The Folio Society edition of the sixth tale of the second Decade of Balzac’s collection of Droll Tales has three extra words, as bracketed here, “The Danger of being too (much of an) Innocent”, included in the title, which are not included by the other two publishers featured.
Here is Mervyn Peake’s drawing for Folio;
Gustave Doré has produced three pictures for The Bibliophilist Society;
and Jean de Bosschère one for Covici Friede.
The story tells of the parental figures’ control of the childhoods of the young subjects of an arranged marriage; the first nights of the bride and groom; their ignorance of what each was to expect of the other between the sheets; their seeking instruction from older teachers; and the subsequent outcome.
Further details of each of these publications is given in https://derrickjknight.com/2023/01/06/droll-tales-1/except that the second Decade is published by New York’s Covici, Friede in 1929. It is America’s first edition thus and is a limited copy. The illustrations are not protected by tissue but the book’s condition is good and covered by a cellophane wrapper.
The illustrations are quite good!
Thank you very much, Lavinia
I agree with Lavinia.
Thanks very much, Pat
Again, it’s interesting how different the illustrations are. They could be totally different stories.
Indeed. Thank you very much, Merril
I’m drawn to the Jean de Bosschère illustration for its aesthetics.
Thanks very much, Liz. A touch of Aubrey Beardsley
You’re welcome, Derrick.
All interesting once again. But, I must say…the Jean de Bosschere is beautiful and brings emotions.
(((HUGS)))