Jacques Perk, Gedichten, S. L. van Looij Amsterdam, 1897, an edition illustrated by Theo Nieuwenhuis, together with a lithographed poster by Theodoor Nieuwenhuis advertising this edition 1897

the superbly designed bibliophile edition of Jacques Perk's Gedichten (Poems) illustrated with lithographed borders, divisional titles and other bookdecoration and a coloured lithograph of Iris by Theo Nieuwenhuis, the batik binding of black linen with yellow-brown decorations that extend over the spine and the back and front of the book, the parchment binding strips stand out clearly against the dark material, the endpapers are decorated with stylised flowers on a soft yellow-green ground, the borders of the title page of Overige gedichten en Fragmenten are adorned with dogs, cats, fish and birds. Once this edition had been marketed, the stones were ground smooth, so that it was impossible to make a reprint. Together with a coloured lithographed poster advertising this edition, in dark blue and yellow on a white ground, probably printed by S. L. van Looy Amsterdam

Exhib. Cat. Amsterdam Rijksmuseum, 2000, p. 105, no. 59, fig. 59; Braches, no. 970409; Gans, fig. 47, 48, p. 56; Polak, 1955, fig. 113 (for the poster)

The poster uninspected out of frame, apparently in good condition, the book in good interior condition but for the usual off setting and some minor stains, the binding apart from very minor defects from the spine and the four corners of front and back cover in good condition.
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Nieuwenhuis worked for almost two years on this edition. He printed the colourlithographs himself. The edition was limited to 400 copies

The poem Iris was dedicated to his brother in law's sister with whom Nieuwenhuis was passionately in love. It is a story of unattainable love: when Zephir, the west wind, appears, Iris, the rainbow, must go- they can never be together.