RARE 1926 JOTAU BAKELITE BINDING Francis de CROISSET La Féérie Cinghalaise #A91 For Sale

Fantastic binding characteristic of the Art Deco period and already rare in the 30'sAn avant-garde technique, anticipating Jean de Gonet's work on the Revorim, Jotau bindings are rarely found, and even less often in good condition, due to the fragility of the resin, which is close to Bakelite

Francis de CROISSET -La Féérie Cinghalaise. [The Sinhalese Magic]

LA FEERIE CINGHALAISE. Art Déco RED BAKELITE SIGNED / WAX STAMP "Jotau"Book #A91Grasset, Paris 1926, 14,5 x 20,5 cm

First edition, one of the copies on pur vellum chiffon paper. Owners name written in ink on first inside page along with her pressed flowers, otherwise, pages/paper in almost mint condition.

At the head of one of the largest French bookbinding and cardboard companies, the industrialist Joseph Taupin was always attentive to technical innovations, and when he heard of the development of a new resin called "pollopas" (1929), similar to bakelite but colourless and allowing for a colouring in the mass, he envisaged its application to the mass production of moulded bindings. He produced a few test specimens, under the brand name Jotau (acrostic for JOseph TAUpin), but did not finally launch mass production because of the cost of production and the fragility of the finished material.Art Deco binding in red bakelite, joints mounted on piano hinges, covers bisected at the edges. Four hinges are damaged, but do not affect function or visuals. Exceptional Art Deco binding by Jotau, hand wax stamped and bottom of inside backcover marked "breveté S.G.D.G."

Fantastic binding characteristic of the Art Deco period and already rare in the 30'sAn avant-garde technique, anticipating Jean de Gonet's work on the Revorim, Jotau bindings are rarely found, and even less often in good condition, due to the fragility of the resin, which is close to Bakelite