Verve | Complete set of this landmark art publication

Verve

Verve: Revue artistique et litteraire. Paris: Teriade, and New York: Harcourt Brace & Co., 1937–1958

Numbers 1–34 in 26 volumes, folio (approximately 355 x 270 mm). Mixed set, mostly French-language editions, but with nos. 3, 5, and 33/34 in English, profusely illustrated with reproductions and original lithographs by various artists of the School of Paris; occasional light soiling and a few small stains, very infrequent light toning, some spotting to no. 1, staining to the final leaf of no. 2, small stains from adhesives to titles and endpapers in nos. 3, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17/18, 23, 24, 25/26, 33/34. Original wrappers and pictorial boards, some rubbing and wear to extremities, occasional light toning and pale dampstaining to spines, a few creases to jacket flaps, no. 1 with mild foxing to the wrapper, no. 13 with losses at head and tail of spine, no. 16 with a toned tape repair to wrapper at tail of spine, no. 31/32 with tape repairs at head and tail of spine, and no 33/34 with repaired losses to wrapper edges, altogether a very good set. Each issue in a mylar protector, the set housed in 8 custom brown cloth clamshell cases, with printed paper labels to spines; light rubbing to extremities, a few nearly-indiscernible pale stains.

A complete run of this sumptuous mid-century Parisian arts journal.

This landmark Modernist magazine is prized for its lithographs of works by celebrated French artists. The illustrated covers alone feature work by a veritable who's who of the Paris School, including Matisse, Braque, Bonnard, Rouault, Maillol, Chagall, and Picasso. Other artists who contributed include Kandinsky, Leger, Giacometti, Derain, and Klee, among others. Published by Teriade between 1937 and 1960, in addition to the remarkable range of artists it featured, its early literary contributors included James Joyce and Ernest Hemingway.

The set is uncommon when found complete and in presentable condition, as here.

The contents of Verve comprise:

No. 1: Lithographs by Leger, Miro, Ratner, cover by Matisse

No. 2: Lithographs by Kandinsky (2) and Masson (2), cover by Braque

No. 3: Lithographs by Chagall, Miro, Rattner and Klee, cover by Bonnard

No. 4: Lithographs by Matisse (4) and Derain (4), cover by Rouault

No. 5/6: Lithographs by Guys (4). Braque, Rouault, Derain (2), Leger, Bonnard (2), Matisse (2) and Klee, cover by Maillol

No. 7: Les Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry

No. 8: Lithographs by Bonnard, cover by Matisse

No. 9: Les Fouquet de la Bibliotheque Nationale

No. 10: Les Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry

No. 11: Les Fouquet de Chantilly

No. 12: Les Fouquet de Chantilly

No. 13 Matisse, De la Couleur, 2 lithographs and cover by Matisse

No. 14/15 Jean Bourdichon, Les Heures d'Anne de Bretagne

No. 16: Rene d'Anjou

No. 17/18: Couleur de Bonnard, lithograph and cover by Bonnard

No: 19/20: Picasso, Couleur de..., cover by Picasso

No 21/22: Matisse, Vence 1944-48, lithograph and cover by Matisse

No. 23: Le Livre du Coeur d'Amour..., cover by Matisse

No. 24: Contes de Boccace, cover by Chagall

No. 25/26: Picasso, Vallauris 1949-1951, lithograph and cover by Picasso

No. 27/28: Lithographs by Braque (2). Matisse (4), Giacometti (2), Masson (4), Leger (4), Miro (4), cover by Braque

No. 29/30: Suite de 180 dessins de Picasso, 1953-54, 11 lithographs by Picasso

No. 31/32: Carnets Intimes de G. Braque, cover by Braque

No 33/34: Illustrations for the Bible by Marc Chagall, 17 lithographs and cover by Chagall

No. 33/36: Dernieres oeuvres de Matisse, 1950-1954, 40 lithographs and cover by Matisse

No 37/38: Marc Chagall, Dessins pour la Bible, 24 lithographs and cover by Chagall