ZOLA, Emile

The Masterpieces of Emile Zola. [Comprising] L'Assommoir; La Curée; Germinal; Nana; Pot-Bouille [and] La Terre

[Philadelphia], 'Printed for subscribers only from the plates made by the Lutetian Society' [by George Barrie & Son, circa 1924].

Crown octavo, 11 volumes (of 12, lacking the first volume of 'Nana'), with numerous etched plates after paintings by Auguste Francois Gorguet, Louise Malteste, Alcide-Theophile Robaudi and Pierre Vidal.

Superbly bound in full burgundy levant morocco, extensively hand-tooled in gilt, with small circular turquoise morocco onlays to the sides; series title ('Rougon-Macquart Edition') at the foot of the spine; inner gilt dentelles; top edges gilt, others uncut; spines slightly sunned and occasionally slightly rubbed; title of 'La Curée' is misspelt 'La Curre' on the spines and title pages (but not on the half-titles); bookplate of E.A. Matison in each volume; very faint tidemark to the top corner of at least a few leaves in most volumes; with some marks to the blank leading margins of two volumes (Germinal II and Nana II); nevertheless, a handsome set in excellent condition overall.

Number 160 of 1000 sets of the 'Library Edition, with the etchings on Japan paper', comprising unexpurgated translations of six novels from Zola's sweeping Rougon-Macquart novel cycle. The stated aim of the Lutetian Society was 'to issue to its members translations of such representative master-pieces of fiction by Continental authors as are unprocurable in England in an unmutilated rendering'. This appears to be an early American stereotype reissue. 'L'Assommoir' is translated by Arthur Symons; 'La Curée' by A. Teixeira de Mattos; 'Germinal' by Havelock Ellis; 'Nana' by Victor Plaar; 'Pot-Bouille' by Percy Pinkerton; and 'La Terre' by Ernest Dowson.