Mucha & Flers's Ilsee, Princess of Tripoli - Volume with 134 Images in total, Most printed to each side of paper

Mucha & Flers's Ilsee, Princess of Tripoli - Volume with 134 Images in total, Most printed to each side of paper
This attractive volume of color lithographs is Alphonse Mucha and Robert de Flers's Ilsee, Princess of Tripoli or Ilsée, princesse de Tripoli. The work was published in Paris by Edition d'Art in 1897. This is a first edition, one of 180 printed on velin. It features 134 images, many printed to front and verso and surrounding the text in elaborate decoration. There are 128 numbered pages, frontispiece, 3 plates without text to each part of the work, and two additional images to verso of other images.

This work was considered one of the finest examples of Mucha's book illustrations. (Ray, The Art of the French Illustrated Book 366) According to the Mucha Foundation, by the time Robert de Flers completed the manuscript for the story, Mucha had only three months to complete the 134 lithographs to illustrate the text. He later wrote: “We worked on four stones simultaneously. I did some of the drawings straight onto the stone. Other things, particularly the decorative edgings, I drew on tracing paper which was then passed on to the draughtsmen who continued the work with the colors I specified. I hardly had time to sketch out the motif for an ornament when they came and took it from my hands and got down to work on it.”

The work is in very good to excellent condition overall. This is an uncut presentation of the work. The plates are in excellent condition. The body of the book is broken. There is some minor staining and owens inscription to the fly leaf. It is bound in illustrated original wrappers with minor rubbing in an original leather portfolio. The title is gilt and blindstamped printer's device to front cover. There may be a few minor imperfections or faint marks to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.
~ 9 3/4" by 12 7/8"