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a green book with gold trim and a red and yellow coveran open book with a drawing of a man and a woman on it
Premium Jeschke Jádi Auctions Berlin

Estimate €600 - €800
Sale commission
Description
Diderot, Denis *Les bijoux indiscrets*. With 25 copperplate engravings in three states, totalling 75 copperplate engravings by Sylvain Sauvage. 4 leaves, 254 pp., 4 leaves. Paris, René Kieffer, 1923. - Green morocco binding with rich gold embossing, purple, red and yellow leather inlays, on 4 bands with rich gold-gilding, gilded headband. The endpapers feature rich lining and marbled paper. Signed R. Laurent, 1925. (Spine slightly faded.) One of 35 copies of the special edition with three print states in a masterfully bound volume. This series offers a particularly fascinating insight into the artistic and technical process behind the creation of the copperplate engravings and lends the edition a distinctly bibliophilic character. Diderot’s satirical and erotic novel, first published in 1748, ranks among the boldest and most witty works of the French Enlightenment. Under the fairytale-like, exotic guise of a tale centred on a magic ring, the text unfolds as a witty social satire that explores themes of desire, morality, vanity and power. The 25 original, coloured etchings by Sylvain Sauvage accompany Diderot’s gallant narrative with subtle, light-hearted eroticism. In elegantly stylised, sophisticated scenes, they capture the interplay of seduction, curiosity and discreet revelation, without ever descending into vulgarity. It is precisely the delicate linework and the restrained, atmospheric colouring that link the frivolous spirit of the text with the refined taste of 1920s French book art. René Laurent was a pupil of Charles de Samblanx. With 25 engravings by Sylvain Sauvage, each in three states, making a total of 75 engraved plates. 4 leaves, 254 pp., 4 leaves. Paris, René Kieffer, 1923. – Green morocco binding, richly gilt, with purple, red and yellow leather onlays; spine with four raised bands and elaborate gilt decoration. Rich doublures and marbled-paper endpapers. Signed ‘R. Laurent’, 1925. One of 35 copies of the deluxe edition, featuring the plates in three states, in a masterful binding. The set offers a particularly fascinating insight into the artistic and technical process by which the engravings were created, lending the edition a distinctly bibliophilic character. First published in 1748, Diderot’s satirical and erotic novel ranks amongst the boldest and wittiest works of the French Enlightenment. Beneath the fairy-tale and exotic guise of a story centred on a magic ring, the text unfolds as a brilliant social satire addressing desire, morality, vanity and power. The 25 original hand-coloured etchings by Sylvain Sauvage accompany Diderot’s gallant narrative with subtle, light-hearted eroticism. In elegantly stylised, sophisticated scenes, they evoke a interplay of seduction, curiosity and discreet revelation without ever becoming crude. Their delicate line work and restrained, atmospheric colouring combine the text’s libertine spirit with the refined taste of French book art of the 1920s.
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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