SCHMIED, François-Louis (1873-1941), artist and designer. MARDRUS, J.C. Histoire charmante de l'adolescente sucre d'amour. Paris: F.L. Schmeid, 1927.

One of only 25 copies of this unique edition, printed on japon paper, the decorations all hand-colored in exquisitely fine detail, including silver and gilt, at the atelier of Jean Dunand. This edition is completely separate from the version Schmied produced in parallel the same year—with different illustrations in an edition of 170 copies. This is no. 12 of 25 copies, the colophon also signed by the artist. Mardrus states in his brief dedication that without Schmied's enthusiasm and friendship, this previously unpublished work would still be unpublished. The incredible hand-coloring in this edition was accomplished at the lacquering workshop of Jean Dunand, and bear all of the hallmark intricacy and luminosity of Dunand's famous lacquered screens. Carteret, Illustrés, IV, p. 263 ("une très rare et superbe édition fort cotée").

Quarto (274 x 211mm). Illustrated by François-Louis Schmied hand-colored and gilt wood-engravings comprising an iIllustrated cover, 7 full-page illustrations all signed by Schmied in pencil, a large folding plate forming a triptych also signed, 29 horizontal bands (most of them large headers), 32 decorated initials or small vignettes in the text, 6 small vertical bands, and numerous colored line-fillers and letters. Full burgundy morocco by George Cretté, successor of Marius Michel, spine gilt-lettered, blue morocco doublures, watered silk endleaves, marbled paper flyleaves, stamp-signed by the binder on upper turn-in, all edges gilt (spine sunned, a little rubbing to joints); felt-lined slipcase (rubbed).