STAËL (Nicolas de) - LECUIRE (Pierre). Ballets-minute. Paris, [1954]. - In-4, 325x252: (50 ff. first 3 and last 3 blank), printed cover. In sheets, filled cover, in cardboard folder illustrated with a color composition, slipcase. Very rare first edition of this collection of 17 previously unpublished poem-ballets by poet and publisher Pierre Lecuire (1922-2013). One of the masterpieces of 20th-century French illustrated books, decorated with 20 original etchings, including 3 on double pages, and a color linocut on the dust jacket, by painter Nicolas de STAËL (1914-1955). It is of major importance, bringing together almost all the etchings ever engraved by the artist, whose total corpus does not exceed 23 pieces. The linocuts, with their large, brightly-colored flat tints, offer a striking contrast to the finesse of the etchings, while sharing with them a composition of rare elegance. Nicolas de Staël appears to have experimented with this technique on only two occasions: first in 1949, then to decorate the folder of this collection. Only 50 copies were printed, signed by the author and the artist. This is one of 30 on Rives vellum, numbered from 11 to 40, with number 36 and enriched by Nicolas de Staël's autograph on the second blank page: Au Docteur Poulain // Merci // Nicolas // 1954 The artist was Dr. Odette Poulain (1905-1996), who had built up a first-rate collection of modern and contemporary works, including such great names as Serge Charchoune, André Masson, Simon Hantaï, Gianni Bertini, Paul Jenkins, Pierre Lesieur, Serge Poliakoff, Alexandre Calder and, of course, Nicolas de Staël. Also included is a one-page in-8 LAS from the artist to Dr. Poulain: "I'm leaving tomorrow for the week. May I telephone you on my return. Best regards Nicolas. I used a flyleaf as an envelope, you see." Spine of folder browned, some rubbing to hinges. Interior perfectly preserved. Provenance: Odette Poulain, with a letter from the artist.