SPLENDID COLLECTION OF 14 WINE CATALOGUES FROM MAISON NICOLAS, WITH COVERS AND PLATES BY LEADING FRENCH ARTISTS, 1936-71

MAISON NICOLAS. Liste des Grands Vins Fins. [Paris]: (Draeger Frères), 1936-1971. WITH: DERAIN, André. Le Génie du Vin. (Paris: Draeger Frères, 1972). Altogether, fifteen volumes. Quarto (varying sizes), original flexible paper covers (some spiral-bound, some in original glassines). Housed in a pair of matching green clamshell boxes. $4000.

First editions of these wonderfully illustrated annual wine lists from Maison Nicolas, with cover designs and illustrations by such leading French painters as Latour and Buffet, together with Derain’s illustrated publication commemorating the sesquicentennial of Maison Nicolas— one of only 300 copies.

“From 1928 to 1973, Nicolas has recognized the synergy between wine and art by commissioning such great painters as Derain, Van Dongen and Buffet to illustrate its catalogues of fine vintages.” “Now we start getting closer to the basis of Nicolas’ success. Prime vineyard sites, only old vines— 35 years minimum but typically much older— and growers who work in an organic or even biodynamic way… Of course, there is no fining and (unless absolutely necessary) no filtration and even the bottling is done at the wane of the moon” (Burgundy Report). This collection of 14 Maison Nicolas wine catalogues between the years 1936 and 1971, with their commissioned artistic covers and text illustrations, not only records the vinyard’s annual offerings, but represents a contemporary French popular taste in art— Latour, Galanis, Saint-André, Gischia, Limouse, Caillard, Humblot, Buffet, Midy, Guiramand, Lorjou, Derain, and Favier.

Fine condition.