Description
FIRST EDITIONS of the first two volumes of Jean-Henri Fabre's masterpiece.
The imposing complete work consisted of more than a thousand pages published in ten series between 1879 and 1907. These Entomological memories is the culmination of more than half a century of studies and descriptions of insect life and habits.
Charming copies bound at the time by Paul Vié in elegant Japanese bindings. Polychrome prints of locusts, butterflies, birds, fruit and leaves. The endpapers are Japanese prints showing flowers and gallinaceans on a blue background.
"Jean-Henri Fabre's Entomological Memories are probably better known in Japan than in France. It was the social activist and Christian militant KAGAWA Toyohiko (1888-1960) who first introduced Fabre's work to Japan in 1919 (year 8 of the Taisho era). A little later, from 1922, the anarchist OSUGI Sakae (1885-1923) devoted himself to translating this work. "
(Modern Japan and France - adoration, encounter and interaction - virtual exhibition at the Tokyo Diet National Library)
Rare condition.
Bound in period japonisantes à la Bradel signed Paul Vié. Full embossed polychrome paper depicting insects and plants, smooth spine, title page, gilt title, red head, endpapers with Japanese colour prints, cover boards preserved. Joints restored.
