Salvador Dalí (1904–1989) – Les Amours de Cassandre
Pierre de Ronsard | Éditions Argillet, Paris, 1968 | Deluxe Edition – Copy No. 119/299
An exceptional Deluxe copy of one of Salvador Dalí’s most celebrated livres d’artiste, published by Éditions Argillet in Paris in 1968 to accompany Pierre de Ronsard’s Renaissance love poems.
Les Amours de Cassandre is widely regarded as one of the finest illustrated books created during Dalí’s distinguished collaboration with publisher Pierre Argillet.
This remarkable example, No. 119 from the limited edition of 299 numbered copies, is personally hand-signed and dated in pencil by Salvador Dalí on the justification page.
It belongs to the particularly desirable Deluxe issue, limited to only 75 copies printed on tinted Arches paper, distinguished by the inclusion of an additional suite of original engravings.
The complete portfolio contains 28 original drypoint engravings by Salvador Dalí, comprising:
- 18 original drypoint engravings illustrating Ronsard’s poems, including 10 full-page hors-texte engravings and 8 engraved vignettes incorporated into the text.
- An additional suite of 10 original full-page drypoint engravings printed in black, reserved exclusively for the Deluxe edition.
Each of the ten full-page engravings bears the publisher’s embossed blindstamp incorporating Dalí’s signature. The justification page is separately and personally hand-signed and dated in pencil by Salvador Dalí.
The portfolio is preserved in its original embossed wrappers, accompanied by the publisher’s gilt-decorated chemise and matching illustrated slipcase.
Executed entirely in drypoint, one of the most demanding traditional intaglio printmaking techniques, the engravings demonstrate Dalí’s exceptional command of line, atmosphere and Surrealist imagery. His distinctive artistic vision transforms Ronsard’s Renaissance poetry into a remarkable sequence of compositions combining eroticism, symbolism, fantasy and meticulous graphic detail.
The presence of the rare additional suite of ten original engravings in black, together with the original publisher’s presentation and the artist’s handwritten signature, makes this Deluxe issue particularly desirable among collectors of Salvador Dalí’s original graphic works and illustrated books.
Complete Deluxe examples retaining their additional suite and original presentation are especially sought after.
Bibliography
Michler & Löpsinger: 248–265
Field: 68-2
Edition Details
Artist: Salvador Dalí (1904–1989)
Title: Les Amours de Cassandre
Author: Pierre de Ronsard
Publisher: Éditions Argillet, Paris
Year: 1968
Edition: First edition, Deluxe issue
Copy: No. 119/299
Deluxe limitation: One of only 75 copies on tinted Arches paper
Signature: Personally hand-signed and dated in pencil by Salvador Dalí
Technique: Original drypoint engravings
Contents: Complete with 28 original drypoint engravings, including the additional suite of 10 full-page engravings printed in black
Presentation: Original embossed wrappers, publisher’s gilt-decorated chemise and illustrated slipcase
Rarity: Rare Deluxe edition, particularly desirable with the complete additional suite in black.
