André Doderet - La fontaine aux acanthes. - 1908

La fontaine aux acanthes. Étretat, L’Isle-Adam, Taormina

First edition. A novel set in Étretat, L’Isle-Adam and Taormina in Sicily. Bound by Henri Blanchetière, and signed to the front end paper.

The edition comprised two limited editions and a trade edition. One edition on Japon (only 2 copies) and one edition of 10 on Papier de Hollande. Ours is one of the 10 on Van Gelder / Hollande, although the number hasn't been written on the limitation, so it must be an HC copy for the author.

The binding is brown three quarters morocco with matching marbled boards. Attractive design of leaf patterns in two shades of brown to the spine. Gilt titles to the spine. In fine condition, with just a touch of handling.

The book has also been signed by Doderet to the half title page, with a warm inscription to Louis Loviot, the French librarian, bibliographer and bibliophile, who would later become editor of the 'Revue des livres anciens'.

To one of the initial pages is an original silver gelatin photograph of the author. This has offset in a rather attractive way to the facing page, with a sepia negative image.

The original green paper covers are bound in - these are in excellent condition. The 340 pages of the work are cut in differing sizes (as is common in a French large paper copy), and are in very good, clean condition. To page 290/291, the binder has inserted a postcard, addressed to Loviot, (and dated 1905). The postcard shows young boys swimming on a beach, and bears the title. "Monelli alla pesce della arcele." Overall a lovely example of this work. It also bears a hand written note “These hands reach out to you, O Loviot! and young Sicily salutes you!”" which seems to also be signed (in initials) by Doderet.

340 pages. 20 x 14 cm.

André Doderet (1879–1949) was a French novelist, poet and translator, who later became especially important as a French translator of Gabriele D’Annunzio.

Henri Blanchetière was the son-in-law (and successor of) the book binder Joseph Bretault. He was trained at the École Estienne and worked with important Parisian binders - including Lortic and René Kieffer.

A Sicilian novel by D’Annunzio’s French translator,

The book is inscribed by Doderet to Louis Loviot (1885–1918)
He was a serious bookman and author. He was published by Tassel (the same publisher as this book). The Morgan Library holds his letters from Pierre Louÿs


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