Histoire des Quatre Fils Aymon: Title page

“Histoire des quatre fils Aymon: tr�s nobles et tr�s vaillans chevaliers” (History of the four very noble and very valiant knights Aymon sons) is the first book ever printed using chromotypography, a process of printing in chromatic colours invented by Charles Gillot (1853-1903). This process allowed to print simultaneously text and full coloured illustrations. The book comprises 250 pages, all illustrated by Eug�ne Grasset who was the first illustrator to use this technique. The engraving and printing was by Charles Gillot, the introduction and notes by Charles Marcilly.

The book is based on an epic of the 12th century. Though its initial reception was mixed, the book became a turning point in the history of illustration. As is remarked in its introduction, the legends of which it is composed have been given “the most luxurious form that a book can achieve”.