First edition of this important work on former French Indochina, comprising:
On the half-title page of Volume VI, signed autograph inscription by Auguste Pavie: "A l'ami Vitoux, hommage affectueux. A. Pavie."
Accompanying this set is: "Carte de l'Indo-Chine dressée par MM. les Capitaines Cupet, Friquegnon et de Malglaive membres de la Mission Pavie."
Printed in Paris by Augustin Challamel in 1893 (broadsheet, folded and linen-backed, with some foxing).
The map is housed in a modern half green cloth portfolio with tips, red oasis title label, red board covers, and a red full-cloth slipcase, designed to match the text volumes.
"A pioneer of new routes in Cambodia and Laos, and a key figure in French expansion in Indochina, Auguste Pavie (1847–1925) holds a privileged place among the explorers of this region. Born in Dinan, he joined the army at seventeen, served in Cochinchina with the Marine Infantry (1868), and was sent to Cambodia in 1875 (…). In 1876, he was commissioned by the Governor of Indochina to create a new map of Cambodia, taking advantage of the construction of a telegraph line between Phnom Penh and Bangkok (…). In 1885, Le Myre de Vilers, recognizing his abilities, appointed him to the delicate post of French Consul in Luang Prabang, where he was to defend the rights France had inherited from Annam over Laos (…). From Luang Prabang, Pavie undertook a series of journeys across Laos from 1887 to 1889, regions that Mouhot and F. Garnier had only briefly explored. His investigations focused on three main directions: east (Tran-Ninh, Plain of Jars); northeast (Hua-Panh); and north (Sip-Song-Chau). It was in this last area that Pavie concentrated his efforts, seeking safe routes to Tonkin in order to open up Laos and firmly link it to France's other Indochinese possessions (…). From 1888, Pavie was no longer alone. He surrounded himself with military collaborators—Cogniard, Cupet, Malglaive, Pennequin…—and civilians such as the young diplomat Lefèvre-Pontalis and the brilliant biologist Le Dantec. Within a few years, the Pavie Mission, a veritable geographical service, would number some forty members, not counting the many indigenous auxiliaries. Dispersed in small groups along different routes, the mission members multiplied the leader's efforts, covering considerable ground. Thus, in 1890–1891, surrounded by a large team of geographers, naturalists, doctors, ethnographers, and economists, Pavie successfully completed a vast territorial survey intended to establish the future borders between French Indochina, China, Siam, and Burma (…). The scientific results of this collective enterprise, unparalleled in the French Empire, were impressive. Extending far beyond Laos, the investigations covered Tonkin, Annam, Cambodia, and southern China. In total, some 600,000 km²—an area larger than France—were surveyed and partially mapped, and 70,000 km of land and river routes were recorded (…). Truly multidisciplinary, the Pavie Mission encompassed all fields of knowledge, neglecting neither history, nor literature, nor folklore…" (Cf. Numa Broc, Dictionnaire illustré des explorateurs français du XIXe siècle, Asie, pp. 366–368).
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.
First edition, one of 100 numbered copies on Outhenin-Chalandre pure wove paper for each volume, the only deluxe paper issue after 10 copies on Japon and 30 on Hollande.
In original wrappers. Very good overall condition; two covers show a few minor surface marks.
Pleasant and uncommon set, untrimmed and with full margins, complete in 27 volumes.
First edition of the French translation by Isabelle Rivière, one of 33 numbered copies on pur fil de Voiron, ours being one of 5 hors commerce copies, reimposed in quarto Tellière format, the only deluxe copies.
A handsome and rare copy.
First edition and first printing of Lucien Laforge’s pacifist illustrations, one of 400 deluxe copies on special matte red paper from the Barthélémy paper mills, the only deluxe issue announced.
Some light wear, otherwise a very good copy of this fierce anti-militarist pamphlet in which runs "comme le grésillement du fer rouge marquant à vif la chair pâle et grasse du Bourgeois repu de morts" (Paul Vaillant-Couturier in L'Humanité).
First edition, one of 160 numbered copies on pur fil, the only deluxe paper issue.
Half red shagreen binding with corners, spine with four raised bands framed by black fillets, gilt date at foot, boards covered in moiré-effect paper, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.
A handsome copy in an attractive binding.
First edition on ordinary paper.
A small nick on the spine, slightly split at the foot.
Precious signed autograph inscription from Jean Giraudoux to André Gide: "... avec gratitude..."
