☙ Les Amours pastorales de Daphnis et Chloé

1930 - Longus

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☙ Les Amours pastorales de Daphnis et Chloé

✑ Longus

LES AMOURS PASTORALES DE DAPHNIS ET CHLOÉ

This monumental edition of the Pastoral Loves of Daphnis and Chloe represents one of the pinnacles of French illustration during the interwar period. Printed between July 1930 and April 1931, it testifies to the exceptional collaboration between Marcel and Simone Valotaire and illustrator Sylvain Sauvage. The text, established from Léon Pichon's 1919 edition, uses the famous translation by Jacques Amyot, Bishop of Auxerre and tutor to the sons of Henri II. This Hors Commerce copy holds major bibliophilic importance: reserved for Sylvain Sauvage himself, it bears an autograph inscription signed by Marcel Valotaire. It is a unique testimony to the creation of this work, never intended for commercial sale. The 52 hors-texte plates engraved by burin demonstrate Sauvage's exceptional talent in interpreting this masterpiece of Greek pastoral literature. The printing was entrusted to the finest craftsmen: Coulouma in Argenteuil for typography under the direction of H. Barthélemy, and Vernant in Paris for intaglio printing, with Brunel as pressman. The limited edition of 340 numbered copies, to which five special copies were added, makes each volume a sought-after collector's piece.

Why add it to your collection?

Unique Hors Commerce copy reserved for the illustrator Sylvain Sauvage himself, the only artist to receive a personal copy outside the numbered edition

Enriched with a precious autograph inscription signed by Marcel Valotaire, publisher and collaborator of this monumental edition

52 hors-texte plates engraved by burin by Sylvain Sauvage, master illustrator of the interwar period, in exceptional print quality

Impeccable artistic provenance: this copy was never intended for commercial sale and constitutes a unique testimony to bibliophilic creation

De luxe edition limited to only 340 numbered copies, printed with extreme care by the finest Parisian craftsmen between 1930 and 1931

Description

Longus's work and Amyot's translation

The Pastoral Loves of Daphnis and Chloe, a Greek novel attributed to Longus and probably composed in the 2nd or 3rd century AD, remains one of the masterpieces of ancient pastoral literature. Jacques Amyot's translation, completed in the 16th century, profoundly marked the French language and remains a reference for its literary quality and elegance. This 1930-1931 edition reproduces the historical text established by Léon Pichon in 1919.

Sylvain Sauvage, master illustrator

Sylvain Sauvage (1888-1948) ranks among the greatest French illustrators of the interwar period. Trained at the École des Beaux-Arts, he excelled in wood engraving and burin work. For this edition of Daphnis and Chloe, he created 52 hors-texte plates of remarkable sensitivity, capturing the grace and innocence of the pastoral tale with exceptional fineness of line. His style combines classicism and modernity, paying tribute to Antiquity while embracing Art Deco aesthetics.

A unique Hors Commerce copy

This Hors Commerce copy represents an absolute rarity in the world of bibliophilia. Reserved for the illustrator himself, Sylvain Sauvage, it stands outside the official print run limited to 340 numbered copies (5 special copies numbered 1 to 5, 35 on Imperial Japan paper with suites, 50 on handmade Montval laid paper with suite, and 250 on Rives laid paper). The autograph inscription signed by Marcel Valotaire adds an invaluable personal and historical dimension, testifying to the relationship between publisher and artist.

Exceptional printing

The printing of this edition mobilized the best Parisian workshops for nine months. Typography was entrusted to the Coulouma printing house in Argenteuil, under the expert direction of H. Barthélemy, guaranteeing impeccable typographic quality. For the intaglio engravings, the Vernant workshop in Paris, with Brunel as pressman, handled the printing of the 52 plates. This dual technical excellence makes each page an art object.

Bibliophilic interest and provenance

The provenance of this copy makes it a unique piece in the history of French illustrated books. Never intended for commercial sale, it constitutes direct testimony to artistic and editorial creation. For collectors, it represents the rare opportunity to acquire not only a remarkable deluxe edition, but also a historical document bearing the mark of the creators themselves. Valotaire's dedication to Sauvage seals the authenticity and importance of this copy in the history of 20th-century bibliophilia.

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