Copies inscribed by the author, i.e. a handwritten dedication to a close friend. As moving accounts of the genesis of the book and the writer's links with the people of his time, inscriptions are a unique record of the author's life.
First edition of this lecture delivered at the Cercle de France in Paris on 8 January 1958.
Light foxing to the upper cover.
Inscribed and signed by Robert Miocque to his friend Marcel Dollfus at the head of the opening text page.
First edition, illustrated with an original etching as frontispiece and four hors-texte drawings by Henri Laurens, one of 324 numbered copies on Vélin du Marais.
Title page lightly toned, otherwise a pleasing copy.
Signed in pencil by Tristan Tzara and Henri Laurens beneath the limitation statement.
First edition of the catalogue published for the exhibition of works by Max Ernst, held from 15 November to the end of December 1961.
A fine copy.
Illustrated, with a foreword by Alain Bosquet.
Signed autograph inscription by Max Ernst to Madame de Harting.
New edition.
A fine copy.
Attractive presentation inscription signed by Anaïs Nin to Christiane Baroche’s wife: "Christiane Baroche this book I offer with uneasiness because I wrote it for american students, and France is the source and will only recognize the déjà vu. Your faithful friend. Anaïs Nin." (Christiane Baroche, je vous offre ce livre avec gêne car je l'ai écrit pour des étudiants américains, et la France est la source et n'y reconnaîtra que du déjà-vu. Votre amie fidèle, Anaïs Nin)".
First edition, illustrated with photographs by Lucien Clergue.
Publisher’s binding in full boards, smooth spine,
With a text by Jean-Marie Magnan.
Signed autograph inscription by Lucien Clergue to the writer Christiane Baroche: "Pour Christiane ces images de notre éternelle jeunesse ! et avec la bise de Lucien. 5.X.2002."
New edition.
Illustrated with engravings by Jean Hugo.
Signed autograph inscription from Anaïs Nin to her friend, the writer Christiane Baroche: "Christiane Baroche. Mais en ce jour damné décharné qui s’étire aux fenêtres 'c’est un peu moi j’assume...Anaïs Nin.'"
First edition of the author's third book, with no copies printed on deluxe paper, here a review copy.
Spine very lightly sunned, without seriousness, faint spotting to the board edges.
Rare and desirable presentation copy signed by Patrick Modiano to the woman of letters Christiane Baroche: "Pour Christiane ces boulevards de ceinture avec lesquels elle est bien indulgente. Avec l'amitié de Patrick."
First edition, with no copies issued on deluxe paper.
A handsome copy.
With Pierre Bourdieu’s signed presentation inscription to the anthropologist Emmanuel Terray.
Collective edition, partly original, issued without any deluxe copies.
A pleasing copy.
Author's signed presentation inscription from Elias Canetti to his cousin: "Meiner liebsten Kusine Matica, der einziger, die geblieben ist, was sie immer war, begabt, klug, offen in Liebe und Freundschaft. Elias Canetti. Paris, September 1962" ("A ma chère cousine, la seule qui est reste ce qu'elle a toujours été, douée, intelligente, ouverte, en amour et en amitié)."
First edition printed on alfa wove paper.
A fine copy.
Inscribed and signed by Jacques Perret to Charles Linder, the presentation augmented with a small drawing depicting a ballot box topped with a tricolour flag.
New edition.
Spine lightly toned.
Work illustrated with photomontages by Val Telberg.
Inscribed by Anaï Nin to her friend, the writer Christiane Baroche : "Christiane Baroche whose dreams are strong and have roots and bear fruit. Anaïs Nin."
First edition, one of the review copies.
A pleasing copy.
Signed presentation inscription from Paul Valéry to Germaine Fiévé : "... petit souvenir d'une collaboration sans mauvaises pensées et autres..."
First edition, one of the review copies.
Spine partially and lightly sun-faded without consequence, with a small restored nick at the head of the backstrip.
Author's signed presentation inscription from André Malraux to the diplomat and man of letters Pierre de Boisdeffre.
First edition, with no copies printed on deluxe paper, one of the publisher’s review copies.
Pleasing copy, complete with its publisher’s printed slip.
Autograph presentation inscription signed by Paul Valéry to Germaine Fiévé: "... petit souvenir d'une collaboration sans mauvaises pensées et autres..."
First edition.
A pleasing copy.
Inscribed by Anaïs Nin to her friend, the writer Christiane Baroche: "Vos paroles Christiane Baroche : 'je veux cueillir le feu comme un dernier amant' amitié et concordances. Anaïs Nin."
First edition, illustrated with a large folding colour map printed out of text (cf. Tailliart 2645).
Bradel binding in half blue percaline, the smooth spine slightly sunned, the brown skiver lettering-piece lightly rubbed, marbled-paper boards, blue endpapers and pastedowns showing a few small spots, corners softened, top edge sprinkled.
A few light spots.
