Les aventures du jeune baron de Knifausen (illustrated by Louis Morin)

A charming livre d'artiste, the first of eleven published between 1904 and 1906 in the "Collection de l'Academie des Goncourt". THIS IS THE PUBLISHER'S COPY, aside from the edition of 350 numbered copies. Illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of the authors and ten charming original engravings (8 of which are full-page and hors-texte) by Louis Morin, a few lightly erotic. Beautifully printed in Auriol types (an art nouveau font) on fine wove paper. This copy includes: a complete set of page proofs, on the front of which Romagnol, the editor, has scrawled in ink his plan for the entire collection; two autograph letters signed by Morin to Romagnol, in which he discusses the illustrations for this book (and getting paid for them); 2 additional suites, in different states, of the eleven engravings in the book, including a suite in remarque state; 2 rejected engravings, each in 2 states (these are perhaps unique: according to the justification, no copies were issued with the "planches refusees"); a prospectus for the entire collection; 9 specimens of etchings by artists whose work would appear in the collection (Jouas, Vidal, etc.); a newspaper article (from Les annales politiques et litteraires, October 20, 1903) about the FIRST PRIX GONCOURT, which was to be given a few days later; and a newspaper ad announcing the Collection de l'Academie des Goncourt. 8vo. Book in original wraps, suites loose in wraps, as issued. Both are housed along with the other material in a contemporary custom-made cloth slipcase. In near fine to fine condition throughout. A unique item.