Gargantua & Pantagruel by Francois Rabelais. Preface by Henri Clouzot. Illustrated by Joseph Hemard. John Hamilton, London, 1927 Limited Edition

First published in the 16th century, Rabelais's Gargantua and Pantagruel remains one of the great comic masterpieces of Renaissance literature - an exuberant, satirical epic filled with wit, invention, and earthy humour. This 1927 John Hamilton limited edition is prefaced by a Life of Rabelais by Henri Clouzot and distinguished by 525 lively vignette illustrations by the celebrated French caricaturist Joseph Hémard, whose playful style perfectly complements Rabelais's irreverent text.

Gargantua & Pantagruel by Francois Rabelais. Prefaced by Life of Rabelais by Henri Clouzot. Illustrated by 525 Vignettes by Joseph Hemard. 

Published by John Hamilton Ltd., London, 1927 Limited Edition. "This edition is limited to 1,500 copies of which 1,450 are for sale".

A good black cloth hardback with attractive gilt decoration to front cover and spine, in a rather tired binding. Head and tail of spine is chipped and wornn and some scuffing and bumping to covers. Binding is strained with some give in the spine (text block is substantial).

Text is bright and clean with attractive and amusing illustrations throughout. Top edge is gilt with rough cut edges elsewhere - with some age browning to the edge of those. Endpapers with offsetting.

Text in English.

xxxvii + 808pp.

Dimensions: approximately 260mm high x 205mm wide x 58mm.

Approximate weight 2.31kg (unpacked).