The only edition of this comprehensive survey of the state of Algeria, published after the death of Jules Ferry (17 March 1893), the driving force behind the senatorial commission that had commissioned the work. It serves as a reminder that Ferry was a staunch advocate of France’s colonial expansion and of the mission to “civilise” indigenous peoples, a view then broadly shared across the political left, with the exception of a few dissenting voices (including Clemenceau).
On the half-title, presentation inscription by Henri Pensa to Madame Jules Ferry (Eugénie Risler).
The volume later entered the library of Ferry’s nephew, Abel Ferry (1881–1918, member of parliament for the Vosges from 1909), with his ink stamps on the title-page and at the foot of p. 105.
First edition of the French translation, for which no deluxe paper copies were issued.
A handsome copy, complete with its photographic dust jacket showing a tiny tear at the head of the spine, with illustrations.
Inscribed and signed by Julio Cortázar to the writer Christiane Baroche: "Pour toi, Chirstiane, avec toute mon amitié. Julio."
First edition of the French translation, with no issue on deluxe paper.
Minor surface scuffs along the margins of the front wrapper.
With a fine signed presentation inscription by Italo Calvino: "A Michel Tournier avec le souvenir de Italo Calvino. Mai 1974."
First edition on standard paper.
A handsome copy, complete with its publisher’s wraparound band.
Fine presentation inscription signed by Milan Kundera: "Paris 1998. Pour Michel Tournier avec l'amitié fidèle de Milan Kundera."
First edition, with no deluxe paper issue, one of the review copies.
A pleasing copy.
Inscribed, dated and signed by Annie Ernaux to her friend, the writer Christiane Baroche.
Edition published in the same year as the first.
Spine and covers faintly sunned, without seriousness.
Attractive presentation copy signed by Anaïs Nin to the writer Christiane Baroche: "Christiane Baroche vos paroles "je la sais qui m'attend jusque dans ma mémoire. Anaïs Nin."
First edition on ordinary paper.
A vertical crease along the right margin of the upper cover, which also shows a tiny blemish at the head; a complete copy retaining its publisher’s wraparound band.
Fine presentation inscription signed by Pascal Quignard: "Pour Michel Tournier cette terrasse à Rome, avec mon meilleur souvenir. Pascal Quignard."
First edition, with no deluxe paper issue.
The covers are faintly and marginally toned; a pleasing copy overall.
Moving and precious presentation copy signed by Jacques Julliard: "Pour Simone Veil à elle qui a été de tous les combats contre ce fascisme qui vient... pour lui dire estime et amitié. Jacques Julliard."
New edition.
Foreword by Wayne McEvilly.
Spine and boards faintly and marginally toned, without consequence.
Handsome presentation inscription signed by Anaïs Nin to the writer Christiane Baroche : "Christiane Baroche écrit : "Ici j'entends germer le monde. Et je m'invente au jour le jour. L'infame imaginaire que mon rêve a du vivre a l'inverse de ma vie. Anaïs Nin."
First edition on ordinary paper.
Pages 10–11 lightly sunned owing to the presence of a newspaper clipping.
Fine presentation inscription signed by André Pieyre de Mandiargues: "à Michel Tournier en très cordiale sympathie. André PM."
Album of signatures created by Cecil Henland, 1908 issue bearing 36 signatures of leading figures from literature, cinema, music, the press and French theatre, each dated between 1908 and 1910.
Bound in red shagreen, smooth spine with title gilt-stamped, vignette mounted on the upper cover, gilt edges, publisher’s binding.
Illustrated with a cover vignette with an ink signature of "The Ghost of a Celebrated General" (General Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts Association).
One of the most precious copies of this ghostly album, before Rorschach tests and Surrealist transfer drawings, previously belonging to Yvonne Redelsperger, future wife of the publisher Gaston Gallimard.
The greatest figures of the artistic Paris scene left strange signatures folded while still wet, revealing 36 skeleton-like ink silhouettes: Edmond Rostand, Georges Feydeau, Sacha Guitry, Maurice Leblanc and Gaston Leroux, Octave Mirbeau, Camille Saint-Saëns, as well as Marcel Proust’s close friends Paul Hervieu, Robert de Flers and Gaston de Caillavet – the latter two were inspirations for the character Robert de Saint-Loup in In Search of Lost Time.
First edition, with no deluxe paper issue.
A handsome copy, with the promotional leaflet loosely inserted; the verso is creased and shows a tear.
Fine dated and signed presentation inscription from Annie Ernaux to the writer Christiane Baroche: "Pour Christiane,qui m'a fait "naître" dans le bonheur il y a dix ans. Annie. 3/02/84."
Autograph letter signed by Albert Camus to his housekeeper or caretaker, "Chère Madame Quentin." One page on a single leaf written in black ink, on NRF letterhead, accompanied by its envelope bearing the autograph address of the recipient. Horizontal crease inherent to the folding of the letter for mailing.
