Tous les prix en Francs Suisses - Harteveld Rare Books Ltd.

4 Harteveld Rare Books Ltd., CH-1700 Fribourg
1 leaf with small paperloss in outer margin not affecting image, original cloth
bound, with pictorial full colour front cover, minor scratches and some wear
on the edges, very good condition. HRB 97561 CHF 1500.-
First and only edition. Very scarce. Possibly the most rare of the animal series. Although
this is a ‘Children’s book’, it should not be left out in any serious ‘Alpine’ collection. It is
in some way the ‘Cherry on the Cake’. Clifton Bingham (1859-1913) wrote the verses for
this lavishly illustrated children’s picture book. The author was better known as the writer
of the lyrics of many popular sentimental songs of his time like „Love’s Old Sweet Song“,
but was also a prolific author for printed picture books of firms like Nister. His verses about
a humanized hippo, elephant and lion ascending the Alps accompanied by a bear guide are
beautifully illustrated by the English artist Louis Wain (1860-1939), who is best known
for his drawings of anthropomorphised cats. Wain suffered from schizophrenia later in his
life. According to Wikipedia he illustrated many of Bingham’s books for children under the
pseudonym George Henry Thompson. The protagonists wear typical mountaineering outfits
of the time and are equipped with ropes and picks etc. while the bears represent the local
people wearing traditional bavarian clothing and one acting as a guide to the group of brave
Alpine Club members. While several libraries indicate 1913 as the possible publishing year
(and matching Bingham’s death year), they all seem to copy from each other. We think this
work with its beautiful chromolithographic plates to be slightly older, around 1900. Dict. d.
Illustrateurs, 1112; Peeps Into Nisterland p. 238; Perret -; Neate -; Nava ... etc etc. - Perret
- Regards sur les Alpes, page 273. Notice 101. Abb. Tafel 1.
8. BLANCHET, Maurice / HAINARD, Robert: Robert Hainard. Avec une
biographie, une bibliographie et une documentation complète sur le peintre et
son oeuvre. Neuchâtel, ed. de la Baconnière, 1958, in-8vo, frontispice, 134 p.
richement ill. sur planches, la planche n° 8 ‘Mère Renard criant’ bois original
en couleur de 1934. Brochure originale illustrée. HRB 55553 CHF 300.-
Première édition avec un bois original. ill. planche 2.
SMALL AND BEAUTIFUL.
9. BODMER, C. & CORRODI, S. & BODMER, R.: Promenade pittoresque
par les lieux les plus intéressants de la Suisse et des pays limitrophes composée
de cinquante vues en miniature (finement coloriées), dessinées et gravées par
C. Bodmer, S. Corrodi et R. Bodmer. Zurich, F. S. Fussli (successeur de Keller
& Fussli), 1829, pt. in-12, oblong, brochure de 8 p. avec titre + 50 planches
gravées (aquatinte, mises en couleurs) sur feuilles séparées avec tranches
dorées (11 x 8.5 cm) + 2 feuilles vierges avec timbre de l’éditeur, emboîtage
original, légèrement usé sur les bords, petite déchirure dans un coin, sinon
bon état. HRB 100990 CHF 7500.-