Contes de J De La Fontaine - Rare Limited Edition Portfolio of only 25 copies with original art in gouache

Paris: Philippe Gonin, 1939. unique edition of only 25 portfolios. D'Essertine. 1939 Limited Edition Portfolio with French Original Art: Contes de J De La Fontaine

Paris, France, Philippe Gonin, 1939, Portfolio
Contes de J De La Fontaine, Philippe Gonin (Paris, France). 1939 Limited edition portfolio #14 of 25, original art in gouache of fables in French by Jean De La Fontaine, signed by the artist "D'Essertine" (Claire Gonin-Vergès). From the preliminaries: "This edition consists strictly of twenty-five copies numbered 1 to 25 and will never be reprinted. The painter D'essertine illustrated each copy of this book, with original gouaches executed entirely with his own hand. The typography is by Philippe Gonin, which has been printed hard on his presses in 1939 in his workshop, 15, Rue de Lille, in Paris."

Signed and illustrated by Philippe Gonin's wife, Claire Gonin-Vergès under her pseudonym, "D'Essertine", which originates from her childhood village Essertine-sur-Yverdon in Switzerland. Many images of beauties, butterflies, botanicals and breasts, nine full-page and seven partial-page. String-bound portfolio with paper internal cover and loose folios (as issued) on fine paper, 64 pages. Portfolio has light soiling/foxing, introductory leaves with heavy foxing, about 1/3 of leaves in the back with small water stain at top (not affecting artwork), artwork all very good. Scarce.