L'Effort. Paris,, les bibliophiles contemporains,, 1894. In-4 (28,1 × 21,6 cm), aubergine morocco, ribbed spine decorated with a small gilt mosaic motif, scarlet morocco lining decorated with a wide frame of two aubergine morocco listels and gilt mosaic floral motifs (mauve, violet and moss green morocco), mauve moiré silk endpapers, double cover and spine preserved, gilt edges, slipcase (Ch. Meunier. 99). One of the great symbolist books. Collection of four tales: la Madone, decorated with 18 coloured lithographs by Alexandre Lunois; l'Antechrist, decorated with 38 watercoloured stencil compositions by Eugène Courboin; l'Immortalité, decorated with 33 figures, including 10 etchings by Massé and 23 watercolours; la Fin du monde, decorated with 47 figures by Alexandre Séon. The book also includes a cover and three watercolour stencil compositions by Léon Rudnicki. "A very interesting and highly-rated publication, designed for its time in a modern style with a great deal of artistic effort; moreover, it should not be forgotten that the president of this company, Octave Uzanne, was a precursor of the modern book" (Carteret). Limited edition of 180 copies (no. 16, printed for M. Jules Bocquin). It has a double cover, one watercoloured, the other not. This copy was included in the exhibition "French Symbolist Painters", organised under the aegis of the Arts Council of Great Britain in 1972 (catalogue no. 329) and in the exhibition "Neue Kunst in der Schweiz zu Beginn unseres Jahrhunderts" at the Kunsthaus Zürich in 1967 (no. 230). A fine copy in a lined binding by Charles Meunier. Spine a little darkened, nerves and head-cap a little rubbed. Provenance: Jules Bocquin (subscriber). Bibliography: Carteret, Illustrés, IV, 198.