Details: This rare SEM (Georges Goursat) c1920 folio is encased in the original printed wrappers, with the upper wrapper lettered “Institut de Beautyâ€, and the lower wrapper decorated with a rose. A page of text by Bruyere and 10 caricatures on 5 pages is followed by a page of text by Toulet and 11 caricatures on 7 pages. All the plates are color printed using the pochoir process. In this rare SEM album, the first series tells the story of a man at the hairdresser’s showing how his bald patch is covered up, and ending with an illustration of people admiring him in the street. There is an in-plate SEM signature at close of the first series. The second series tells the story of a man choosing a new nose (an early version of plastic surgery)- ending with him being sculpted by a famous sculptor.

Georges Goursat (1863–1934), known as SEM, was a French caricaturist famous during the Belle Époque. In 1888 he self published in Périgueux his first three albums of caricatures, signing some as "SEM", allegedly as a tribute to Amédée de Noé who signed his caricatures for “Le Monde illustré†as "Cham".

This work measures approximately 19 1/2 x 13 inches.
Condition / Notes: This antique folio shows very well with some indications of age and wear, including age toning and partial separation of the wrapper at the spine. The illustrations remain vibrant and crisp.

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