and only edition; in OCLC we find only one copy at the New York Public Library. Geography for Children With Details About Paris 32mo (10.5 x 7 cm); (vi) + engraved frontispiece + 204 pp. + 3 double-page + 1 triple page maps with outline coloring + 1 double page alphabetical table.

Paris: “Les Editions Ouvrières”, 1946. With beautifully rendered printed costumes, set against an overall decorative background, to be carefully cut out for dressing the doll whose front and back profiles could be removed from the rear or lower cover. Smaller illustrations, also on the rear cover, show the completed costumes representing folk dress from Austria, Spain, Holland, Hungary Italy, Serbia, Sweden and the Ukraine. Appeared as part of the collection “Les Farfardets” directed by Edmée Arma. The “letter” laid in is from Ziguezag, the elf in charge of dressing fairies and addressed to the young girl reader instructing her to cut out costumes for the doll and enjoy the marvels of this magical suitcase. A charmer. European Paper Dolls in Vibrant Colors. Oblong stapled booklet (21 x 26.8 cm.); text on inner cover ; printed “letter laid in + 8 full page color plates with text on inner rear cover and color illustration with two doll cut-outs on lower cover.