Given that his own mother had been a housekeeper, the writer does not merely concern himself with domestic matters when addressing his employee. He also inquires after the wellbeing of his "Chère Madame Quentin" following her vacation: "I shall be in Paris on Monday or Tuesday at the latest (thus the 31st or the 1st). Could you ask Madame [...] (Pintres?), upon receipt of this letter, to stop forwarding my mail. I hope you were able to rest a little during the month of August and I send you my most faithful regards." (our own translation).
Accompanied by a telegram once again to Mme "Quentin 86 Rue de Varennes," dated "5-59."
Autograph letters signed by Albert Camus are highly sought after today. This one bears witness to the considerate language the writer uses towards Madame Quentin, his housekeeper, a trade he knows intimately through his mother.
First edition, one of the review copies.
Spine just lightly rubbed.
Inscribed and signed by Patrick Modiano to the writer Christiane Baroche.
First edition, with no deluxe paper issue.
A small stain to the upper-left margin of the front cover; an attractive copy nonetheless.
Fine dated and signed presentation inscription from Annie Ernaux to the writer Christiane Baroche : "Voilà Christiane, je ne pouvais réellement écrire autre chose... Avec amitié AErnaux 6/01/88."
Rare pre-first edition offprint of Charles de Gaulle's article Les Origines de l'armée française, published in issue 520 of the Revue d'Infanterie in January 1936. This 44-page text will be entirely reprinted two years later as the first chapter of his celebrated work La France et son armée, published by Plon in 1938. Our copy is enriched with an autograph inscription signed by the author "to M. Jean Auburtin": "With profound and faithful friendship. C. de Gaulle."
Blue wrappers slightly sunned at extremities, spine and upper joint rebacked, minor losses to spine, vertical crease probably from mailing, old creases to upper right corners, some ink stains on lower wrapper, old stamp affixed and partially torn on same wrapper.
First edition, illustrated with a single folding plate bearing two figures: a plan of Algiers and its surroundings (cf. Quérard IV, 343 : does not record the plate and gives xlviii pp. for the "pièces à l'appui" indeed, p. xlviii carries, like the final leaf, the printer's address. Tailliart 2420 : does not record the plate).
Minor marginal losses to the spine and boards, a few light spots.
"Causes de la rupture avec Alger. Historique des rapports de la France avec Alger. Les torts des représentants d'Alger dans la Régence pendant ces dernières années. Ultimatum. Blocus. Nécessité d'une enquête ou au moins d'une information spéciale avant d'entreprendre une expédition. On va dépenser beaucoup d'argent sans profit. Cette guerre n'est pas juste ; elle n'est pas utile ; elle n'est pas légale" [Tailliart].
The supporting documents include : the Treaty of Peace between France and the Regency of Algiers, 17 December 1801; the letter from Mustapha-Pasha, Dey of Algiers, to the First Consul, 13 August 1802; the settlement concerning the claims of Messrs. Bacri and Busnach of Algiers, followed by the law of 24 July 1820 ordering its execution; a notice on the African concessions; and a summary of the debates held in both Chambers on Algerian affairs during the sessions of 1820, 1827, 1828, and 1829.
Author's signed presentation on the half-title: "De la part de l'auteur, 3 avril 1830" (scarcely more than two months before the French landing in Algeria).
First edition on ordinary paper.
A pleasing copy, with only a few insignificant spots at the foot of the spine.
Warm presentation copy signed by Jean Echenoz to his friend, the writer, screenwriter, and filmmaker Jérôme Beaujour, also a specialist in Marguerite Duras’s cinema: "Pour mon cher Jérôme avec ma vive affection, Jean. 2.VI.10"
First edition, with no deluxe paper issue.
A fine copy.
Dated and signed presentation inscription from Annie Ernaux to the woman of letters Christiane Baroche: "Pour Christiane, très amicalement. Annie. 24/03/93."
First edition, with no deluxe paper issue.
A well-preserved copy.
Fine dated presentation inscription signed by Annie Ernaux to the writer Christiane Baroche: "Pour Christiane, avec notre vieille amitié, de tendre pensées 'fraternelles' AErnaux 16/01/92."
Handsome and uncommon album comprising 36 vintage silver-print photographs (18.5 × 23 cm, mounted and captioned by hand), depicting exterior views—façades, gardens, and architectural perspectives—of this English neo-Gothic estate built between 1868 and 1872 by Thomas Smith and the Cannes contractor Scavy for one Michael Hugh Scott, who never lived in it: the property quickly passed to the businessman Debionne, who resold it to Lord Wolverton after furnishing and decorating the interior.
Publisher’s blue percaline binding, smooth unlettered spine, blind-ruled frame on the boards, gilt-lettered title to the upper cover, marbled endpapers and pastedowns; contemporary binding.
A few black spots to the slightly warped upper board; pleasing internal condition.
Facing the first photograph, presentation inscription from the second owner, Alexandre-Louis Debionne, to his brother-in-law, dated 15 April 1878.
