MALAYA KNIGA MARKIZY Das Lesebuch der Marquise: Ein Rokokobuch von Franz Blei und Constantin Somoff [The Marquise’s Book: An Anthology of Rococo-Era Poetry and Prose by Franz Blei and Konstantin Somov]. [Munich: Hans von Weber Verlag, 1908]. – [6], 142, [2] pp.: ill.; [7] l. ill., 1 frontispiece; 21.5 × 15.7 cm.

Edition of 850 copies: 800 printed on Dutch paper and 50 on Japanese paper. In German. Woodcut illustrations on separate leaves, with decorative frames, headpieces, and tailpieces in the text. Three of the separate illustrations are hand-colored with watercolour. Publisher’s full leather (maroquin) binding with gilt embossing on the front cover, designed by K. Somov. Endpapers lined with crimson velvet. Top edge gilt. In good condition. Some scuffing and minor stains on the binding, small losses of leather at the edges of the spine and cover corners, and a crack at the top of the spine. The Book of the Marquess is an anthology of frivolous texts illustrated with erotic drawings by artist Konstantin Somov. It includes excerpts from erotic works by André Chénier, Casanova, Parny, Voltaire, Crébillon fils, and passages from Choderlos de Laclos’ Dangerous Liaisons. The concept for the collection originated with Austrian essayist, translator, and publisher of pornographic periodicals Franz Blei (1871–1942). The book was published in three editions: The 1908 German edition, featuring only eight illustrations (The Little Marquise). Two editions in Petrograd in 1918, printed at the requisitioned Golike & Vilborg press, with expanded texts in French: The Medium Marquise (24 illustrated plates). The Grand Marquise (31 illustrations), the most provocative edition. A bibliophilic rarity, the book’s illustrations by Konstantin Somov are considered masterpieces of Silver Age book art and one of the pinnacles of Russian book graphics. First edition. Bibliography: Bibliochronika I, No. 165; Books for Gourmets, No. 18; Gubar Nos. 1738–1739.