MARC CHAGALL The Jerusalem Windows 1962, LT Ed monograph with two (2) original lithographs bound in

Hardcover monograph complete with two original lithographs in colors

"The Jerusalem Windows," 1962

Printer: André Sauret, Paris

Publisher: George Braziller, Inc., New York / Horizon, New York

12 3/4" x 9 1/2" (sheet, each)

This beautifully illustrated hardback book is accompanied by an extraordinary four page hand signed offering letter hand signed by the publisher, dated 1962. (shown.) He writes in part,

"The Windows, and Chagall's masterful studies which led up to his final design in glass, have now been reproduced in a most unusual book......There are many art books on the market these days, a number of them handsome and worthy; but only a few impress us as truly noteworthy...the commission for Chagall to do the windows was one of those perfect choices of man and job - like the time Cardinal Bilheres asked the young Michelangelo to have a go at the Pieta in marble. Chagall, a lifetime student of the Bible, brought great erudition as well as skill to the task...President Kennedy summed up the general reaction: The inspiration of an ancient and noble history and the inspiration of modern artistic genius are combined in these windows...."

"Even the books jacket, a gouache and collage study of the color for one of the windows, is an 18-color Mourlot lithograph; jacketed in heavy acetate..."

Beautifully illustrated with 104 plates (64 in full color), and two original color lithographs done expressly for this edition. Chagall's Jerusalem Windows illustrates and chronicles the creation of the famous twelve stained glass windows, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel, designed by Chagall for the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center Synagogue in Jerusalem. With text and notes by Jean Leymarie. New York: George Braziller, (1962). Original red cloth, original pictorial dust jacket. The text was composed by hand and printed by Imprimerie Nationale de France. The 36 preparatory color designs, some in twenty colors, were transferred to the stones by Charles Sorlier under the direction of Marc Chagall. These designs, along with two original lithographs by Chagall were printed by Mourlot Freres. The other reproductions and the binding are by Draeger Freres.  First edition in English, with two original lithographs prepared by Chagall for this edition, and with numerous beautiful chromolithographic reproductions of the artist's work. It was issued the same year as the first edition in French, entitled Vitraux Pour Jerusalem, and features various stages of Chagall's 12 stained glass window designs for the synagogue of the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Centre in Jerusalem

Condition: there is wear to the acetate covered dust jacket including,  paper peeling, scuffing, tearing, etc. but the book is otherwise in good vintage condition and the bound lithographs are in fine condition. Makes a lovely gift!