FRANCE (Anatole). Le Lys rouge. Paris: Librairie de la collection des dix, A. Romagnol éditeur, 1903. - Large in-4, 352x256: portrait, (2 ff.), 303 pp., (1 f.), 13 plates, illustrated cover. Dark blue morocco, superb, rich, signed decoration inserted in the first cover, depicting in the center a fleur-de-lys in slight relief surrounded by a profusion of stripes, flowers and circles, all gilded and modeled with tan and red embossed leather, spine ribbed, wide blue morocco framing inside, adorned with gilded patterned lace and mosaic fleur-de-lys in red morocco, red and gold brocaded silk lining and endpapers, gilded edges on witnesses, cover and spine preserved, dark blue morocco spine and cover bands, slipcase (Canape 1921). Edition of 276 copies, with numerous compositions by Auguste François-Marie GORGUET (1862-1927), woodcut in black by Desmoulins, Dutheil and Romagnol, and copperplate in color by Thévenin. ONE OF THE FIRST 10 EDITED EXAMPLES IN IN-4 FORMAT ON ARCHES PAPERS, containing 3 states of the color engravings (in black, in color with remark and before the letter), and a suite on japon pelure of the woodcuts. The portrait is in two states, in bistre and in black with remark. This copy is further enriched with the following items: - 6 additional copper-engraved plates in color, offered by the publisher to subscribers. They are placed opposite pages 24, 134, 163, 211, 284 and 296, bringing the total number of color illustrations to 20. - 3 states of the first plate (color breakdown). - A fourth state for plates 3, 6, 10, 14, 18 and 19. - The publication prospectus and the one concerning the 6 additional engravings, bound on tabs at the end. - A L.A.S. from Thévenin, 2 pages in-12, Paris December 2, 1900, to a "Monsieur" (Romagnol?) whom he thanks cordially for the mention of him in the "Lys Rouge" prospectus. Superb binding by Georges Canape, with sumptuous embossed and chased leather decoration signed "Saint André" on the first cover. This was Ambroise Saint-André de Lignereux (1861-1936), a specialist in leatherwork for bookbindings, objects, furnishings and textiles. He exhibited many times at decorative art shows, and was commissioned by the French Ministry of Commerce to study art leather. He was rightly considered one of those who renewed this art form in France. The leatherwork for this binding has been brought to perfection. The finesse of the workmanship and the richness of the decoration are such that the fleur-de-lis almost appears to be embroidered. A true masterpiece. A perfectly preserved copy. Spine of dust jacket faded.