Break of Day [with additional silk-screen] by Colette, [Sidonie-Gabrielle]; McLeod, Enid (Translator); Phelps, Robert (Introduction); Gilot, Françoise (Illustrator) - 1983

New York: The Limited Editions Club [printed by Daniel Keleher at Wild Carrot Letterpress], 1983. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Fine. Gilot, Francoise. No. 351 of 2000, quarto size, 155 p., signed by illustrator, with Monthly Newsletter and separate, additional silk-screen. Colette (1873-1954), author, actress, journalist, and mime, is best known for her novels, "Gigi", "The Vagabond", and "Cheri". She published this novel in 1928 and it is known as one of her most original, self-excavating, and happy stories following her second divorce and marriage to her "meilleur ami" - her best friend - and third husband who would remain with her until her last day (from book's Introduction).___ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR: Françoise Gilot (b. 1921) is a French painter, critic, and author. Among many other acheivements, she was made a member of the board of the Department of Fine Arts at the University of Southern California and was awarded a Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur in 1990. She was also the lover and artistic muse of Pablo Picasso and mother to his children, later becoming the wife of Jonas Salk, who developed the polio vaccine (n. b., info from Wikipedia). ___DESCRIPTION: Bound in full Chinese pongee silk dyed deep blue (to match the blue of the silk-screens) with gold-stamped lettering on cover and spine, title page in blue and black, illustrated by Francoise Gilot with nine in-text monochrome line drawings (eight in blue and one in terra-cotta) and three full-page, tissue-guarded multicolour silkscreens printed on Arches paper; set in monotype Bembo on blue-grey Mohawk letterpress paper used here for the first time, quarto size (11.25" by 9.25") , pagination: [i]xiv, [1]-[138], blank [139], afterword [140], colophon [141], signed by illustrator Françoise Gilot, limited edition, this no. 351 of 2000. Loosely laid in are: a separate, original silk-screen on a sheet folded once (closed size 8" by 6.75") and which mirrors the second of the three silk-screens in the book; the one-page letter which accompanied the separate print (announcing that going forward the subscription size would decrease from 2000 to 1500); and the LEC Monthly Letter. Enclosed in a slipcase covered in light grey paper with white lettering on the spine. ___CONDITION: Volulme fine with bright blue silk binding and gilt lettering, the spine is not faded and the silk cloth is clean and unrubbed, the text block is strong and tight with solid hinges, all three tissue guards over the full-page silk-screens are present, the interior is clean and bright, and the volume is entirely free of prior owner markings; crisp, clean, as new. The accompanying separate print, its cover letter, and the LEC newsletter are each fine; the slipcase is VG+ to near fine, still strong and sturdy, with sunning to the spine and overall minor wear. As of this writing, we find no other copies with the separate, accompanying print, hence this an unusual offering, and with the volume in pristine condition. ___CITATION: LEC Bibliography no. 534. ___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please contact us for details. ___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.