On the occasion of the centenary of the publication of the first issue of the collection, the City of Fontenay-aux-Roses has acquired a complete series of the Book of Tomorrow published by the Librairie Arthème Fayard
The exhibition traces the history of the Bellenand printing press where the majority of these titles were printed (as well as the first copies of Louis-Ferdinand Céline’s Voyage au bout de la nuit or the first issue of Mickey’s Diary).
Among the 55 engraver artists who participated in the collection, Jean Lébédeff, French engraver artist, born in Russia on November 25, 1884 and died in Nîmes on September 21, 1972 lived nearly thirty years in Fontenay-aux-Roses a few steps from the Bellenand printing house.
This prolific and talented artist is the one who illustrated the largest number of works in this popular and cheap collection. He has also illustrated many books of bibliophilia, several of which are presented in the exhibition.
A chronological tour allows to discover the authors and illustrators present in the collection, supplemented by showcases dedicated to famous authors and illustrators, as well as engraving and typography materials, tools and engraved wood allowing the discovery of the technique of wood engraving and its printing.
The complete collection of 235 books of the Book of Tomorrow, recently acquired by the City, will be presented on this occasion.