ARISTOPHANES; Lucien BOUCHER [Illus.]; Mario MEUNIER [Adap.] ~ Les Oiseaux [‘The Birds’].

Marcel Seheur, Paris: 1928.

Large 8vo., glued card wraps with integrated folded cream dustwrapper printed in green, brown and black; outer edges untrimmed; with decorative printed title, and numerous other decorative head and tail pieces throughout in the same colours; THE BOOK near-fine, some pages entirely unopened, with small spots to the outer edge and prelims the only defects; THE WRAPPER with some very light shelfwear, else near-fine. The wrapper is protected in a removable mylar cover. Limited edition, one of 900 numbered examples, this No. 83. Les Oiseaux ('The Birds') is an Ancient Greek comedy written by the 5th century poet Arisophanes. Purportedly first performed during the Peloponnesian War, the plot follows two Athenians Pisthetaerus and Euelpides who, disillusioned with a life of corruption, politics and social disorder in the city, found a new city of birds, positioned half way between the earth and the gods. With the intention to live in peace and justice, and aided by a Hoopoe bird who was a king in a former life, the characters ask to be cleansed of their human qualities and instead be 'inhabited’, by the bestial drive of the birds. This adaptation by the self-confessed Hellenist Mario Meuinier, who honed his knowledge of ancient greek while living with the Benedictines of Marseille. It comes complete with vibrant illustrations by Lucien Boucher, who is best known today for his surrealistic maps drawn to illustrate a series of posters for Air France in the 1920s. In exceptionally fine condition, seldom found thus.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Near Fine
JACKET: Near Fine