First edition, no copies printed on deluxe paper.
Illustrated, a pleasant copy
Precious and very fine autograph inscription, dated and signed by Samuel Mbajum: "Paris, 30 June 2014, au ministre Bernard Kouchner, avec ma sympathie pour votre combat humanitaire, en espérant que vous m'aiderez à plaider le plus largement possible la cause de ces oubliés de l'histoire franco-africaine, et aussi des débats sur la commémoration de la Grande Guerre."
First edition of the second orientalist bibliography compiled by Henri Cordier (1849–1925), following his Sinica (1878–1895).
The first four volumes are bound in full red cloth, smooth spines (spine of the first volume slightly faded), marbled endpapers and pastedowns, modern bindings.
The fifth and final volume, published in 1932, is in original wrappers.
Copy from the library of the Indologist Émile Sénart (1847–1928), with his printed ownership stamps on the title pages of volumes three and four.
Rare complete set in five volumes.
First edition with all first printing features, one of the press copies.
Exceptional presentation copy inscribed by the author to the famous singer Yvette Guilbert, to whom Céline himself sang and offered one of his scandalous compositions, “Katika la putain,” [Katika the Whore] later renamed “À Nœud coulant” [With a Slipknot"] "A madame Yvette Guilbert en témoignage de ma profonde admiration. LFCéline.”
Beneath Céline's inscription, the actor Fabrice Luchini added: “A Yvette Guilbert in memoriam. FLuchini” ; and on the half-title, actor Jean-François Balmer wrote in turn: “Merci en bon voyage. JFBalmer.”
With pasted-in entry tickets to their respective performances of Voyage au bout de la nuit at the Comédie des Champs-Élysées for Luchini, and at the Théâtre de l’Œuvre for Balmer.
First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on pure wove paper, the only deluxe copies.
First endpaper slightly and partially toned, without consequence.
A handsome copy with full margins.
First edition, one of 40 copies printed on pur fil paper, this one numbered 1, the only copies on deluxe paper.
Complete with the folding map at the end of the volume.
A handsome and rare copy, untrimmed, of this work dedicated "To the glory of those who fell and those who prevailed, workers, soldiers, and commanders."
Preface by Marshal Franchet d'Esperey.
First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe copies.
Bound in red half shagreen with corners, spine with four raised bands framed by blind fillets, sides covered in gilt-effect paper, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt on witnesses.
A handsome copy in an attractive binding.
First edition, one of 100 numbered copies on pur fil, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.
A handsome copy, uncut.
First edition, one of 110 numbered copies on Marais vellum, ours unnumbered but duly justified at the foot of each spine "Marais" and watermarked, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.
A tear to the upper right corner of the rear cover of the last volume.
Handsome complete set in 6 volumes; the author deliberately halted the writing of this work, which deals as much with history as with military history and was originally intended to comprise ten volumes.
First edition of the French translation, one of 60 numbered copies on Arches laid paper, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.
Very fine copy.
First edition, one of 15 copies on Japan paper, the deluxe issue.
Minor foxing to the edges of the covers, otherwise a desirable and uncommon copy with all edges uncut.
Lettre autographe signée de Pierre Drieu la Rochelle. Une page à l'encre noire sur un feuillet. Traces de plis transversaux inhérentes à l'envoi.
L'écrivain offre une très belle analyse de ses vers inspirés du front, rassemblés sous le titre provocateur de Fond de cantine, paru en 1920. Il demande l'avis de la poétesse Renée de Brimont, petite nièce de Lamartine, qui publia également à la Nrf : "Merci Madame de la décision très fine de ces vers me coupent comme un regret. Que chacun se retire dans soi-même. Que puis-je espérer que vous pensez de ces rythmes militaires [...]".
Esthétique et rare lettre de Drieu la Rochelle.
First edition, one of 822 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe paper issue after 109 reimposed copies.
A pleasing copy despite two small areas of sunning at the head and foot of the spine.
First British edition of 1955 (the first edition of 1954 is American), complete with its dark pink dust jacket designed by Lynton Lamb, on which one of the two prizes received by A Fable in 1955 is mentioned: the Pulitzer Prize. This is the work on which William Faulkner laboured longest and which he considered his masterpiece.
Publisher's binding in candy-pink cloth, with title and author's name gilt in a false panel at the head of the spine, and publisher's name gilt at the foot. Galignani bookshop label affixed to the foot of the front pastedown.
