Fifty-Four Heliogravures of Art Deco Storefronts at the Exhibition

Herbst, Rene

Devantures Vitrines Installations de Magasins à l'Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs Paris 1925 [ 2e series ]

Paris: C. H. Moreau 1925. First Edition. 4 pages (list of plates) + 54 plates (versos blank) illustrated in Heliogravure (black and white). Complete. 13 x 10 inches (oblong folio). Portfolio covers printed paper over boards and thin black cloth spine. Portfolio with worn corners, cover ties lacking, wear at spine with hinges coming loose. The first 4 pages are taped together at the gutter, and are well worn. Several plates have corner creases not extending into the image. Plate one has a short tear in the margins, 2 plates with small corner creases. One plate has overall soiling. Otherwise light occasional soiling throughout. Very Good. Boards. [23850]


A portfolio containing 54 black and white heliogravure plates documenting the Storefronts, Display, and Showcases, Installations and other facilities at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs Worlds Fair held in Paris in 1925.

A review of OCLC/Worldcat and past dealer offerings finds substantial confusion regarding this title. Issue dates range from 1925 to 1928, and plate counts are either 54 or 60. Page [2] helps sort out the confusion. It notes this portfolio was issued as one part of a collection of 4 titles. The additional 3 titles are "Devantures, Vitrines, Installations de Magasins" 1e [1st series] and a further two with a new title "Nouvelles Devatures et Agencements de Magasins" 3e and 4e [3rd and 4th series]. Based on the context, this portfolio is the 2nd series. The fact that each plate is marked "Devantures et Installations De Magasins - 2e series" and "Helio Faucheux et Fils, Chelles" supports this conclusion. Additionally, the sole copy with the same title offered as of this listing contains 60 plates and lacks the '2e series' notation on the plates (no doubt it is the 1st series).

The portfolio is complete based on the "Table des Planches" on pages [3] and [4]. Scarce in the marketplace and a wonderful piece of documentation from the Art Deco period.

ITEM SOLD