Albert CAMUS

Original leaflet for the Journée internationale de la résistance à la dictature et à la guerre [International Day of Resistance to Dictatorship and War], held on 30 April 1949, at the grand amphitheatre of the Sorbonne and then at the Vélodrome d'Hiver, with the list of participants and speakers on verso. Some minor edge tears, one horizontal and one vertical fold.

Rare leaflet calling for participation in a major peace conference organized by the Rassemblement Démocratique Révolutionnaire, led by former Surrealist and ex-Communist militant Georges Altman. Albert Camus is listed as the first participant, alongside Jean-Paul Sartre—though the latter did not attend, his address was read. The event featured speeches by prominent figures including the American writer Richard Wright and the sociologist Merleau-Ponty. Ten thousand people responded to the organizers' call.

This historic day of debates was secretly funded by the CIA in response to the famous peace congress organized by the Communist Party, for which Picasso had designed his celebrated dove.

First edition, one of 1050 numbered copies on alfa paper.
Two very slight sunning without gravity to head of boards, handsome copy.
Paperboard binding after Mario Prassinos' original design.

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.

Unpublished, handwritten, signed letter from André Breton addressed to critic Charles Estienne; one page and a few lines in black ink on a paper from the à l'étoile scellée gallery.
Two transverse folds from having been sent, a small corner missing in the upper right margin.
Very beautiful letter giving an account of the death of one of André Breton's dearest friends and of his quarrel with Albert Camus.
Breton tells his friend about the death of the Surrealist Czech artist Jindřich Heisler: “Your letter spoke of those days where it seemed “that there was only just enough fire to live”: on Monday there was far from enough fire, when it reached me: one of my two or three best friends, Heisler, taken suddenly unwell on his way to mine on Saturday, had to be hospitalised urgently and I had just received the pneumatic from Bichat telling me of his death. The event, no less inconceivable than accomplished, left me distraught for a long time: there was no-one more exquisite than he, putting more warmth into everything he did, the most constant of which was to lighten and embellish those whom he loved.” The two poets were indeed very close: Heisler participated, alongside Breton, in the launch of Néon in 1948 and supported him during a period of depression, accompanying him with other friends to the Île de Sein. “The beginning of 1953 was overshadowed by the death of Jindřich Heisler (4 January). Loyal among the faithful, he “lived entirely for Surrealism” according to Breton, who pays tribute to his activity as a leader: “This is how he was between 1948 and 1950, the soul of Néon, and until his last moments the greatest bearer of projects that, as if by magic, his talent gave him the means to achieve.”” (Henri Béhar, André Breton)

First edition, no copies on deluxe paper issued.

3/4 brown half morocco binding, spine with color restoration, five raised bands framed in black, gilt date at foot, boards, endpapers and pastedowns in wood-grain style marbled paper, covers and spine preserved, gilt edges, an elegant binding signed Alix.

Manuscript ex-libris in black ink and a discreet restoration to the upper right corner of the first endpaper.

First edition on ordinary paper.
Handsome, fine autograph inscription signed by Albert Camus : "à Albert Béguin qui trouvera ici les raisons de mes désaccords avec Esprit, avec mon bien cordial souvenir...[to Albert Bégiun who will find here the reasons for my disagreements with the Spirit, in friendly remembrance…]"
A little light spotting primarily to upper cover and ffep.
Retaining its advertising notice, entitled "Lettres sur la révolte".

First edition, one of 70 numbered copies on pure thread paper, ours being one of 15 hors commerce copies lettered under Ingres covers, deluxe copies after 2 reimposed on pure thread laid paper hors commerce reserved for Jacques Hébertot and 13 holland paper copies.
Minor marginal tears of no consequence to the covers.
Handsome and rare copy of this response by Albert Camus to Jean-Paul Sartre's "Les mains sales".

First French edition, one of 77 numbered copies on pur fil, only deluxe issue.

Preface by Albert Camus.

Nice copy housed under a chemise and slipcase by Devauchelle.

First edition, one of 70 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the deluxe issue after 2 reimposed on pur fil vergé hors commerce reserved for Jacques Hébertot and 13 on holland paper.
A handsome and rare copy of this response by Albert Camus to Jean-Paul Sartre's "Les mains sales".

