Candide by Voltaire, Jean Francois Marie Arouet de ; illustrated by Rockwell Kent - 1928

New York: Random House, 1928. First Edition. Hardcover. Near fine/near fine. Rockwell Kent. Spectacular hand-colored edition of Candide (1 of 95), issued to celebrate the inauguration of Bennett Cerf's new company, Random House. The logo for Random House, used to this day, comes from the final illustration in the book, by Rockwell Kent, depicting an idealized country home filled with the ideas of the Enlightenment. The edition consisted of 1,470 black and white copies priced at fifteen dollars each and ninety-five hand-colored copies priced at seventy five dollars (over $1000 today). The book was printed by Elmer Adler's Pynston Printers in the New York Times Annex. The book was hand set in type designed by Adler's partner Lucian Bernhard (1883-1972). Rockwell Kent had 95 copies hand colored at his studio by his assistants Lone Robinson (who later worked with Diego Rivera) and Wanda Gag (who wrote and illustrated the much-loved book Millions of Cats -- Newbery winner and still in print). There are 120 quarto pages (approximately 8 x 11.5 inches) in the book and on each there is a hand-colored illustration. Everything comes together in this book, easily one of the great fine press books of the 20th century. This copy is in near fine condition, bright and fresh and completely clean. 1/4 morocco (touch of wear) over patterned cloth boards of Rockwell Kent's Random House, showing virtually no wear. The original slipcase is present and lined with soft felt (thus the condition of the book) and a silk string for pulling the book out, no bumps or seam wear -- near fine. Slipcase is numbered to match the book. A beautiful copy of a beautiful book.