Galerie Georges Petit. Exposition Meissonier.

WITH A SUBSCRIBER'S ENTRANCE TICKET, SIGNED BY PUVIS DE CHAVANNES, GEROME, AND FRANÇAIS. An outstanding large-paper copy of this beautifully produced and monumental catalogue of the memorial exhibition devoted to the work of Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier, widely regarded during his lifetime as the greatest painter in France, if not the world. 7, XVI, 349 plus 61 full-page hors-texte etchings. 1468 items described, both from the painter's studio (section 1 of the book) and from private collections (section 2). Illustrated with a striking etched portrait of Meissonier by Waltner and SIXTY FULL-PAGE HORS-TEXTE ETCHINGS by Abot, Boulard, Champollion, Courtry, Faivre, Focillon, Manesse, Waltner, and others after Meissonier. A SUBSCRIBER'S COPY, ONE OF ONLY 100 LARGE-PAPER COPIES PRINTED ENTIRELY ON IMPERIAL JAPANESE PAPER. Laid in is one of only 100 subscriber's tickets to the exhibition, elegantly engraved and printed in three colors (red, blue, and gold), also on Imperial Japanese paper. THIS TICKET IS SIGNED IN INK BY THE PRESIDENT (Jean-Léon Gérôme) AND THE TWO VICE-PRESIDENTS (Pierre Puvis de Chavannes and Louis Français) OF THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, THREE OF THE MOST CELEBRATED PAINTERS OF THEIR TIME. This ticket is a truly remarkable survival: I have been unable to locate any other recorded copies. Large folio (38.5 cm). Entirely uncut. Attractly bound in half calf and marbled boards. Light wear to binding. Sewing loose for some quires, else internally FINE AND BRIGHT, WITH ALL OF THE ETCHINGS (and the ticket) IN PERFECT CONDITION.