BANVILLE (Theodore de). Gringoire. Comedy in one act in prose. Paris : Louis Conard, 1904. - In-8, 206 x 139 : IX, 116 pp, (2 ff.), illustrated cover. Hardback parchment, boards and spine covered with original paintings by Edmond Malassis, signed and dated 1904, smooth spine, untrimmed, cover and spine preserved, flap folder with floral decoration, slipcase (period binding). One of the first works illustrated by the painter and watercolorist Edmond Malassis, with 32 compositions, including one on the cover and 3 full page, engraved on copperplate in colors by Louis Mortier. Very fine impression of the Imprimerie Nationale, printed at only 189 copies, 171 of which on different papers numbered and initialled by the publisher and 19 nominative copies not mentioned in the justification, 12 on vellum and 7 on japon. This is one of the 20 copies on japon, containing a state of one of the compositions with the annotations of M. Malassis and the illustrated cover on vellum and japon. A superb copy in a binding painted by Malassis. The subjects represented by the artist are unpublished, inspired by but not reproducing those appearing in the book. A very well preserved copy. Minimal wear to the cover.