La Vie des Abeilles

Paris: Bibliothèque-Carpentier, 1914 Reprint. Hard cover, 8 vo., in contemporary green crushed morocco with a gilt "trellis" design, featuring blue petalled floral onlays at the intersections. The spine with five raised bands, ruled in gilt, the compartments with similar decoration. A series of gilt dots are worked on the endcaps. The turn-ins feature triple-ruled gilt. A scarce Fine Binding signed by Miss M. Marshall; the binder is identified with a gilt pallet stamp on the rear turn-in. Green watercolor-effect endpapers. All edges gilt. Collation: (12), 311, (9). In French. **CONDITION: Very Good Plus. Slight wear to joints and oxidation to spine. Text block is tight, corners clean, hinges strong. Pages toned. A gift inscription dated 1969 in fountain pen on ffep. ** "The Life of Bees" was first published in 1901, and remains one of the author's more important prose works, an exploration of both science and human behavior. While poetic and philosophical in tone, it discusses the natural history aspects of beekeeping, including "their complex society, habits and accomplishments." The Belgian COMTE MAURICE MAETERLINCK (1862-1949) would win the Nobel prize for Literature in 1911. Hollywood came calling, and Maeterlinck prepared a treatment of this work for Samuel Goldwyn . "But after reading a few pages Goldwyn burst out of his office, exclaiming "My God, The hero is a bee!" It has been said that Maeterlinck's works represent the Symbolist reaction against materialism, science, and mechanization and are concerned with such questions as the immortality of the soul, the nature of death, and the attainment of wisdom. (Britannica) ***The English Arts and Crafts fine bookbinder, MISS M. MARSHALL once worked at 5 Bloomsbury Square , where Sangorsky and Sutcliffe had their first bindery early in the 1900's. It is unclear whether she trained with them, but she shared the Cobden-Sanderson-influenced style of her Guild of Women Bookbinders contemporaries. She collaborated with Edith J. Gedye in their early careers and the two exhibited together at the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society shows of 1903 and 1906. (Tidcombe, Women Bookbinders pp.171-172). Miss Marshall would go on to offer her own bookbinding classes for women at least until the start of the Great War. An interesting article on her observations of this profession for women is found within "The Fingerpost: A Guide to the Professions and Occupations of Educated Women, with Information as to Necessary Training." (London: Central Employment Bureau for Women and Students, 1906.) She states: "Of the many careers opened of late years to women, bookbinding is perhaps the one most attractive in point of interest, combining as it does physical, mental and artistic effort. Whether it is a lucrative career must depend entirely upon the individual." (pp.158-159). Overall a very handsome, well executed item.. Hard Cover. Very Good Plus.