GIGNOUX (Régis). L'Appel du clown. Comedy in one act. With e - Lot 195

GIGNOUX (Régis). L'Appel du clown. Comedy in one act. With etchings by André Dunoyer de Segonzac. P., 1930. In-4, maroq. tête de nègre, a geometrical decor determines, by a construction of curved black fillets, the circular enclosure of a circus, at the base of straight wires converging towards the center of the ring, while at the top gold stars outline the dome. In the vertical axis, very free motifs, mosaics of bright colors and light compositions of gold thread suggest circus games, yellow suede lining and endpapers edged with light green box, gilt on witnesses, cons. cover and spine, slipcase with maroq. spine and edge (Paul Bonnet). ORIGINAL edition with 26 original etchings by André Dunoyer de Segonzac, 12 of them full-page. Some of these are among his finest engravings, including several portraits of famous circus and music-hall performers (Mlle Thérèse Dorny in her dressing room, Fratellini, etc.). ISSUE OF 135 CASES, numbered. ONE OF 20 EX. DE TETE ON IMPERIAL JAPON with a separate suite of state proofs (some plates were printed very small on hollande vellum) and 7 unpublished etchings reserved only for these 20 copies, so this suite comprises a total of 33 original etchings. We have added 1) A very fine original Indian ink drawing, signed and annotated at length. 2) A previously unpublished original etching, signed and annotated by the artist (portrait of Régis Gignoux). 3) A sheet signed by the three Fratellini brothers. 4) Two beautiful photographs of Segonzac, one dedicated. The title page is covered with a long dedication by the artist: "...the etchings engraved at Médrano, the Empire and the Cirque de Paris with Thérèse Dorny in the Fratellini lodge. Thérèse Dorny's Grande Loge was engraved at the Casino de Paris, where she played with Maurice Chevalier". 5) Three autograph cards with envelopes. SUPERB DECORATED BINDING BY PAUL BONNET.