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Author: Edwards, Augustin
Title: Cuchicheos de un Abuelo. Aventuras de Juan Esparraguito o el Niño Casi Legumbre
Place Published: Argenteuil
Publisher:Couluma
Date Published: 1930
Description:

[viii], 145, [2] pp. 22 full page plates and 25 text illustrations, and 14 initial letters, all with pochoir coloring. (Folio) 40x30 cm (15¾x11¾") original pictorial wrappers. Custom cloth box. Copy no. 166 of 900 copies on Velin Lafuma from a total edition of 1000 copies. First Edition.

This astonishingly beautiful book is a fairy tale about a little boy who dreams of being a full-fledged asparagus some day; the illustrations and full-page plates show his journey and the people and creatures he meets along the way. Although the colophon states that 1000 copies were produced, the book is very uncommon. This copy is specifically dedicated in type within the colophon to Ginette Couluma (presumably a relative of the printer). In quality the book is reminiscent of the work of Schmied; some of the plates include gold or silver in the printing. Throughout the novel there is an interesting mixture of world history, religion, and fantasy -- characteristics which one tends to associate with the authors of South American literature and the idea of 'realismo magico.'

A bit of separation between a few signatures but still a near fine copy.