New edition and the first printing of Jacques Tardi’s illustrations.
Publisher’s white boards, smooth spine.
A handsome copy.
Presentation inscription, dated and signed by Jacques Tardi to Joëlle Passani, with an original black-felt drawing depicting a sorrowful-faced Bardamu in a small vignette.
Second edition, partly original as it was revised and substantially expanded (cf. Ferguson 7152a; Lacassagne 47).
Half black shagreen bindings, spines with four raised bands decorated with gilt rules and double gilt panels, boards framed with a single blind rule over marbled paper, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, sprinkled edges, period bindings.
A few minor spots.
This second edition was issued simultaneously either in a single volume with continuous pagination or in two volumes with separate pagination (our copy, see Ferguson 7152).
Bénigne-Ernest Poret, Marquis de Blosseville (1799–1886), was a legitimist politician and man of letters. He was active in political life throughout the nineteenth century.
At the head of the half-title of the first volume, presentation inscription signed by Bénigne-Ernest Poret, Marquis de Blosseville, to Prosper de Chasseloup-Laubat (1805–1873), then Minister of Algeria and the Colonies (1860–1867).
The latter affixed his armorial bookplate to the pastedowns and stamped the title pages with his ownership seal.
First edition, printed on Vélin d’Angoulême, with the usual typographical errors, and containing the six proscribed poems; one of the few copies presented to the author and "intended for friends who render no literary services".
Full claret morocco binding, spine with five raised bands richly decorated with multiple gilt- and blind-tooled fillets; third-state covers; boards framed with multiple blind-tooled fillets; marbled endpapers; gilt turn-ins; all edges gilt; marbled paper slipcase with morocco border; signed binding by Semet & Plumelle.
Precious copy, enhanced with an autograph dedication in ink by the author on the dedication page, addressed to Paul Meurice, playwright, journalist, and close collaborator of Victor Hugo, « à Paul Meurice, témoignage d'amitié. Ch. Baudelaire » ["To Paul Meurice, in token of friendship. Ch. Baudelaire"]. Featuring twenty autograph corrections by the author to the printed dedication and four poems:
- At the dedication: two pencil corrections to the last words of the first line. Baudelaire adds a plural to “es langueS françaiseS,” “es” being, in fact, the contraction of “en les.” A surprising syntactical correction, sacrificing coherence, which the author later amended in 1861 to “Magicien es Lettres Françaises”.
- “La muse vénale”, p. 29: one ink correction to the final word of the last line of the first tercet, “Guère S,” one of the earliest misprints corrected by Baudelaire, which had nevertheless escaped him on the proofs, as with the following.
- “Le chat”, p. 110: one ink correction in the second line of the sixth quatrain, “au” logically changed to “un.”
- “Don Juan aux enfers”, p. 43: three ink corrections to the third line of the third tercet. The first, a simple misprint, “errant S,” had already troubled Baudelaire on the proofs, but its earlier correction had not been carried over.
The other two, “leS rivageS,” are not orthographic corrections but represent one of the very first poetic variants, absent from most presentation copies, foreshadowing the forthcoming complete revision of Les Fleurs du mal and the new original edition of 1861.
-"Le reniement de Saint Pierre", p. 217: a pencil correction on the fourth line of the second quatrain. The “D” replacing the “C” in “Cieux” is underlined three times. Curiously, the proofs reveal the exact opposite: “Les Dieux” was then corrected with a “C,” equally emphatically underlined. Anti-clerical remorse or altered alliteration? This correction, found in only a few copies, drew the poet’s attention to another misprint, still intact in our copy, later corrected in subsequent presentation copies: “au X doux bruit.”
-Baudelaire also inscribed a large “C” in pencil on pp. 52, 73, 91, 187, 191, and 206, at the head of the six poems condemned on 20 August 1857 for removal from copies in circulation. He transferred the same “C.” to the table of contents, opposite the six incriminated titles: Les Bijoux, Le Léthé, À celle qui est trop gaie, Lesbos, Femmes damnées: À la pâle clarté, and Les Métamorphoses du Vampire.
In total, twenty autograph interventions by Charles Baudelaire.
First edition, one of the copies printed on vellum paper.
Minor, inconsequential loss at the foot of the spine; light foxing chiefly affecting the rear cover.
Very scarce presentation inscription signed by René Guénon to the French journalist, writer, royalist activist and later collaborationist Jean Héritier.
First edition of the French translation, issued without any large-paper copies.
A handsome copy, complete with its original promotional band: "Calvino et la préhistoire-fiction."
Inscribed, dated, and signed by Italo Calvino to Pascal Pia.
"New edition, with parts in first edition, incorporating an unpublished preface; the first edition had appeared in 1927 in Tokyo at the close of Claudel’s ambassadorship in Japan (1921–1927) and was issued in three fan-shaped quarto volumes. Work illustrated with Japanese characters calligraphed by Ikuma Arishima. Composed between June 1926 and January 1927, this essay (blending traditional calligraphy, haiku, and short Western-style verse) bears witness, among Claudel’s other creations, to the influence of the Far East on his poetic practice.
