BARBIER (George) - LEPAPE (Georges) - LOUYS (Pierre). Aphrodite, mœurs antiques. Paris: Les Bibliophiles de l'Amérique latine, [1954]. - 2 volumes in-8, 273 x 200: (6 ff. first 2 blank), IX pp, (1 f.), 159 pp, (2 blank ff.), illustrated cover; (2 blank ff.), pp. (161)-333, (5 ff. last 2 blank), illustrated cover. Leaves, filled cover, publisher's folder and slipcase. One of the most sought-after editions of this text, printed in only 150 copies, illustrated by two of the most important illustrators of the 20th century, George BARBIER (1882-1932) and Georges LEPAPE (1887-1971). The seventh work published by the Compagnie des bibliophiles de l'Amérique latine, it is illustrated with over 100 wood-engraved compositions by the two artists, printed by Pierre Bouchet in collaboration with Pierre Jean Mathan. The history of this edition was an eventful one. In 1929, the Mornay bookshop, buoyed by the success of the Vies imaginaires illustrated by George Barbier, embarked on a bold project: to publish Aphrodite by Pierre Louÿs, enriched with some fifty watercolours by Barbier, to be reproduced as coloured woodcuts by Pierre Bouchet. But ambition came at a price: between royalties (30,000 francs for Fasquelle) and Barbier's remuneration (100,000 francs), the budget exploded, reaching 425,000 francs for a print run limited to 100-125 copies. Mornay withdrew for lack of funds. Barbier, determined, gathered together 15 patrons, each prepared to advance 14,000 francs interest-free. Among them were some prestigious names: Louis Barthou, André Berlaud, Jacques André, Jean Borderel, and other enlightened amateurs. The funds were raised in June 1929, and the dream seemed within reach. But in January 1930, Barbier was struck down by a serious operation and took six months to recover. During this time, the economic crisis further weakened Mornay, who declared himself unable to honour his commitments. Worse still, in 1932, Barbier died, leaving his estate to the Little Sisters of the Poor. This marked the start of a three-year battle for André Berlaud, who negotiated fiercely with the notaries to save the watercolours and recover part of the 75,000 francs already paid. In 1935, an agreement was finally reached: the estate returned 25,000 francs and the precious watercolours. Misfortune followed: Barthou was assassinated in 1934, Berlaud died shortly afterwards, and in 1944, of the 15 original patrons, only four survived (Jacques André, Georges Crellé, Pierre Guerquin and Paul Harth), joined by Marcel Noiselle, who took over from his father-in-law. An attempt to restart the project that year failed miserably. It was not until 1947 that hope was revived, thanks to the Compagnie des Bibliophiles de l'Amérique Latine, chaired by Count Emmanuel de La Rochefoucauld-Montbel. The survivors contributed watercolours, paper and engravings that had already been printed (a quarter of the work). Georges Lepape, faithful to the spirit of Barbier, completed the unfinished drawings, while Pierre Bouchet, heir to the skills of F. L. Schmied, devoted himself body and soul to engraving. After a quarter of a century of ups and downs, grief and perseverance, Aphrodite finally saw the light of day in two volumes in 1954, under the aegis of the Compagnie. A posthumous tribute to Barbier, but also to those passionate bibliophiles - Barthou, Berlaud and the others - whose memory deserves to be celebrated. Their story is a reminder that art sometimes triumphs over time and hardship. (source: Some memories about the present edition by Jacques André.) Of the more than 100 illustrations in this edition, 52 are in colour: one for the cover, one for the title page, 8 full-page illustrations and 42 in the text. The illustrations are accompanied by numerous gilded ornaments, including 32 letterforms and several culs-de-lampe. One of the rare copies on japon, this one nominative, specially printed for Pierre Jean Mathan. It is enriched by the extremely rare afterword by Jacques André, entitled Quelques souvenirs à propos de la présente édition, of which only 15 copies were printed, the contents of which are summarised above. It is printed here on Arches vellum. Also included is a copy of the menu for the meal given at the general meeting of the Amis du livre contemporain on 28 March 1952, illustrated with the gilt composition of the illustration on page 181, as well as two proofs of the same engraving, in brown and red, without the text of the menu. Light stains on pages 19 and 68, as well as on the edge of page 189, otherwise a very well preserved copy. The first leaf of the menu is stained. Provenance: Pierre Jean Mathan.