Joseph KESSEL

Autograph inscription signed by Joseph Kessel and addressed to the Geneva autograph collector Claude Arnaud, on a loose leaf.

Fold mark from having been enclosed in an envelope.

Typed letter dated 16 September 1971 and signed by Joseph Kessel, responding favourably to a request from the Geneva autograph collector Claude Arnaud.

"Monsieur, je vous remercie de votre lettre, et c'est avec plaisir que je vous adresse cette signature."

Accompanied by the original typed envelope.

First edition on ordinary paper, with a spurious statement of sixth edition.

Illustrated with drawings by Henry-Paul Gassier.

Spine and covers faded and sunned, as usual.

Signed presentation copy from Joseph Kessel to René Arcos, poet and member of the Abbaye group: "A René Arcos confraternel hommage J. Kessel." additionally signed by Georges Suarez.

First edition, one of 70 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the deluxe issue after 25 hors commerce copies on Holland paper reserved for the Cercle lyonnais.

Rare and fine copy.

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...

First edition, one of 70 named and numbered copies on Madagascar paper.

Faint marginal crease marks to the lower right-hand corner of the front wrapper.

Illustrated with a frontispiece drawn and wood-engraved by Vassily Photiadès.
Signed presentation inscription from Joseph Kessel to Emmanuel Arago, for whom this copy was specially printed.

First edition, one of 56 hors commerce name copies on Saint-Amand, the only deluxe issue with 32 copies on hollande.
A fine copy.

Name copy printed for Kessel's friend Eddy Marnay signed and inscrbied by Joseph Kessel beneath the limitation statement and his name: "... ou le zombie son ami Jef."

Born Edmond Bacri, he was a French lyricist and singer who wrote approximately 4,000 songs, including Les Amants de Paris for Edith Piaf.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Japon paper, the deluxe issue.
Illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of the author by Christian Bérard.
A pleasing copy despite a slight shadow to the spine.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Holland paper, deluxe issue.

A very small chip at the foot of the spine.

A fine copy, with full margins and in double wrappers.

First edition, one of the copies printed on alfa paper.

A small split to the spine, a few light foxing spots.

Manuscript signatures of Joseph Kessel and Hélène Iswolsky.

First edition, one of 70 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

Bound in blue-grey half morocco, spine in five raised bands, date gilt at foot, marbled paper boards, blue-grey endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and sun-faded spine preserved, top edge gilt, an elegant binding signed Boichot.

Valuable autograph inscription signed by Joseph Kessel, in violet pencil, on the front free endpaper: "A Charles Maurras cet exemplaire plus digne de lui" enhanced with the manuscript signature of Georges Suarez.

A fine copy, attractively bound

First collected edition, one of 111 numbered copies on vergé pur fil, one the réimposés copies in "tellière" quarto format, the most limited deluxe issue (tirage de tête).
This volume brings together the following texts: "Mary de Cork", "Makhno et sa juive", and "Le thé du capitaine Sogoub".

Contemporary Art Deco-style 3/4 binding of black morocco-grained roan, spine with five raised bands framed by blind fillets extending onto the boards, gilt date at the foot, minor rubbing to the spine, marbled paper boards, endleaves and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, gilt top edge.
A few minor instances of foxing.

Presentation...

New issue of this musical score, the title page illustrated with a drawing by René Lefebvre depicting the Statue of Liberty rising above a French village.
Fine copy.

First edition on ordinary paper.

Bradel binding, boards and spine covered in blue decorative paper, flat spine, title label in navy blue morocco bordered with a palladium fillet, title and authors stamped in palladium, original covers preserved with a skillful restoration to the outer margin of the front cover, elegant binding signed by Boichot. 
Precious presentation copy signed by Joseph Kessel on the front free endpaper: "A Charles Maurras qui nous reçut avec tant de touchante bienveillance, hommage de reconnaissante admiration" [To Charles Maurras, who welcomed us with such touching kindness, homage of grateful admiration] also signed and inscribed...

First edition, printed in 100 copies, each bearing a nominative number on laid paper.

Endpapers partly toned, as often, with a light crease at the foot of the lower cover.

A scarce and appealing copy of this work published under the semi-pseudonym of Jacques Kessel.

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...

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...

First edition, one of 85 copies on pur fil paper, from the deluxe issue after 26 on Hollande.

Spine and covers slightly sunned, marginal tears to the covers and at the foot of the spine.

Rare copy with full margins.