Moving and exceptional presentation inscription, signed and dated by Paul Claudel to his eldest daughter, Marie Claudel, known as "Chouchette" (1907–1981), and to his son-in-law Roger Méquillet, written at the head of the front endpaper and in pencil on the flyleaf: "A mes chers enfants Roger et Chouchette de tout mon coeur. claudel. Paris 30 juin 1942 Paul."
First edition printed on ordinary paper.
A pleasing copy.
Affectionate signed presentation inscription from Jean Echenoz to his friend, the writer, screenwriter and filmmaker Jérôme Beaujour, also a specialist of Marguerite Duras’s cinema: "Pour Jérôme je t'embrasse, Jean. 6.XI.15"
First edition (cf. Tailliart 2540).
Quarter shagreen in a dark bottle-green hue with corner pieces, the smooth spine slightly toned and decorated with blind fillets, marbled paper sides, cat’s-eye patterned endpapers and pastedowns, modern binding signed Honnelaître.
A light marginal dampmark at the foot of the half-title and title pages; scattered, unobtrusive foxing.
The author (1781–1852) was a colonial administrator: "Une introduction de trente pages sur les erreurs de la politique suivie à l’égard des Arabes : trop de faiblesse chez nous ; de glorieuses expéditions, mais pas de résultat positif durable. Il attaque Bresson qui a préconisé la formation d’un empire arabe qui ferait la transition entre la barbarie actuelle et une civilisation voisine de la nôtre. Il est partisan de petits beyliks placés sous notre contrôle, indépendants les uns des autres. Il faut faire combattre les Arabes par les Arabes. Nécessité de la force à l’égard des Arabes.
En dernier lieu, réfutation du livre de Blanqui : il lave les colons des accusations lancées contre eux. Exposé de la thèse des colons avec leurs avis et leurs desiderata".
At the head of the half-title, signed presentation inscription from Armand Gabriel Rozey to M. Billi, "homme de lettres à Alger", dated 17 December 1841.
First edition on ordinary paper.
A pleasing copy.
Fine signed presentation inscription from Jean Echenoz to the writer, screenwriter, and filmmaker Jérôme Beaujour, also a specialist in Marguerite Duras’ cinema: "Pour Jérôme (qui m'a donné quelque chose p.109 à Pondichéry) et pour Elisabeth avec toute mon affection, Jean."
First edition, illustrated with 12 in-text reproductions of coins.
Contemporary half Russian-cherry morocco over marbled boards, smooth spine gilt with a floral tool, date gilt at foot, marbled paste-paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt edges at head.
Sole edition, uncommon.
Henri Lavoix (1820–1892) served as curator of the Department of Medals and Antiquities at the Bibliothèque nationale.
At the head of the half-title, which shows heavy foxing, signed presentation inscription from Henri Michel Lavoix to the archaeologist Alban-Emmanuel Guillaume-Rey (1837–1916), a specialist in medieval Syria and in particular the Frankish settlements in the region.
The ink of the inscription has faded; scattered foxing, with heavier foxing to the final endleaf.
A handsome contemporary half-morocco binding.
First edition on ordinary paper.
Half black long-grain morocco binding, smooth spine tooled in palladium with author, title, and date, anthracite-grey paper boards, original wrappers and spine preserved (the latter with two small stains at head and foot), endpapers and pastedowns of anthracite-grey paper, binding signed Thomas Boichot.
Precious and exceptional signed presentation inscription by Louis-Ferdinand Céline: "A Mac Orlan son admirateur et ami fidèle. LFerd"
Rare collection, in first edition, of political texts relating to the affairs of Belgium (shaken by the Brabant Revolution since 1787) and the Netherlands (whose opponents of the Stadtholder had often taken refuge in France).
As indicated by the handwritten table bound at the beginning of the volume, this copy constitutes only the first of a series of collections compiled by Roederer (see below) from the memoirs and pamphlets he received while serving as a member of the Constituent Assembly.
Contemporary full mottled fawn calf, smooth spine gilt-decorated with garlands and urns (partly faded), rubbed head- and tailpieces, green morocco title-piece, gilt dentelle and garland borders on the covers, gilt fillet on the edges, corners rubbed, yellow edges sprinkled with red.
Some foxing at the end at the last booklet.
The contents are as follows:
- I. Mémoire pour les patriotes Hollandois réfugiés en France. S.l.n.d. [Paris, 1790], 40 pp.
Provenance: from the library of the lawyer, playwright, journalist and statesman Pierre-Louis Roederer (1754–1835), with his printed ex-libris on a pastedown, and at the head of part V, a signed presentation inscription from Charles-François Dumouriez to Pierre-Louis Roederer.
First edition.
