La cité des eaux. Eaux-fortes originales de Paul Baudier. (Versailles)

THE UNIQUE PUBLISHER'S COPY OF BAUDIER'S MASTERPIECE, WITH ALL OF THE ORIGINAL DRAWINGS AND OVER 150 ORIGINAL ETCHINGS, SOME OF WHICH ARE UNIQUE. A SPECTACULAR LIVRE D'ARTISTE FOCUSING LARGELY ON VERSAILLES, with 31 original etchings by Paul Baudier, one of the great book artists of the 20th century. From a total edition of 163 copies, this is THE UNIQUE COPY ON JAPANESE PAPER, PRINTED FOR GUIDO COLUCCI, THE PUBLISHER. *****This copy includes: *****(1) The book itself, printed on Japanese paper (no other copies were printed on Japanese paper). It is justified "Exemplaire unique imprimé pour M. Guido Colucci". The 31 etchings are in final state (on Japan, of course, and unique as such), and first and the last are signed in pencil by the artist (the first etching is also warmly inscribed by the artist to Colucci). *****(2) FOUR ADDITIONAL SUITES OF THE 31 ETCHINGS: the first (remarque) state in black on Japan (UNIQUE); the first state in black on Auvergne laid paper; the second state (with many of the remarques still partially visible) in black on Auvergne (UNIQUE); the final state in bistre on Auvergne. *****(3) ALL OF THE ORIGINAL DRAWINGS FOR THE ETCHINGS USED IN THE BOOK. Most of these are executed in pencil, but several employ ink, conté crayon, white heightening, etc. ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL DRAWINGS ARE SIGNED BY THE ARTIST. *****(4) The four planches refusées in two states: first state on Japan (UNIQUE) and in first state on Auvergne (there was no second state of any of these, of course.) *****(5) The three original SIGNED drawings for the four planches refusées (the other planche refusée is based on a drawing, in the group described above, from which one of the plates used in the book was adapted.) *****(6) Six original drawings similar to those used in the book, four of which are signed by Baudier and one of which is initialed. *****(7) The original watercolor design by Baudier for the cover of the book (ultimately not used). Folio. Loose as issued in original wraps. Housed in publisher's board chemises and slipcases (this copy, for obvious reasons, is housed in two slipcases rather than one). FINE AND BRIGHT, WITH NO DEFECTS. In all, 161 original etchings, of which 97 are UNIQUE, and 39 ORIGINAL DRAWINGS. AN ASTONISHING AND IMPORTANT COPY OF AN OUTSTANDING LIVRE D'ARTISTE, IN PERFECT CONDITION.