[1918]. Limited edition no 226. Large folio, pp. [ii], [viii], 430, [2]; with subscriber’s presentation Art Deco frontispiece on laid paper with mounted photograph portrait of Doctor Léon Bouyssou, one facsimile letter by General Maunoury in the preface on heavy laid paper, two photogravure portraits of Justin Godart and Ariste Quillet, two heliogravures, and 19 coloured plates (of which one is double-page, one an 'autochrome' colour photograph, one sepia, and 11 are coloured reproductions of artists paintings mounted on grey or cream card and with printed tissue overlays); with one full-page illustration in the text, and further copious photographs, colour and black and white illustrations, diagrams and sketches throughout; some creasing to some of the printed overlays, some occasional light foxing, but otherwise clean and crisp; bound in the attractive publisher’s decorative binding of mottled calf over cloth, the cloth decorated with red crosses amidst green leaf design, calf attractively tooled and lettered in gilt with floral wreath, endpapers in the same decorated cloth, spine in compartments with raised bands, head and tail of spine, and joints all a little rubbed and worn, inner hinges discreetly strengthened as issued, book block slightly shaken due to size and weight, covers a little scuffed and rubbed, with lower fore-edge slight worn and worn, with further light wear to extremities; a good copy. A truly monumental work celebrating the work and sacrifice of the Red Cross and associated medical services during WWI, exquisitely and lavishly published in a limited edition of 5,000 copies, of which this is nos 226, ‘exclusivement au personnel du Service de Santé pendant la guerre (1914-1918)’ (half-title), and ‘dans a grande tradition de la typographie française’ (subscription notice). Of particular appeal, the original subscriber took advantage of the opportunity to have a personalised photographic frontispiece and citation of service bound in to his copy.
The original subscription notice issued by Quillet stated that the proposed work was intended to recognise the tireless and often tedious work done by the various health services, who had witnessed so much suffering and misery ‘almost never without peril, but too often without glory’. ‘Ce prodigieux travail d'organisation, ces progrès merveilleux de la science de guérir, cette admirable floraison de générosité devaient avoir leur histoire. C'est cette histoire que nous avons voulu fixer’ (subscription notice found online).
As a result of the conditions and immense challenges faced during the war, not only had the Red Cross service undergone a huge transformation, but great advances had been made throughout all of the major branches of medicine and surgery, and which are graphically reflected in the present work. Thus chapters provide a brief history of the Red Cross, their work before and during the war, the work of the Ministry of Hygiene, the progress of surgery during the conflict with emphasis placed upon plastic surgery, general medical advances, the organisation of the pharmaceutical services, post-trauma care for the wounded, and with a final chapter dedicated to ‘Tableau d’honneur du Service de santé’, including brief citations for those who died in the health services, as well as a list, together with accompanying photograph, of the various military hospitals. The editor, François Albert, drew upon the expertise of 50 eminent specialists who contributed essays to the work, including George Brouardel, Jean Camus, H. Morestin (with his chapter on wounds of the face and the development of plastic surgery), Achille Delmas and George Dumas (contributing a chapter on mental disorders of the war), Laurent Moreau (The health service at sea in time of war), and Ruotte (the health service in the East).
Copiously and graphically illustrated, using a range of artistic mediums, the editors spare no punches when it comes to representing all areas of warfare - with some very graphic images of injuries sustained included. Two images are particularly evocative and striking: the reproduction of a painting of Edith Cavell by Paul Prévôt, showing her lying on the ground at the feet of a German officer after her execution: the other the final heliogravure ‘Soir d’attaque en Champagne’ by George Barriere, showing two stretcher bearers carrying away a wounded soldier from no-mans’ land.
According to the subscription notice, publication began in April 1917, with a bi-monthly schedule of 60 fascicles planned, each printed on luxury coated paper, in double columns and containing numerous photographs, engravings, diagrams, and coloured images and engravings, and coloured reproductions of paintings. Subscriber’s could have the parts either sent to them by registered mail, or Quillet offered to store the purchased fascicles for those who feared losing or damaging the separate parts. Once publication was complete, the parts could be returned for binding. At this point, it was possible for subscriber’s to have an additional personalised art deco frontispiece added, which would include their own photograph, taken and signed by the noted Parisian photographer Henri Manuel, together with a note of their record of service. Indeed the only condition of subscription was that they had belonged to either the Red Cross, or one of the other branches of the military health service, or associated post-war charity or organisation.
We have handled a few copies of the work over recent years, and this is only the second copy to have included a personalised photographic frontispiece. The present copy, no. 226, belonged to Docteur Léon Gustave Guillaume Bouyssou and the citation below his photograph by Manuel, which has been mounted onto the elegant Art Deco frontispiece, reads ‘Médecin-chef de l’Hôpital auxiliaire no 19 à Bolbec (Seine-Inférieue) Médaille du roi Albert’.
HEAVY ITEM OVER 7KGS SO ADDITIONAL SHIPPING CHARGES WILL APPLY.