[Fine Binding | Mosaic | Georges Huser] Romances sans paroles

Verlaine, Paul. Romances sans paroles. Sens: Typography by Maurice l'Hermitte, 1874. First edition, first issue with "Paris chez tous les libraires" on upper cover. [One of 300 copies.] Original pale grey printed wrappers bound in.

A striking black morocco mosaic binding by Georges Huser, covers with a pattern of small flowers & leaves inlaid in cream, fawn, green & deep pink morocco and tooled in blind. Five bands to spine with title and author in gilt to second compartment, remaining compartments with inlaid cream & deep pink borders. Cream calf doublures with black silk flyleaves, top edge gilt. Black morocco-backed marbled chemise with yapp edges, lined with white calf. Housed in a black morocco-edged marbled slipcase, lined with tan morocco. Measures approx. 4.75" x 7.5". Small stain to front endpapers where a bookplate was removed, slipcase slightly rubbed.

"The interesting notice by Georges Heilbrun which he devoted to Huser reminds us that the latter entered David's workshop located on rue Mazarine in 1891. This was then the opportunity for the young apprentice to meet Verlaine who was going to the neighboring café, Procope. Later, the poet's thin collections allowed the practitioner to carry out this type of binding which made his reputation: very thin and slightly curved cardboard, cuts extending very little beyond the pages, sharp edges, delicacy of the covers, choice of papers...

...'Notes on Huser bindings' ('These characteristics give all his bindings an elegant and nervous appearance, which they are recognizable at first glance, and fans of the future will say: "it's a Huser", as we say: "it's a Boyet, or: it's a Lortic')" (Alde, 2010 [trans.]). 

Georges Huser (1879-1861) was "[a] craftsman of great quality, he was appreciated for the finesse of his bindings, comparable to that of Canape." He was trained in the workshops of David, Noulhac, then Lemardeley, from whom he took over in 1903 (Dictionnaire des relieurs français..., Fléty [trans.])

One of the most striking mosaic bindings I've had the privilege of handling.