First edition first issue for which no grand papier (deluxe copies) were printed, one of the rare service de presse (advance copies).
Some very discreet restorations to spine, paper browned, some discreet traces folds at the bottom of some leaves.

A handsome copy, as issued. The book is housed in a slipcase signed by Julie Nadot, reproducing the original design of the cover and spine.

This first edition of L'Étranger was printed on 21 April, 1942 with a run of 4,400 copies: 400 advance copies (service de presse), 500 copies without statement and 3,500 copies with false statements from the second to eighth “edition”.
The advance copies, not intended for sale, do not include the indi­cation of price [25 francs] on the back of the cover.

First edition of only 100 copies, numbered by Pierre-Eugène Clairin on pur fil de Lana paper, plus a few hors commerce copies.
Text by Albert Camus.
With 7 etchings, 2 drypoints and three original lithographs (one in colors) by Pierre-Eugène Clairin, who has signed eight of the illustrations in pencil.
A little light marginal worming, a good copy complete with its chemise and slipcase (with flaps).
Rare.

First edition, one of 90 numbered copies on Hollande paper, the tirage de tête.
Elegant half red morocco binding over marbled paper boards by P. Goy & C. Vilaine, spine in six compartments, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.
A very good, well-margined copy in a handsome binding. 

First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on "pur-fil" paper, most limited issue.

The book Camus dedicated to his friend René Leynaud.

Rare and handsome copy.

Very rare complete collection of Rivages, a periodical "of Mediterranean culture" with only two issues ever published in December 1938 and February-March 1939. Exceedingly scarce subscription leaflet bound at the beginning of the first issue. Only five copies recorded in WorldCat (BnF, Oxford, Harvard, Yale, NYU).

Bradel binding in full beige cloth, smooth spine, green shagreen title label, covers and spines preserved, contemporary binding.

Contributions by Albert Camus, Jules Supervielle, Emmanuel Roblès, Jean Tardieu, Gabriel Audisio, Federico García Lorca, Antonio Machado, Eugenio Montale...

Rare copy of this short-lived periodical censored after only two issues. founded by Camus with Gabriel Audisio and Jacques Heurgon.

Launched when he was only twenty-four years old, it contains one of the very first expressions of Camus’s “Mediterranean humanism”. The young author published there a section of Noces and, above all, wrote the periodical's manifesto which already reveals the constant and vibrant presence of the Mediterranean at the very core of his work.

First edition, one of 2,080 numbered copies on alfa paper.

Publisher’s binding designed from the original layout by Mario Prassinos.

Spine faded as usual.

First edition, one of the rare press copies. No deluxe limited issue printed.

Full yellow box calf binding, smooth spine lettered in palladium, boards tooled in blind, upper board with inlays of grey box calf, yellow box calf pastedowns, beige suede endpapers, original wrappers and spine preserved, no gilt edges like every binding by Jean-Luc Honegger, half yellow box calf custom slipcase, smooth spine lettered in palladium, yellow lustrine cloth boards, beige suede lining, very fine set signed Jean-Luc Honegger (2023).

4400 copies of this first edition of The Stranger were printed on April 21, 1942: 400 press copies, 500 copies without a statement of edition and 3500 copies with false statements of second through eighth "editions".
The press copies, not intended for sale, do not bear the price indication [25 francs] on the back cover.
Paper was scarce in 1942, and as Albert Camus was an unknown author at the time, Gallimard did not print a limited issue on luxury paper (or large paper) as was often the case. For this reason, press copies or copies without a statement of edition are particularly sought-after.

A precious and rare copy, perfectly bound by the fine bookbinder Jean-Luc Honegger.

First trade edition of Albert Camus’s texts and René Char’s postface.

Publisher’s binding in full green cloth, smooth spine, a handsome copy complete with its illustrated dust jacket.

Illustrated with photographs by Henriette Grindat.

First edition of the inaugural issue of this review, directed in part by Albert Camus and René Char.

Contributions by Albert Camus, “Le meurtre et l’absurde”; René Char, “Recherche de la base et du sommet”; Georges Braque, “Suite aux cahiers”; Herman Melville, “Dialogue sur le créateur et la critique”; Jean Grenier, “L’histoire a-t-elle un sens?”; Louis Guilloux, “En mon bel âge”; Yves Battistini, “Empédocle”...

Covers slightly and marginally soiled.