"Ten Droll Stories, being the story of the fair imperia" by Honore de Balzac and illustrated by Jean de Bosschere - John Lane, London - 1926 first thus UK edition - 18cmx15cm - condition: very good, in orange publisher's binding, minor rubbing, all coloured plates by Bosschere An excellent copy of Honore de Balzac's famous short story collection. Illustrated throughout by the famous Belgian painter Jean de Bosschere. The first edition of these tales illustrated by Jean de Bosschere. With a frontispiece and twenty-three plates. Bosschere was renowned for his lavish and erotic colour plates, with their stunning use of saturated plates. His style complements the themes of the droll tales, or the 'contes drolatiques'.The Droll stories are Rabelaisian in theme, and are a pastiche of 16th century language. Comprising all ten tales.