Copies recorded in the Catalogue collectif de France only at the BnF, Versailles, and Bar-le-Duc libraries.
Half bottle-green shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt dotted rules and floral tools, blind-stamped frame on bottle-green grained cloth boards, gilt initials stamped at the centre of the upper board, white moiré silk endpapers and pastedowns, all edges gilt. Slight rubbing to the corners, a handsome contemporary binding.
The Courrier de Lyon case dates back to the period of the Directoire (April–October 1796). The execution of Joseph Lesurques was soon regarded as a major miscarriage of justice, and his family spent more than sixty years trying to obtain a revision of the case, despite the absence of any law permitting rehabilitation.
The decision of the Cour de cassation in December 1868 brought the matter to a definitive close in the negative sense.
Nevertheless, the confiscation of Lesurques’s property—customary in cases of capital punishment—was revoked, and his estate returned to his heirs. Today, some historians remain convinced of Lesurques’s innocence, while recent investigations by gendarmerie commander Éric Dagnicourt and historian Éric Alary tend to support his guilt as the financial instigator.
Provenance: a distinguished copy belonging to the celebrated lawyer and statesman of the July Monarchy, Odilon Barrot (1791–1873), with a fine signed presentation inscription from Louis Méquillet dated 15 February 1864, and Barrot’s gilt monogram (O. B.) stamped in the centre of the covers.
Odilon Barrot was among the active supporters of the Lesurques family’s petitions, which explains this presentation inscription.
Rare first edition illustrated with 31 figures in the text.
Contemporary half blond calf, the spine slightly sunned, with five raised bands decorated with gilt and black fillets, fawn morocco lettering-piece, marbled paper sides, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, sprinkled comb-marbled edges.
Christophe-Edouard Mauss (1829–1914), architect to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, undertook several archaeological missions in the Levant (Salonika, Smyrna, Alexandria) before being sent by the French government to Jerusalem (1862–1874) to restore the Church of Saint Anne.
He was also deeply interested in ancient metrology, on which he wrote several monographs (the final section of the present work provides a notable example).
Our copy is enriched with a substantial autograph contribution by Christophe-Edouard Mauss, mounted on a guard at the front of the volume and addressed to the archaeologist Alban-Emmanuel Guillaume-Rey (1837–1916), a specialist in medieval Syria: Note pour Mr. Rey sur le stade philéterien de 159 m 963,428 ([9] unnumbered ll., unbound, written on one side only, in a medium and very legible hand). This is an early version of an article supplementing the present work and published in 1894 under the title: Note additionnelle sur le stade de 159 m 963 et sur les mesures philétériennes.
Very rare first edition.
Only three copies recorded in the CCF (BnF, Sainte-Geneviève, CNAM).
Half blond calf, spine lightly sunned, with five raised bands decorated with gilt and black fillets, tan morocco lettering-piece, marbled paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, mottled comb-marbled edges, original front wrapper preserved; contemporary binding.
The architect of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Christophe-Edouard Mauss (1829–1914), undertook several archaeological missions in the Levant (Salonika, Smyrna, Alexandria) before being sent by the French government to Jerusalem (1862–1874) to restore the Church of Saint Anne. He also developed a keen interest in ancient metrology, on which he produced several monographs (including this one).
Bound after it, by the same author:
I. La Pile de Charlemagne et le Sâ du prophète. Le pied d'Egypte et le ratl de Bagdad. Les poids français comparés aux poids anglais. Le ratl wâfy du Musée égyptien du Louvre. Paris, Ernest Leroux, 1897, 2 ff.n.ch., 79 pp.
II. Loi de la numismatique musulmane. Classement par séries et par ordre de poids des monnaies arabes du Cabinet des médailles de Paris. Paris, Ernest Leroux, 1898, 2 ff.n.ch., VIII pp., 48 pp.
At the head of each fascicle, an autograph presentation inscription from Christophe-Edouard Mauss to the archaeologist Alban-Emmanuel Guillaume-Rey (1837–1916).
First edition of the thesis presented by Paul Bert to the Faculty of Sciences in Paris in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Natural Sciences.
Illustrated with two lithographed plates at the end of the volume.
Some occasional foxing.
Contemporary half red morocco-grained shagreen binding, smooth spine decorated with gilt floral tools, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved (rear cover restored with an adhesive patch), modern binding.
Rare biological thesis by Paul Bert (1833–1886), who was a physician, physiologist, educator, and above all a committed republican politician.
Inscribed and signed by Paul Bert at the head of the title page, addressed to Dr. Comol.
First edition, printed in a small number of copies, of this offprint from the Revue des arts décoratifs of January 1885.
Unbound copy.
Copies recorded in the CCFr only at the BnF, the Musée des Arts décoratifs, and Troyes.
This offprint gathers the three lectures delivered on 18, 21, and 25 October 1884 by the influential art critic Philippe Burty (1830–1890), a key figure in the emergence of Japonism.
