J. B. de Moliere — Oeuvres Completes de Moliere

Paris, E. Dentu, 1893. Leather. An extremely charming uniformly bound set complete in twelve volumes of the works of Moliere, the first edition thus with the illustrations by Louis-Edouard Fournier. A complete set in twelve volumes of the works of Moliere, French poet and playwright, often regarded as one of the greatest authors in the French language and world literature. His plays have been translated in numerous languages and are often performed at the Comèdie-Française. In the original French, from the 'Petit Collection Guaillame' series. With illustrations by Louis-Edouard Fournier, first edition thus. A pocket-size set in some incredibly charming quarter calf uniform bindings. With one hundred and twenty two full page plates as well as numerous illustrations in text throughout. From the library at Julian Park, Hertfordshire, belonging to Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie. Audrey was the youngest daughter of an Anglo-American lumber and steel millionaire, sister to Edward James, a key figure in the Surrealist movement, and the illegitimate granddaughter of King Edward VII. She was an English socialite known for her beauty and for charming various wealthy men, she was included in The Book of Beauty by Cecil Beaton. A patron of the arts, she assisted Viscount Carlow financially in the publication of limited editions of numerous works by leading literary figures such as T E Lawrence, James Joyce, Wyndham Lewis, and others. A hedonistic pursuer, she was recognised as one of the 'Bright Young Things&apos.  In uniform quarter calf bindings over marbled boards and endpapers, with the original paper wraps bound in with most volumes, except to volume I. Externally lovely with minor shelf wear only, a touch of sunning to the spine. Internally, firmly bound. With a minor spotting to the fore edge, affecting only the odd leaf, the pages are otherwise generally bright and clean. With one hundred and twenty two full page plates as well as numerous illustrations in text throughout. Near Fine . Ill.: Louis-Edouard Fournier. Near Fine .