L'Abbe Constantin

Paris: Calmann Levy; Buossod, 1888 . Leather. Very Good Indeed. 10.5" by 8". Madame Madeleine Lemaire. A beautifully illustrated edition of French novelist Ludovic Halevy's work, with colour plates from Madeleine Lemaire. In the original French.In a signed full calf binding from Fettes College, Edinburgh.'L'Abbe Constantin' is a novel about an old priest, the Abbot Constantine, who is informed about the death of a friend who has left his fortune to a former American actress. She uses the inheritance to buy a castle, and almost an entire village alongside it.Illustrated with eighteen colour plates, each retaining the original tissue guard, and with further vignette illustrations. Collated, complete.Illustrated by Madame Madeleine Lemaire. Lamiare was a French painter, who was known for her elegant genre works and flower still lives. She was noted for introducing Marcel Proust and Reynaldo Hahn to the salons of the Parisian aristocracy. In a full calf prize binding, with gilt detailing. Light discolouration to back strip, and light rubbing to spine head and tail. Otherwise, externally lovely. Pages generally clean and bright, with only the odd spot. Tissue guards significantly age toned. Very Good Indeed