The volume comprising fifteen lithographs printed in colors each signed lower left "G Rouault" in the stone, on Velin d'Arches, hors-texte, with title page and text in French, stamp numbered 679 on the justification page, from the total edition of 1,270, loose within the original paper wrappers as published, the full sheets, 430 x 330mm (17 x 13in)(overall).  This copy inscribed on a laid in sheet to pianist Shirley Perle, "S-SB / Merry X-Mas '46 / Love from Eugene" and again on the inside front cover "To Shirley / AGAIN!! / from Eugene / 1946-1967." Some wear and small tears to the dust jacket made of thick, high-quality paper; the individual offset color lithographs are exquisite; the printing quality superb. 

An interesting presentation from the the noted American pianist, known for his mastery of German repertory and his piano trio performances with Isaac Stern and Leonard Rose. In 1946, Eugene Istomin summered in Menemsha, MA where he shared a house with Rae Gabis and her daughter, Shirley. A year later, Istomin made another summer visit, in which he and Shirley played Mendelssohn’s Allegro Brilliante together in the auditorium on the second floor of the Chilmark town hall. The present volume was gifted to the extraordinary Shirley Gabis Rhoads Perle at this time and they remained lifelong friends.