HUYSMANS (Joris-Karl). The Cathedral. Paris, Blaizot, Kieffer, 1909. Two volumes in-4, one of which is a suite, red morocco, mosaic decoration underlined by fillets on the bindings and boards, with large angular pieces of foliage and ogival lines, ornate spine, upper flyleaf featuring a blessing Christ in wood marquetry, gilt edges on witnesses, covers and spine, matching folder and slipcase; the suite volume covered in the same morocco, flyleaves edged in morocco with mosaic decoration, gilt edges on witnesses, slipcase (Cretté succ. de Marius Michel). Illustrated with 64 original etchings by Charles Jouas. Edition of 250 copies, this one of 30 copies on vellum, containing 3 states of the etchings including the pure etching. It is enriched by 10 original drawings by Charles Jouas, including one signed on the false-title, and 9 hors-texte, including 6 large ones in colour (5 of which are signed), the first of which is a blessing Christ reproduced in wood marquetry inlaid on the first flyleaf, a portrait of Huysmans in colour (printed at 10) and in black (printed at 20). The volume of suites contains 130 plates, the last 2 of which are signed proofs, one of which was refused. It is enriched by the catalogue of the Jouas exhibition in Paris, Galerie Chayne & Simonson in 1913, one of 12 copies on Japon signed by the artist and containing 2 states of the cover etching. Exceptional mosaic binding by Georges Cretté, a worthy successor to Marius Michel, decorated with marquetry inlaid on the flyleaf depicting a stained-glass window. From the libraries of Jean Borderel (1938, n°132) and Jean Pioux (with bookplate). Rubbing to the spine of the dust jacket, small snags to the nerves of the vol. of sequels; slight transfer of the frontispiece to the title, tiny sporadic foxing.