Regain
“Tirage spécial à vingt exemplaires réimposés in-8° sur papier vélin de cuve des Usines d'Arches, réservé pour [LES XX].”
A precious copy — if not the most precious — “hors collection, having served the artist to establish the model for his book, allotted to M. G. Canape. Le président, E. de Crauzat.”
It contains all the original drawings by Georges Robert, in and out of text, executed in pencil, as well as a suite of the illustrations printed on fine Japan paper.
A precious edition, published simultaneously with the first edition, in a réimposé (large-paper) format enriched with drypoints by Georges Robert. These copies were delivered later by the printer Eugène Delatre, after the unillustrated copies of the commercial printing published by Bernard Grasset.
The bibliophile society “Les XX” had 20 copies printed for its members on vélin d’Arches, adding a suite of illustrations comprising twenty-two delicate drypoints by Georges Robert, four of which are full-page plates and eighteen headpieces or tailpieces.
Three further copies were added: one for the author, one for the artist, and one for Louis Brun, the publisher. Brun’s copy is enriched with two autograph letters from Giono, one of which announces that he has received his copy: “J’ai reçu le Regain illustré pour les XX. Les illustrations sont remarquables d’exactitudes et de compréhensions. Remerciez l’illustrateur pour moi. Si les 20 veulent des dédicaces, à leur service.”
A precious and unique copy belonging to the artist, who signed at the head of the volume, adding the dates of his compositions (April to May 1931): the engravings, bound in as a separate suite on thin Japan paper, are accompanied by the 22 original drawings, executed in pencil directly in the book. These drawings were subsequently used for the composition of the engravings before the copies were delivered to the members of Les XX.
The book was given by the president of Les XX, E. de Crauzat, to the binder Georges Canape, one of the society’s oldest members, who had it bound for his own collection.
A magnificent and precious copy.
From the library of Georges Canape (bookplate engraved by Jean-Niot).