Well, this book is deconstructed, and I can't find out how the early pages are meant to go, but it's rather beautiful, and scarce!
It was published in 1933 and this is number 77 of 99 copies. It measures about 10 x 12.5"
I found two other already-sold copies for sale, and I'm reproducing their text in case it sheds any light on what I have here:
1) 18 loose double sheets with numer. partly hand-colored woodcuts v. J. Berque, in paperback portfolio, half-parchment chemise, and cardboard slipcase, Ed. Gonin, Lausanne 1933, 25 x 33 cm, on Vélin de Hollande, slight traces of use
No. 44 of 99 num. Ex., signed by Berque in printer's imprint, together with 20 Roman num
2) Title: King Solomon's Song of Songs. Compositions by Jean Berque.
Description: Paris, Gonin, 1933; in-4º in sheets under illustrated cover with flaps, editor's slipcase; [4], 51 pp., [5] pp. and in all, 62 color illustrations engraved on wood, several compositions have been enhanced by hand by the Artist. First printing of this original edition of 89 numbered and signed copies on Dutch vellum. Copy Nº5 signed by the artist, part of the first 20 copies with an original watercolor and the decomposition of a plate, absent here, on the other hand we have 3 original full-page drawings, including two unpublished. Apart from a few tiny spots on the back, the copy is very clean and the colors are beautifully fresh. The layout is bold and the whole thing quite enjoyable.
I'm pretty sure that that's the signature of Jean Berque on the Limited Edition page
I seem to have 15 separate four-sided sheets plus two which have only one image on them, no text (scans 9 and 10), and the cover page (scan 1)
I think the two with one image, which have transparent coverings, unlike the others, are watercolours, as before them someone has written in pencil 'avec 2 aquarelles'
The page numbers go from 7 to 51, but I don't think that means anything is necessarily missing. The text on page 7 begins, 'Qu'il me baise des baisers de sa bouche!' which is, indeed, the start of the Song of Solomon
Some foxing
Please click on the scans to see the details of the images, as these form the major part of the description
Do please check out my other items, and also add me to your Saved Sellers list!
I will happily combine shipping
NB I will mail this to some countries abroad, but I shall require the Buyer to take out International Signed For postage with full insurance for whatever value it ends up at
I've put an estimate of £40.00 on the postage, but international bidders please contact me before you pay so that we can establish the actual cost, which may be less!
****************************************************
Payment
I always get a Proof of Posting certificate, and if an item does get lost in the post I will forward it to you for you to make a claim, since as the Buyer you can claim the full amount of your loss
However, in over 20,000 parcels I've mailed out over the last fifteen years only about a dozen have gone astray, and most of these were overseas
If you're at all worried about losing something, do ask for Recorded Delivery - £1.30 extra in the UK and £7 for overseas
Shipping
Airmail takes between three and five days. The Post Office warns that Surface mail to the USA, Australia, etc, can take as long as 12 weeks, but it is, obviously, a lot cheaper
In practice, American buyers tell me that Surface mail usually takes between 14 and 21 days (and apparently it actually travels by air, filling any space after the official Airmail items are loaded)
