Jules Chancel & Maurice Champagne - Lot de 2 Magnifique Cartonnages Delagrave - [Édition originale] - 1911-1913

--- Title 1: The Little King of the Black Mask ---
Beautiful original edition of this wonderful youth novel from the famous collection “Les Enfants à travers l'Histoire,” published by Librairie Delagrave. The work recounts the eventful story of Julien under the Second Empire and during the 1870 war. It is richly illustrated with black-and-white compositions and full-page plates by the artist and painter Raymond de La Nézière.

** Characteristics of this copy:
- Original edition: first printing completed in March 1911.
- Period binding: green percaline leather with the first cover panel decorated and gilded with a very fresh appearance. Spine richly ornamented with the title and the mask motif. Gilt edges.
- Interior: Complete with 304 pages and all illustrations. Includes the publisher Delagrave’s catalogue at the beginning of the work.

** Condition:
- Binding: Very nice visual appearance on the front cover. Solid structure. Normal wear to the headcaps, corners and boards.
- Text block: Interior well secured within its binding. Presence of foxing and light browning related to the antique paper, unobtrusive to reading.

A very beautiful first-issue copy, representative of the finest decorative bindings of the Belle Époque.

--- Title 2: The Island of the Solitary ---
Original edition of 1913 of Maurice Champagne’s famous adventure and scientific wonder novel, superbly preserved in its publisher’s red-and-white binding signed Delagrave.

** Description of the work:
- Author: Maurice Champagne
- Illustrations: Richly illustrated by René Giffey with numerous drawings in the text and on plates.
- Edition: Original edition bearing the 1913 copyright (Librairie Ch. Delagrave, Paris). Printed by Société Anonyme d'Imprimerie of Villefranche-de-Rouergue.

** Condition:
- Covers & Spine: Red percaline binding of remarkable freshness. The polychrome plate on the upper cover retains its bright colors and contrasts without major rubbing. Spine well preserved with gilding and titling perfectly legible.
- Edges: Magnificent gilt on the edges, still bright.
- Interior: Binding well secured and page block firmly held. The antique paper shows light scattered foxing, not affecting readability or illustration quality.

Fast and careful shipping.