JACK ET JANE
[1883] First French Edition of Louisa May Alcott's Jack and Jill: A Village Story.
Translated by P.J. Stahl and Lermont.
Illustrated with wonderful and dramatic illustrations by J. Geoffroy
Paris: Bibliothèque D’Education et de Récréation, J. Hetzel et Cie, [1883]
Bound in collectible Percaline Binding.
This French edition was published three years after the first American Edition of Jack and Jill: A Village Story was published in 1880. In the American edition, main character Janey Pecq is nicknamed "Jill", and her nickname appears in the title. French translator P.J. Stahl used Janey's original name in the French title, Jack et Jane.
8vo (9.75" x 6.5" x 1.25"), original red quarter morocco, red cloth boards, gilt decorations and lettering. Black and red inlay. Plain blue endpapers. Frontis, engraved title-page and 22 plates by J. Geoffroy. Eight-page publisher’s catalog at the end.
OCLC records two different editions of this title in French, one dated 1883 and another dated 1884. This copy corresponds in pagination to the 1883 edition and the publisher’s catalog advertises books as “En Parparation pour 1884.”
Provenance: From the collection of Pierre Desmottes, bibliophile and collector of percaline bindings. His bookplate is pasted inside on the back of the front cover.
Condition: Good.
Some shelf wear to top and bottom of spine and light bumping of all board corners. Two closed tears in the cloth along the front joint with the spine. (Please see up-close photograph). Beginning of similar closed tears in the cloth on the joint of the spine and back cover. The cover joint is beginning to loosen and the cover is shaken.
Gold gilt and red writing on spine are slightly sun faded but remain nicely readable. Crease in the middle of the spine noticeable over title portion (this appears like a red line in photographs).
Cover decor is near fine: Red, black, and gold. Gold gilt page edges are crisp and bright.
The binding is in good condition with a few places of cosmetic exposure of the hinges. Varying degree of light foxing throughout the book.
Covered in protective mylar.
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