Les Vierges

1895. RODENBACH, Georges. Les Vierges. WITH: Les Tombeaux. Two volumes. Unpaginated, illustrated with 4 original coloured lithographs by Jozsef Rippl-Ronai, plus 3 woodcuts by James Pitcairn-Knowles. 8vo, 250 x 170 mm., both bound in original publisher's illustrated wrappers with woodcut illustrations by Pitcairn-Knowles, and each preserved in a morocco-backed sleeve and matching slipcase. Paris: Samuel Bing, 1895. Pitcairn-Knowles conceived an idea for an imaginary book and illustrated it with a series of woodcuts. He then induced his friend Jozsef Rippl-Ronai to create four coloured lithographs for another unwritten book, Les Vierges. With these illustrations already finished, they approached gallery owner Samual Bing, who had excellent connections in the publishing world. Bing commissioned the Belgian writer Georges Rodenbach, author of the symbolist novel Bruges la Morte, to write texts based on the Nabis-style illustrations of Pitcairn-Knowles and Rippl-Ronai. Fine copies of these fragile works, each limited to 500 copies. Turn of the Century 64. From Manet to Hockney 12. Monod 9810.