Inscribed by Philippe Burty to the archivist and historian Pierre Margry (1818–1894).
First edition, one of 500 copies on ordinary paper.
This copy has a chemise and slipcase.
A little light spotting, not serious, nice copy.
Retaining its advertising band and slip.
Handsome autograph inscription signed by René Char: “à Man Ray au voyant carnassier de tout cœur R. Char.” (“To Man Ray to the carnivorous fortune teller, with all my heart, R. Char.”)
First edition, with no deluxe-paper copies printed.
Illustrations.
A handsome copy despite the slightly faded spine.
Precious and fine signed presentation copy from Louis Aragon to Maurice Druon: "A Maurice Druon, pour qu'il sache que de temps je m'égarée dans Césarée. [sic] Louis".
First collective edition on ordinary paper.
Pleasing copy.
Valuable presentation copy signed by Louis Aragon: "A Maurice Druon, pour n'en pas perdre l'habitude. Louis."
First edition of this collection of political speeches.
Full red percaline binding, smooth spine without lettering showing slight rubbing, gilt inscription stamped to the upper cover: "République de Guinée R.D.A. à S.E. Jean Paul Sartre. N°30"; endpapers partly toned, a contemporary presentation binding offered to Jean-Paul Sartre.
Frontispiece photographic portrait bearing the autograph signature of President Ahmed Sékou Touré: Secretary General of the Parti Démocratique de Guinée, Supreme Leader of the Revolution.
First edition of the French translation by Georges Sautreau, review copy punch on the lower cover.
Spine slightly sunned, otherwise a pleasant copy.
Signed autograph inscription by Georges Sautreau, in Norwegian, to the philologist and literary historian Gunnar Fougner Høst, wishing him a joyful winter solstice: "Til Gunnar Høst glaedelig Jul Georges Sautreau Paris Nöel 1932;"
First edition of the French translation, of which no deluxe paper copies were issued.
A fine copy.
Preface by Salman Rushdie, the work illustrated with drawings by the author.
Signed autograph inscription from Glen Baxter to Michel Crépu.
First edition, one of 750 numbered copies on vélin paper, this not justified, the only printing along with 50 on Japan.
A good copy.
Aesthetic Surrealist autograph inscription by Benjamin Péret: '...Pourquoi la chevelure, me direz-vous? Oui, pourquoi? Parce que les cheveux remplacent les parapluies...' to his friend Léo Malet.
First edition, one of 52 copies printed on Montval paper, ours being the second of 12 hors commerce copies, a deluxe issue.
Half anthracite-grey long-grained morocco, smooth spine lettered with the author’s name, title, date, and the palladium-stamped inscription “EXEMPLAIRE J. KESSEL”, abstract patterned paper boards, dove-grey paper endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, binding signed by Thomas Boichot.
Some light foxing mainly affecting the first and last leaves.
Exceptional and deeply moving full-page signed presentation inscription from Maurice Druon to Joseph Kessel: “Il fallait bien, mon grand Jef, que le premier livre que je t'envoie depuis que tu es Immortel soit les mémoires de Zeus. Je remercie les Destins de m'avoir donné un tel oncle et d'avoir permis que nous nous aimions si bien. Je t'embrasse. Maurice Mai 1963.”
First edition.
Some light foxing.
Contemporary half aubergine sheep binding, smooth spine decorated with gilt and blind fillets, gilt friezes at head and foot, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns.
Our copy is enhanced with a photographic portrait of Victor Hugo (Souvenir du 16 septembre 1862) which he has countersigned in ink, serving as frontispiece; as well as an autograph inscription signed by Victor Hugo added on a blue paper leaf: "A mon vaillant et cher compagnon d'épreuve C. Berru",
Camille Berru (1817-1878), French journalist, was editor at l'Indépendance belge, a Brussels daily newspaper directed since 1856 by the Marseillais Léon Bérardi (1817-1897), who later made him his private secretary. He was closely connected to the Hugo family, not only to Victor, but also to his son Charles and to Adèle Foucher. During his stays in Brussels, it was at Berru's home that the exile from Guernsey regularly stayed, with his wife, who died there of a cerebral congestion on August 27, 1868.
First edition in French, for which there were no large paper copies.
A good copy.
Autograph inscription dated and signed by Ernst Jünger to Madeleine Clouzot : "... après notre excellent déjeuner..."
First edition, one of the numbered copies on alfa paper reserved for the press.
Spine very slightly sunned, otherwise a well-preserved copy.
Signed autograph inscription from Irène Némirovsky to Charles Laval.
First edition, one of 160 hors commerce copies on Lana vellum, ours being one of 60 hors commerce copies, the only deluxe issue.
Half long-grain black morocco binding, smooth spine lettered with the author’s name, title, date, and the palladium inscription “EX. JOSEPH KESSEL 1958”, wood-patterned paper boards, grey endpapers and pastedowns, wrappers and spine preserved, binding signed by Thomas Boichot.
