Daniel Boone

ROJANKOVSKY, Fedor. Daniel Boone. Historic Adventures of an American Hunter among the Indians. Lithographs in colour by Fedor Rojankovsky. Edited by Esther Averill and Lila Stanley. Paris, Domino Press [1931]. 4to, [36]pp. Unbound and housed in color pictorial paper wrappers. Color lithographs on every page. Spine of wrapper chipped at ends, some wear at edges, some light soiling and stains to covers, else an internally fine copy. Signed by the artist, Fedor Rojankovsky.

First edition, limited issue, being #5 of 25 of a signed, limited edition consisting of the complete book printed in full color lithographs with the text in English as well as an additional complete set of the lithographs printed without any text (an additional 25 were produced with the text in French). Rojankovkys trailblazing picture book celebrating the life of Daniel Boone and the American West featuring striking, fauvist-inspired lithographs, drawn by the artist directly on lithographic stones, and printed by Mourlot Frres. Averill, an American ex-patriot living in Paris, originally partnered with Rojankovsky on a different project. When that was canceled, Rojankovsky suggested they collaborate on a children’s book. Rojankovsky’s childhood love of James Fenimoore Cooper led to them choosing Daniel Boone as the subject for the project with the intention of creating a lavish vision of the American West. When American publishers responded by saying the proposed book was too expensive, Averill went out and founded the Domino Press in Paris to issue the book. Published in both French and English, this copy is the English issue. This was the first English-language book Rojankovsky illustrated, and represents an important turning point in the history of picture books in its incorporation of Russian artistic styles and innovative layout of pictures with text. Rojankovskys stunning lithographs, reproduced far less vibrantly in later editions, just leap off the page of this glorious edition!