Geneviève Laporte – Les Cavaliers d’Ombre / Sous le Manteau de Feu
Illustrated by Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau
Published by Joseph Forêt, Paris, 1956
One volume, tête-bêche edition (double-sided)
This is an original 1956 first edition, published by Joseph Forêt in a limited printing of 300 numbered copies on fine papier alfa d’édition.
This copy is numbered 296.
The book is issued as a tête-bêche (reversible) volume, containing two separate works by Geneviève Laporte:
1. Les Cavaliers d’Ombre
With two original lithographic illustrations by Pablo Picasso, printed in black.
Includes the half-title and title pages for this section.
Preceded by a preface by Jacques Audiberti.
Your copy also contains a fully handwritten dedication and signature by Geneviève Laporte, in violet pencil.
2. Sous le Manteau de Feu
Illustrated with one lithographic frontispiece by Jean Cocteau and an additional Cocteau drawing printed as a vignette.
Includes the corresponding half-title and title pages.
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Printing & Edition Details
Publisher: Joseph Forêt, one of the most important mid-century French art-book publishers.
Year: 1956
Printing method: offset/lithographic reproduction of the original drawings by Picasso and Cocteau.
Paper: Papier Alfa d’édition (fine French uncoated paper, used in limited editions).
Format: unbound sheets as issued (cahiers non-brochés), loose in the original folded covers.
Illustrated covers printed in colour, featuring Cocteau’s and Picasso’s calligraphic lettering.
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Illustrations
Picasso: 2 full-page line-drawings, characteristic of the artist’s 1950s linear style.
Cocteau: 1 frontispiece + 1 internal drawing in the second section.
Both sections preserve the original French layout and typography of Joseph Forêt.
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Special Features of Your Copy
Handwritten dedication and autograph by Geneviève Laporte on the Cavaliers d’Ombre title page.
Original numbered limitation page: exemplar no. 296 / 300.
Sheets are clean, crisp, and complete, preserved in the original double illustrated covers.