MARIA STAR (Ernesta Stern) (1854-1926) «TERRE DES SYMBOLES» Paris, Gazette des Beaux-Arts, 1903.

Numbered 6/10 on Japanese paper (limited edition of 310 with only 10 printed in Japanese paper, very rare), in folio. Colour illustrations by Italian orientalist artist Raffaele Mainella (1856-1941). The book contains one watercolour by Mainella with a text by Maria Star addressed to Princess Alice of Monaco, owner of the book (placed on the front page). In French. Very good condition, binding in very good condition with leather spine and corners. Provenance: Private collection, South of France Maria Star (pseudonym of Ernesta Stern) was a French author of Italian origin. She was mostly known for her Venetian tales and novels. Mainella studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti of Naples, Italy and was inspired by his travels to Greece, Syria, Palestine and Egypt. In 1897, his rich collection of watercolours of Egypt, the Holy Land and Venice was exhibited at the International Art Exhibition in Venice and found many admirers and buyers, among which was Ernesta Stern. This book was printed in 310 copies, but only 10 were printed on Japanese paper