Rare book 'Seigneurs et Princes de Monaco' by S.E René Novella

This exceptional book titled 'Seigneurs et Princes de Monaco' (Lords & Princes of Monaco) was written by S.E René Novella and illustrated by Philip Reder. The publication describes in detail the history of Monaco as well as the history of its Lords and Princes. Traditional book manufacturing processes were followed by the publishers Arts et Couleurs to create this 20th-century publication.

The cover of the book is made from superb red leather, the front cover debossed with various gold and black patterns.  

Each page is beautifully decorated with intricate border detailing. Greens, blues, and reds predominate in the design of page borders, but other colour palettes are applied to, for example, the illustrations. The names of lords and princes are further surrounded by charming borders with motifs such as crowns. The text is decorated with ornate lettering.

The book comes with a luxurious red satin case, with a leather spine as well as a certificate of authenticity. A set of red lacquer illustrations of various arches is part of the publication. Only 150 examples were made, with the one in Mayfair Gallery’s collection being number 17.

A very unusual find, this book celebrates the traditional craftsmanship of bookmaking and makes a superb addition to one's collection of rare books.

Book: Height 6.5cm, width 30cm, depth 38cm
Case: Height 9.5cm, width 34cm, depth 40cm