España sagrada. Lithographies originales de Jacques Birr.

A SPECTACULAR UNIQUE COPY OF THIS LIVRE D'ARTISTE DEVOTED TO SPAIN IN GENERAL AND TO BULLFIGHTING IN PARTICULAR. Illustrated with 24 ORIGINAL COLOR LITHOGRAPHS BY JACQUES BIRR, many double-page. The ten lettrines, one preceding each chaper, symbols of the ranches that raise fighting bulls, are HAND-PAINTED BY THE ARTIST in watercolor. Edition limited to 130 numbered copies, all printed on fine Rives wove paper, for members of Les Bibliophiles de l'Automobile-Club de France (another 20 copies were printed for the author, the artist, etc.) This is copy 18, printed for Jean Boscher. THIS COPY, UNIQUELY, INCLUDES BIRR'S ORIGINAL PORTRAIT DRAWING OF RAFAEL GOMEZ, "EL GALLO", A BULLFIGHTER DISCUSSED AT LENGTH IN THE BOOK. It also includes 20 WORKING PROOFS, MANY ANNOTATED IN PENCIL, MOST SURELY UNIQUE, SOME FOR LITHOGRAPHS EVENTUALLY REJECTED (including a wonderful image of a bullfighter wielding his cape before a car.) Laid in is a photocopy, distributed to all members, of the letter from Montherlant apologizing for not attending the gala dinner at which this book was presented. Folio. Loose as issued in original wraps. FINE AND BRIGHT.