#3 • 1957 William Shakespeare's "La Sauvage Apprivoisée" w/ Paul Aizpiri Illustrations

Part of October 2025 Fantastic Finds Auction (timed auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)

High bid $80.00

Status: Sold

Category: Books, Comics, Magazines & Ephemera

A slipcased edition of La Sauvage Apprivoisée, the French translation of The Taming of the Shrew, one of William Shakespeare's (English, 1564-1616) earliest comedies, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1592. The play centers on the spirited and headstrong Katherina, whose resistance to marriage is upended by the equally willful Petruchio, resulting in a sharp, satirical battle of wits and gender roles. This luxurious 1957 French edition was published in Paris by Les Francs-Bibliophiles as a fine press limited edition of 150 numbered copies, printed on pur chiffon de Lana paper. The original volume featured twenty-six original color lithographs, including a vibrant cover design, a frontispiece, one double-page spread, nine full-page plates, and fourteen in-text illustrations. A separate suite of unused lithographs and color progressions was also included with some copies. The book is housed in a striking illustrated slipcase with matching boards. The artist behind the illustrations, Paul Aïzpiri (1919-2016), was a French expressionist painter known for his bold use of color and whimsical yet emotionally evocative forms. Aïzpiri's interpretation of Shakespeare's play is full of theatrical energy and painterly drama, bringing a modern and distinctly French visual language to this Renaissance classic. His lithographs reflect both the humor and tension of the original text, offering collectors a rare fusion of fine art and literary tradition. Measures approximately 12" x 2.5" x 15.5" tall.