Pierre Lambert's Blanche-Neige Book

You don't have to read French to enjoy the books by author Pierre Lambert. His series of titles on animation are packed with full-color plates of original production drawings, backgrounds paintings and cel set-ups. Lambert's earliest Disney titles, Pinocchio and Mickey Mouse, were printed first in France in his native language, then afterward into English. However, Blanche-Neige, was never translated. No need; it's stunning just as it is.

The artwork seen in Blanche-Neige came from the Walt Disney Animation Research Library and private collections around the world. Printed on high-quality paper, the book contains hundreds of exceptional photos, many never seen in print before.

It came in a slipcase and included a special sericel page of Snow White at the well, created from an original in the Stephen Ison collection. I read somewhere that only 3500 copies were available, with 250 being limited editions signed by the author and containing a foot of original 35mm film from Snow White.

Both the slipcase and the front cover display the same image of the cottage dance scene...

Hardcover image scans courtesy of Greg Philip of A Lost Film.

This original deluxe hardcover was published by Démons et Merveilles in the year 2000. ISBN: 978-2950781871. The retail price printed on book was ₣975 (French francs) or €148,64 (euros). Both prices were listed because, at the time, both currencies were accepted. France has since dropped francs. Total number of pages: 245+.

The sericel appeared on page 5. Snow White, the pillar, and doves lay over the top of the background.

The hardcover version included several fold-out pages too. It also came with a bookmark which promoted a commemorative set of three Snow White lithographs and a collection of two resin figures.

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Nine years later in 2009, Blanche-Neige was republished as a softcover by Editions de la Martinière. ISBN: 978-2732439440. Retail €38,00. While the book is basically the same as the hardcover, it's not identical. The total number of pages is less at 240, the sericel setup is not included, and there are no fold-outs or bookmarks.


The softcover has a different front cover image...

Front flap author bio + Table of Contents page...

There are only so many pieces of original Snow White production art to go around. So after all these years, you wouldn't think there'd still be any "fresh" images to see. Yet, Pierre Lambert comes through. Here's just a sampling.

A red-headed Snow gathering wildflowers...

Dark forest background...

Cottage cleanup...

Sleepy-time Snow...

A last vain attempt...

Off they go...

Softcover ISBN page and rear cover...

Text and illustrations copyright Disney/Pierre Lambert.

Both the quality and quantity of images found within this book are unparalleled. For the serious Snow White enthusiast, Pierre Lambert's Blanche-Neige is a must. It can still be purchased through online resellers in France and elsewhere.