Storie Naturali by Serafini, Luigi - 2009

First Edition; Limited Edition: Number 69 of 660 copies, numbered and signed by Luigi Serafini. The book condition, including all die-cuts and plates is as new. For defects and box & dust jacket details see the end of this listing. The price reflects a deep discount on this rare item and a rare opportunity to own a book of this quality from renowned Italian artist Luigi Serafini.

The artist's tribute to Jules Renard's 1959 Histoires Naturelles is a whimsical book which reflect a botanical construction of die-cut and coloured leaves forming a forest of enchanted trees and fantastical plants. The tome constitutes Serafini's herbarium of imaginary plants. The book was published to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of Jules Renard's life. In traditional Serafini style, the story, and the flow of die cuts and plates, and text, letter pressed on the highest quality heavy paper, follows no rational order, despite being grouped into sections, so interpretation is left to the imagination of the reader. Renard's text serves only to inspire your imagination to run free and to make free association between French politics, ecological conservation, and the alienation of human species.

With all of Serafini's work - it is precisely this enigmatic quality which makes his books so popular. As with the CODEX, a later reprint was made available at modest price. This, however, is the original limited series and was obtained from FMR (Franco Maria Ricci) in Parma, Italy. It has had only a single owner who has maintained it in archive. It is a true work of art, in every aspect, from the quality of the canvas to the quality of the plates.

The pages are of the highest quality paper, the lyrical text, in Italian, is from Renard's original book. This fascinating book contains 20 pockets that contain the beautifully imagined herbarium leaves. At 262 pages with pockets and inserts, Storie Naturali is a limited edition of 660 copies numbered and signed by the artist.

The book is as new. The original box/dust cover has been cut by the publisher's distribution for exposition. It has been taped to the back cover as indicated in the photographs. For this reason, the dust jacket condition is listed as poor while the book remains of as new quality: very fine.