Henry Bordeaux - Les Yeux qui s'ouvrent ca. 1922 | Half-leather marbled band

Fine early 20th-century edition of Les Yeux qui s'ouvrent by the French writer Henry Bordeaux, published in Paris by Librairie Plon, Plon-Nourrit et Cie. The book is undated, but based on the works by Bordeaux listed in the book, it can be dated to around 1922.

Les Yeux qui s'ouvrent was originally published in 1907-1908 and deals with a marriage that seems to be heading towards divorce. Albert and Élisabeth Derize are central to the story, as are the ways in which their views on their marriage, love, and responsibility change throughout the narrative. The work belongs to the French bourgeois literature of the early 20th century and is one of Henry Bordeaux's better-known novels; he was a member of the Académie française from 1919.

This copy is particularly distinguished by its exceptionally fine private binding. The book is bound in half-leather with marbled front and back boards and matching marbled endpapers. The light brown leather spine features raised bands and a dark green leather title label with gilded lettering. The marbled paper is in warm shades of brown, cream, red, and green and has been remarkably well preserved both on the outside and on the endpapers.

On the back endpaper is an old English ex libris with the text "From the Library of", followed by the handwritten name of a former owner.

Details:

• Author: Henry Bordeaux
• Title: Les Yeux qui s'ouvrent
• Publisher: Librairie Plon, Plon-Nourrit et Cie
• Place of publication: Paris
• Date of copy: ca. 1922
• Original publication of the work: 1907-1908
• Language: French
• Extent: ca. 330 pages + table of contents
• Binding: half-leather private binding / binder's binding
• Spine: light brown leather with raised bands
• Title label: dark green leather with gilded lettering
• Boards: marbled paper
• Endpapers: marbled
• Ex libris: present, with handwritten owner's name
• Dimensions: ca. 18.2 × 12 cm
• Thickness: ca. 2.5 cm
• Provenance: France

Condition:
Very good antiquarian condition. The half-leather binding is sturdy and remarkably well preserved, with only slight signs of wear consistent with its age. The leather is neat, the green title label is complete, and the gilded lettering is clearly legible. The marbled paper on the boards and endpapers has retained its colours well. The binding is in very good order and the text block is firmly secured in the binding. The interior is clean and clearly legible, with normal slight age-related discoloration and occasionally a small stain or light foxing. Old ex libris on the back endpaper. See the photos for a complete picture of the condition.