ELDER (Marc). The People of the Sea. Paris: G. Oudin, 1914. - In-18, 180x115: (2 ff.), 299 pp. printed cover. Green jansenist morocco, ribbed spine, blue-green morocco lining decorated with straight and curved gilt fillets, pale green moiré silk endpapers, double endpapers, gilt edges on witnesses, cover and spine preserved, green morocco spine and cover bands folder, bordered slipcase (P. Affolter 1928). Second printing of the first edition of this famous maritime novel by Marc Elder, winner of the Prix Goncourt in 1913 against Alain-Fournier's Le Grand Meaulnes. One of 10 copies on japon, unjustified, including the correct white cover dated 1913. It is part of the special edition printed after the Prix Goncourt, by Wellhoff et Roche and not Bussière as for the regular edition. It comprises 299 pages, compared with 297 for the 1913 original, which did not include large papers. UNIQUE EDITION, enriched at the time with 42 superb original watercolors by Symbolist painter André Des Gachons (1871-1951), including two full-page ones, one opposite the title, and 39 at the head or end of each chapter. The first, in the lower margin of the leaf opposite the title, depicts an anchor inside a buoy on which is inscribed "exemplaire unique illustré par", and on the right is the artist's signature and the date 1914. André des Gachons was a pupil of William Bouguereau and Tony Robert-Fleury at the Académie Julian. He distinguished himself in various artistic disciplines, from painting to the decorative arts. He also illustrated several books, including Zola's Lourdes, Flaubert's Salammbô and Daudet's Tartarin sur les Alpes. The watercolors in this copy are truly small paintings of great elegance and perfect execution. A very fine copy in Affolter's lined binding. Spine of dust jacket faded.