MARC CHAGALL (1887-1985)
Four Tales from the Arabian Nights, Pantheon Books, New York, 1948
the set of twelve signed and numbered lithographs in colors, on laid paper, numbered 68 of 90 (there was also a deluxe edition of ten in Roman numerals with an additional thirteenth lithograph), each plate annotated with the plate number in pencil, with title page, justification, table of contents and text, paper folders, paper cover with title and glassine wrappers with tie ribbons and original cardboard slipcase
Overall: 17⁵⁄₈ x 13¹⁄₂ in. (448 x 343 mm.)
(album)

Mourlot 36-48; Cramer books 18

Please note the starting bid for this lot has been lowered to $75,000.

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Lot Essay

The Arabian Nights, more accurately known as One Thousand and One Nights, is a collection of Middle Eastern and South Asian stories and folk tales compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age. The work as we have it was collected over many centuries by various authors, translators and scholars across the Middle East and North Africa. Though the oldest Arabic manuscript dates from the 14th century, scholars generally date the collection's genesis to around the 9th century.
The main frame story concerns a Persian king and his new bride, Scheherazade, who tells a succession of stories, night after night, in an effort to postpone the threat of execution. The tales vary widely: they include historical tales, love stories, tragedies, comedies, poems, burlesques and various forms of erotica. Numerous stories depict djinns, magicians, and legendary places, which are often intermingled with real people and geography, not always rationally. Sometimes a character in Scheherazade's tale will begin telling other characters a story of his own, and that story may have another one told within it, resulting in a richly layered narrative texture.
Marc Chagall, arguably the pre-eminent colour lithographer of his age, began his relationship with the medium in Four Tales from the Arabian Nights. As in his later illustration series, Chagall conceived the pictures as augmentations of the text, serving to arouse the interest of both the reader and the viewer. It has come to be regarded as one of his finest essays in the medium of lithography, in large part because the literary source required no change in the artist's style. Chagall found himself confronted by a text which inspired and responded to his art like no other.

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Condition report

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The condition of lots can vary widely and the nature of the lots sold means that they are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.

In addition to the catalogue description, with full margins, loose (as issued), a crease at the upper left sheet corner on the plates, foxing, scratches, minor losses and wear to the portfolio case, otherwise in generally good condition

Plate 1: light-staining, occasional small areas of pale discoloration in the lower margin and at the upper right sheet edge, hinge remains in places on the reverse upper sheet edge

Plate 3: occasional small areas of pale discoloration in the lower margin

Plate 4: occasional small areas of pale discoloration in the lower left margin

Plate 5: light-staining, occasional small areas of very pale discoloration at the upper and lower sheet edges, a crease at the lower left sheet corner, hinge remains in places on the reverse upper and lower sheet edges

Plate 6: light-staining, occasional small areas of discoloration at the upper and lower sheet edges, a rectangular area of toning on the reverse with foxmarks, the paper folder with uneven light-staining

Plate 7: light-staining, foxmarks at the extreme right sheet edge, a rectangular area of toning on the reverse with foxmarks, the paper folder with uneven light-staining

Plate 8: pale light-staining, occasional small areas of pale discoloration in places in the margins, hinge remains in places on the reverse upper sheet edge

Plate 9: light-staining and pale mat staining, a rectangular area of toning on the reverse with foxmarks, the reverse toned, hinge and adhesive remains in places on the reverse sheet edges, a pale discoloration on the reverse sheet, the paper folder with uneven toning

Plate 10: light-staining, a handling crease in the lower center margin, hinge and adhesive remains in places on the reverse sheet edges, a rectangular area of toning on the reverse with foxmarks

Plate 11: very pale light-staining, occasional small areas of pale discoloration in places at the upper and lower sheet edge, hinge remains in places on the reverse sheet edges, a rectangular area of toning on the reverse with foxmarks, very minor adhesive remains in places on the reverse

Plate 12: very pale light-staining, occasional small areas of very pale discoloration at the lower left sheet corner, hinge remains in places on the reverse sheet edges, a rectangular area of toning on the reverse with foxmarks

Please note that this lot consists of twelve loose lithographs, with title page, justification, table of contents and text, paper folders, paper cover with title and glassine wrappers with tie ribbons and original cardboard slipcase.

Print Report