84 pp. theatrical work by L'Herbier, divided into three sections - "Poupre", "Noir", and "Or", with an original illustration by Marcel Feguide and a tipped-in photographic portrait of L'Herbier by Man Ray. Quarto (11 x 8 3/4 inches). Original illustrated cardstock covers by Feguide. Some rubbing and abrasions to wrappers, light wear to spine, some separation of signature block from wrappers, light scattered staining to interior, overall very good. Paris: Georges Crès & Cie., 1917. Limited edition of 295 copies.

Marcel L'Herbier (1888-1979) was a French avant-garde filmmaker and founder of the French film school Institut des hautes études cinématographiques. In 1912 he met Georgette Leblanc, an opera singer, actress, and author, and under her influence began to write plays. When the war broke out in 1914, L'Herbier went to work in a factory making military uniforms, unable to join the military due to a hand injury several years prior. He served in several auxiliary units of the armed forces and towards the end of the war, by chance, was transferred to the Section Cinématographique de l'Armée, where he received his first training in filmmaking. He went on to have an illustrious career in filmmaking, and although his work was critically acclaimed in France, it has been much forgotten in the English-speaking world.

This work dates to the period towards the end of the war, before L'Herbier began his career in film. The rear flyleaf states that this volume was printed April 18, 1917, on the 990th day of the war. The play has been called "an aestheticized revolt against the war". It had its premiere in 1919 at the Théâtre Edouard VII by Art et Action. The state design is dominated in the three sections by the three noted colors.

As of May 2025, OCLC locates only two copies of this work in North American libraries.

Book ID: 53474

Price: $600.00