Paris, Imprimerie-Librairie De l'Art, [1892]. Folio (33.0 x 27.0 cm). Half-title, index, title page; 48 lithographed plates, either monochrome (blue, sepia, etc.) or chromolithographed. Original red, embossed limp cloth boards with gilt title and ornaments on the front board.

Illustrated by the French designer and illustrator Jules-Auguste Habert-Dys (1850-1924). Habert-Dys is one of the earliest Art Nouveau artists, renowned both for his illustrated books, and for his original art, in particular vases and jewellery. L'Ornament pratique is one of his rarest publications. It was first issued in 12 instalments (Worldcat states seven, but the plates are grouped in 12 livraisons, or editions, of four plates each), then bound in a special, fine, rich binding, as is this copy. Some minor wear to the spine; a few margins a bit soiled, but overall a fine and clean copy. Very rare. Evers, Ornamentale Vorlagenwerke, 2124; Thieme-B. XV, 401. Not in Schneider-Henn, Ornament und Dekoration.