A beautiful copy adorned with Alfons Mucha's illustrations FRANCE, Anatole. Clio Paris: Calmann-Lévy, 1900. First edition illustrated by the father of Art Nouveau Alfons Mucha, famous for his palette of hitherto unusual tones and an icon of Fín de Siécle art. Later (but period) understated art nouveau binding of three quarters dark red leather, with marble wash boards. Ribbed spine, with gilt titles and gilt lines to the binding. The binding is in lovely condition. Marbled end papers. The original covers and backstrip have been preserved and bound in. The front cover is rather darkened and marked, but the colour and gilt Mucha illustration is still striking. The backstrip has been bound in, but is in a chipped and stained state. The rest of the work is in very good condition, with just a little marking and the odd foxing spot. In addition to the front cover vignette (which is repeated in black and white to the title page), the beautiful illustration is made up of 12 colour figures (7 full page and 5 header vignettes). This work is produced in collotype, a complex process, applying the colours in several passes. At the time of the publication of this work, Mucha's talent was already know, mainly with his posters for the Théâtre de la Renaissance and especially with the "Gismonda" poster of 1895 in homage to Sarah Bernhardt. In 1897 he illustrated " Ilsée, princesse de Tripoli" and in 1899 "Pater." 188, [iv]. pp. 200 by 145mm (7¾ by 5¾ inches).