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138 - GAY (John) and IBELS (Louise). The Beggar’s Opera.
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Estimate €1,500 - €2,000
Sale commission
Description
GAY (John) and IBELS (Louise). The Beggar’s Opera. A fine copy in a Jansenist binding signed by Georges Cretté, enriched with 24 original drawings and sketches by Louise Ibels, an illustrated menu, a suite of engravings, a description of the cover and 4 autograph letters from Louise Ibels to Henri Prost. Paris, Les Bibliophiles franco-suisses, 1934. In-4 (240x310 mm), full black Jansenist morocco, spine with double raised band bearing the title in blind-stamped lettering, wide inner border of the same morocco edged with a gold fillet and the signature "G. Cretté succ. de Marius Michel”, raffia endpapers and linings, double endpapers, edges gilt on endpapers, covers preserved (the first illustrated), edged slipcase (G. Cretté succ. de Marius Michel). VI and 140 pages, 76 original engravings by Louise Ibels, including 38 copper engravings (including the cover on Chinese paper, 1 frontispiece, 1 title vignette and 20 full-page compositions) and 38 wood engravings in the text. Minimal rubbing to the spine, slight wear to the slipcase. A splendid edition of the libretto for The Beggar’s Opera, written in 1728 by the English poet and playwright John Gay (1685–1732) to music by Johann Christoph Pepusch. Conceived on the initiative and under the supervision of Henri Prost for the ‘Bibliophiles Franco-Suisses’ with a preface by André Maurois, it is illustrated with 76 original compositions by Louise Ibels (1891–1965). A print run of 115 copies on Holland Van Gelder Zonen paper, each inscribed for members of the ‘Bibliophiles Franco-Suisses’; this copy was printed for Mr Henri Prost (no. 81). This copy is enhanced with: - 10 original drawings, including 9 in various formats, in ink and wash, mounted on 7 white sheets, and one ‘loose’ drawing, signed and dedicated to Mr Henri Prost. - 12 original charcoal sketches mounted on 6 white sheets. - An illustrated menu with 3 versions of the illustration, including 2 on Japanese paper with small original black pencil drawings, signed. - A set of copperplate prints on blue paper. - A version of the cover on white paper - 4 humorous autograph letters signed by Louise Ibels to Henri Prost concerning the book, its construction, the illustrations, the typography, the paper... (8 ff.). Perfect Jansenist binding by Georges Cretté (1893–1969), one of the most important French bookbinders of the 20th century.
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About the sale Fine antique and collectible books, manuscripts and modern illustrated works
Auction location
Auction time 06/29/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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