Colour very slightly faded to the headcaps, discreet staining to the foot of the spine and to the tail edge. To the dust jacket, the spine sunned as is common, losses to the upper and lower portions of the spine, wear to the margins of both boards, most notably to the upper board, and further wear to the board edges and corners, staining to the foot of the lower board, price-clipped.
Printed calling card of G. Clemenceau bearing the following autograph addition: "avec tous mes remerciements. GC."
A fine copy.
First Gallimard edition, one of 1,050 numbered copies printed on Alfama du Marais paper.
Publisher’s boards bound after the original design by Paul Bonet.
A very fine copy.
First edition on ordinary paper with all the features of the first printing. Includes its publisher's band expertly restored and the publisher's catalogue at rear.
An exceptionally fresh copy, preserved with its rare red publisher's band quoting Molly's phrase "C'est le voyageur solitaire qui va le plus loin" ('he travels farthest who travels alone', translation by John H. P. Marks) followed by this text on the verso:
"One should not be misled by the tone of this extraordinary novel and take Journey to the End of the Night for a pamphlet by the violence of its sarcasm as well as its ever-present and particularly ferocious satire. The author aims to create a very faithful image of urban man with all his implied complexity, richness, and contradictions. In this book of prodigious variety and vividness, he has no other ambition than to approach life: unprejudiced minds will have to bow before the integrity of his testimony" (translation our own).
From December 1932, copies sported a new band printed on green paper: "Un formidable / succès / Prix Théophraste Renaudot".
New edition, limited to 2,000 numbered copies on Lafuma vellum.
Signed autograph presentation inscription by Henri Barbusse beneath the limitation statement: "A Marcel Granoux fraternellement. Henri Barbusse."
Included are an original photograph of Henri Barbusse (8.9 × 13.8 cm, from the G.L. Manuel Frères studio), showing him full face, together with two typed letters dated 28 April and 2 July 1930, signed by Henri Barbusse, concerning an article he was late in sending and a copy of Le Feu that he promises to inscribe and forward to his correspondent.
The first typed letter also bears two manuscript corrections by Henri Barbusse.
A fine and cohesive ensemble.
First edition, one of 13 numbered copies on imperial Japan paper, deluxe issue.
Spine and boards very lightly and marginally sun-toned, without significance.
Rare and pleasing copy, with full margins and uncut.
First edition, one of the 10 numbered and justified copies on japon paper, the only large-paper issue announced.
Contemporary half brown morocco binding in the Bradel style, smooth spine, marbled paper boards, handmade endpapers, bookplate affixed to the front pastedown, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, period binding.
Signed and dated autograph inscription from Jean Puget to his publisher Pierre Briquet: "... en souvenir des jours héroïques..."
Provenance: from the personal library of publisher Pierre Briquet, with his bookplate affixed to the front pastedown.
Exceptionally rare copy featuring the censored passages restored in black ink, likely by the publisher, on pages 92 and 118.
First edition, one of 110 numbered copies on deluxe paper, our copy unnumbered, the only large-paper issue.
With a photographic portrait of Léon Blum as frontispiece.
Some scattered foxing, notably to the edges and endpapers; minor marginal tears to the covers, without significance.
Very rare first edition of this Mauritian imprint of a charitable lecture delivered during the war in the island’s second city, by the Solesmes Benedictine Dom Paul Chauvin (1866–1937), preacher and prior of the Parisian Abbey of La Source.
Only one copy recorded in the CCF (Rennes).
Bradel-style binding in half brown glacé morocco, smooth spine, date and place gilt at foot, top edge gilt, sides in handmade paper, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, contemporary binding.
At the head of the title page, an autograph inscription by Paul Chauvin to the Duke and Duchess of Bauffremont (the sixth duke, Pierre-Eugène de Bauffremont, 1843–1917, a noted collector of Mauritian literature).
First edition in French, one of 8 numbered copies on Imperial Japan paper, ours being one of 3 hors commerce copies, deluxe printing.
Some foxing to boards and certain deckled edges.
A rare full-margined copy.
First edition, one of 100 numbered copies on hollande paper, deluxe issue (only the first volume numbered).
Each volume includes a historical introduction by Philippe De Gaulle.
Ex-libris pasted to the front of each volume.
A very fine copy with wide margins, complete in twelve volumes of this important work, commencing in 1905 and concluding in April 1969.
