[Binding, Fine- Grolier Bindery: R.W. Smith, Finished by F. Mansell, Grolier Club's First In-House Binders] Jacqueline

New York: Boussod, Valadon & Co, 1893. First Edition. First Edition. Folio size, 13 1/4 x 10 x 1 1/2 inches. Superbly bound in plush crushed blue morocco with Illustrations by R.W. Smith and F. Mansell, and signed on front lower dentelle: "Bound by R.W. Smith * Finished by F. Mansell." SPECIAL EDITION, LIMITED TO 40 COPIES ONLY, NUMBERED I-XL (this is copy V), WITH A SIGNED ORIGINAL WATER COLOR DRAWING BY ALBERT LYNCH ON THE HALF TITLE, and signed by the author below the vignette on the final page of text. Albert Lynch (1851ñ1912) was a Peruvian-born French painter and illustrator renowned for his elegant depictions of women and refined society scenes. (truncated) Educated at the …cole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, Lynchís work epitomizes the Belle Epoque aesthetic, characterized by its grace and sophistication. The 1893 edition of Jacqueline features 27 full-page illustrations by Albert Lynch, highly evocative, and with vibrant color highlight and printing quality. Title in red and black, specially printed frontispiece and colour plates with captioned tissue-guards. Finely bound in full blue crushed morocco by R.W. Smith and F. Mansell (signed on front turn-in), featuring sides with wide floral gilt tooled borders containing multiple small inlaid medallions with bluebells and irises in tan and black morocco, inner gilt dentelles with initials 'WTW' (William Thompson Walters) at corners, marbled endpapers, all edges finely gilt, gilt paneled spine with similar inlays and floral decoration. This is an extremely fine example of a binding by the Grolier Club's first in-house binders, produced for the businessman William Thompson Walters, whose art collection formed the basis of the Walters Art Museum in Liverpool, Pennsylvania. The famed Kettaneh Copy, with Francis Kettaneh (1897-1977) morocco bookplate on front free endpaper. Fine in contemporary slipcase. A gorgeous and most scarce Grolier binding. (Inventory #: 6883)