MÉHEUT (Mathurin) - LE BRAZ (Anatole). - Lot 139

MÉHEUT (Mathurin) - LE BRAZ (Anatole). Au pays des pardons. S.l. Albert Richard, 1937. - In-4, 283 x 222: (8 ff. first blank), XII pp., (3 ff.), 263 pp., (4 ff. last blank), illustrated cover. Dark-brown morocco, book title cold-stamped in the center of the first cover, in a recessed frame, spine ribbed with a cold-stamped cross in the center, dark-brown morocco frame inside, brown silk lining bordered with a red morocco listel and wide cold fillet, brown silk endpapers, double endpapers, gilt head, untrimmed, cover and spine preserved, burgundy chagrin spine and corner slipcase (Esther Founès). Sought-after edition, illustrated with 53 full-page and in-text compositions by Mathurin MÉHEUT (1882-1958), wood-engraved in color by Georges Beltrand. "Brittany is unquestionably the land of pardons. This age-old tradition, like all Breton traditions, has always fascinated Anatole Le Braz, who devoted much of his research and collecting to it. In this book, he invites us to join in these festivities, both religious and secular, from the heart of Argoat to the shores of Armor. He takes us on a journey from the pardon de Saint-Yves to the pardon de Rumengol, from the pardon du Feu in Saint-Jean-du-Doigt to the pardon de la Mer in Sainte-Anne-de-la-Palude. A walk in the heart of an ancestral land, but also a journey through time, where beggars, singers, those who challenge each other to wrestling or those who discuss love have not changed since the Middle Ages, or even Celtic times" (presentation by "Terre de brume" editions for the edition prepared by Dominique Besançon). Limited edition of 437 copies. This is one of 38 on japon nacré or old japon, here on japon nacré, containing an original watercolor, a black suite on chine, a color suite on Arches and the color decomposition of several engravings. A unique copy from the library of poet and bibliophile Antoine Pol (1888-1971), bearing an autograph dedication by Mathurin Méheut, who also enriched the copy with 8 ORIGINAL AQUARELLES, in addition to the one included in the justification, 7 of which are full-page and one a cul-de-lampe. All except the last three are in color and hand-captioned by the artist. A superb copy bound at the time by Esther Founès, who practiced until 1939. Rubbing to spine. Provenance: Antoine Pol, with bookplate and consignment from the artist (sale October 31, 2013, no. 160, with omitted mention of the watercolors).