Fair Women
At Fontainebleau

By Frank Hamel
Author of Famous French Salons

Illustrated

Published By Eveleigh Nash
Fawside House, London
1909
First Edition

Signed Fine Leather Binding. The binding is signed " Morrell Binder London " at the upper-left corner of the front endpaper.
The blue cloth of the original publisher's binding was retained and bound-in by Morrell as the last pages of the book.
( see the photos )
Hardcover.
Three-quarter leather binding.
Leather over blue linen.
Raised spine bands with six spine compartments.
Gilt spine decoration.
" 1909 " at the spine tail.
Top page edge gilt.
Marbled endpapers.
Attached silk bookmark.
6" x 9"
441 pages. Indexed.

Biographies of women associated with Fontainebleau in France.

9 illustrations, from paintings ( portraits ) - Mme. de Pompadour , Diane de Poitiers , Gabrielle d'Estrees , Anne of Austria , Marie de Mancini , Louise de la Valliere , Mme. de Montespan , Mme. du Barry , and The Empress Josephine.

In addition to those with portraits, there are chapters on Catharine de Medicis , Marie Antoinette , Christina of Sweden , etc.
------

Fontainebleau is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris , France , about 34 miles south-southeast of the city center. It is renowned for the large and scenic Forest of Fontainebleau, a favourite weekend getaway for Parisians, as well as for the historic Chateau de Fontainebleau, which for hundreds of years belonged to the kings of France.
It is renowned for its Renaissance art, Napoleon’s history, etc.

------

Very Good Condition
Light wear to the binding. The leather has a few worn spots, small scuffs.
( see the photos )
The hinges are very tight.
No writing.
No markings.
The pages are clean and in very good condition.
The silk bookmark is still attached.
Morrell bound-in the original blue cloth covers (the cloth only) at the rear of the book.

Handsome fine leather binding, signed by Morrell Bindery of London in the early 1900s.

Carefully packed for shipment to the buyer.

------

Historical information :

Morrell of London

The House of Morrell was a prominent English book bindery established around 1861 by W.T. Morrell, succeeding the renowned Charles Lewis workshop at 17 Frith Street, Soho, London. Known for high-quality, hand-bound leather books and gilt decoration, the firm was managed by W.J. Morrell from 1887, and employed 50 staff in their prime, emphasizing hand-binding, in-house marbling, and gilding.
They produced high-quality, elaborately gilt-decorated leather bindings in the 19th to mid 20th centuries, which are considered valuable collectibles today.