Some foxing, mainly affecting the wrappers and the first and last leaves.
Exceptional and moving signed autograph presentation from Maurice Druon to Joseph Kessel: "A toi mon grand Jef, cet Alexandre le grand né lui aussi sous le signe du Lion en même temps que du Bélier et que tu as aidé de tes conseils et de ton exemple en t'embrassant très fort. Maurice Juin 58"
First edition.
Publisher’s binding, smooth olive-green cloth spine partially faded, upper headcap trimmed, cream boards speckled with pink, bumped corners, shadowed endpapers.
Signed autograph inscription by Thomas Nelson Page at the head of the title page.
First edition, one of the press service copies.
Precious signed autograph inscription from Paul Éluard to Benjamin Fondane.
Spine with three small expertly repaired tears, of no consequence.
A moving dedication from poet to poet, written on the eve of the war during which the two friends would contribute together to poetic resistance journals such as l'Honneur des poètes.
The deportation and death of Fondane in 1944, along with many other artist and poet friends, would profoundly affect Éluard, who composed in their memory a magnificent poetic tribute, "Eternité de ceux que je n'ai pas revus," listing the names of each of the departed:
"Visages clairs souvenirs sombres
Puis comme un grand coup sur les yeux
Visages de papier brûlé
Dans la mémoire rien que cendres
La rose froide de l'oubli
Pourtant Desnos pourtant Péri
Crémieux Fondane Pierre Unik
Sylvain Itkine Jean Jausion
Grou-Radenez Lucien Legros
Le temps le temps insupportable
Politzer Decour Robert Blache
Serge Meyer Mathias Lübeck
Maurice Bourdet et Jean Frayse
Dominique Corticchiato
Et Max Jacob et Saint-Pol Roux
Rien que le temps de n'être plus
Et rien que le temps d'être tout"
First edition, one of 95 hors commerce copies on pure wove paper, the only deluxe paper issue.
Half fawn morocco binding, smooth spine with gilt lettering of the author's name, title, date, and the mention “EX. J. KESSEL”, fawn paper boards, rust-colored endpapers and pastedowns, original covers and spine preserved, binding signed by Thomas Boichot.
Some foxing mainly affecting the covers as well as the first and last leaves.
Exceptional and moving signed autograph inscription from Maurice Druon to Joseph Kessel: "A toi mon grand Jef, prince des Cavaliers, avec la joie de t'avoir rejoint parmi les Immortels, cette histoire de famille en t'embrassant pour tous les jours des hommes. Maurice 1967."
First edition of the French translation, of which no deluxe copies were printed.
Crease to the upper left corner of the lower cover and the last leaves.
Illustrations.
Precious inscribed copy to Bernard Kouchner: "To my dear friend Bernard always true to his beliefs and a great partner. With deep admiration and affection. Madeleine 15/11/03."
First edition, now rare according to Clouzot.
Endpapers partially toned, occasional scattered foxing, light dampstains in the upper margins of some leaves.
Contemporary half tan sheep binding, spine skilfully restored, marbled paper boards, first endpaper partly toned, a modest period binding (most copies were simply bound at the time, cf. Clouzot).
Exceptional signed autograph inscription by Victor Hugo: "A mon cher et respectable monsieur de la Rivière. Hommage de profond et reconnaissant attachement. Victor."
A fine set of the first four volumes of the French intégrale edition, identical to the original American structure. Volume 1 is housed in a metal case with embossed lettering and a folding map of Westeros. It is a copy of the highly sought-after very first French collector's edition of the series published in 2012. Volumes 2 and 3 followed in 2013, and volume 4 in 2014.
Each volume signed by George R.R. Martin on the title page. The signatures were obtained during the author's only public signing session for French readers, held in Dijon on July 3, 2014. (Volume 5 was not published until 2015.)
Colour pictorial wrappers with flaps. Slight rubbing to corners, minor handling wear to spines of vols. 2 and 3, crease marks to upper board of vol. 3, lower board of vol. 4, and front flap of vol. 3; edges of volumes 2, 3 and 4 lightly toned. Light rubbing to spine and boards of metal case.
First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on alfa, only deluxe copies. Some light foxing, mainly on the endpapers.
Rare signed presentation copy in French: “To my friend René Jasinski, in token of gratitude and friendship, these few scenes of Jewish life in New York. T. Twersky”, with a sentence in Hebrew translated by the author in French on a laid-in leaf: “Translation of the Hebrew inscription: sixth day of the week ‘Pekoudè’, year 5692 since the creation of the world, in the holy community of Paris”, (Friday, 4 March 1932 according to our calculation).
New edition.
A handsome copy.
Signed presentation inscription from Albert Cossery to a friend: "Pour Jean-Pierre à qui je souhaite une vie de miel. Albert Cossery."
New edition published three months after the first.
A pleasant copy.
Inscribed and signed by Boualem Sansal to a woman named Suzan.
