Roger MARTIN DU GARD

Autograph letter signed by Roger Martin du Gard, 36 lines in black ink on bristol card recto verso, written from his furnished lodgings in Nice to the contractor who must manage the damage that occurred in one of the real estate properties he owns.
A small ink stain in the left margin of the recto and slightly affecting the word "sinistrées".
The father of the Thibaults shows himself terrified by the extent of the damage his Parisian real estate has suffered and the inherent expenses to deal with it: "Your letter caused me some fright... To attack the repairs from underneath, if I understand correctly, would this mean gutting the ceilings?"

Autograph letter dated and signed by Roger Martin du Gard, written from his estate in Bellême, Normandy, to his interior architect; 24 lines in black ink and pencil.

Roger Martin du Gard expresses growing impatience over the sale of a property: "Il faudra remuer ciel et enfer, pour aboutir !"

He outlines his plans for the renovation of the dining room and offers a few remarks: "mais ce n'est pas encore au point dans ma caboche..."

Hence the original pencil and red crayon sketch on the verso, illustrating his vision for the proposed alterations to the dining room.

Autograph letter dated and signed by Roger Martin du Gard, 58 lines in black ink on a double sheet to the manager of his château du Tertre located in the Perche.
While vacationing in Cassis: "having fled this year, with my wife, the mists of the Perche," Roger Martin du Gard has just learned from his wife, who returned hastily to their château du Tertre, that torrential rains have severely affected their property: "Disaster in the house... the ceiling is nothing but a sieve, it rains as much inside as outside... The terraces are starting to leak again from all sides... everything is affected: paintings, wallpaper, electrical conduits. What...

Autograph letter signed by Roger Martin du Gard, 22 lines in black ink on a sheet recto verso with letterhead from his furnished lodging in Nice to the manager of one of his real estate properties.
The father of the Thibaults wishes to increase the rent of his hotel: "You have the complete file. Please look at what concerns the possible rent increase. I would not want to miss the date when I have the right to demand this increase."
Roger Martin du Gard returns to the misfortunes that recently struck his in-laws: "My wife lost, in the same week, a sister whom she loved tenderly, and her father, who could not survive the grief caused by his...

First edition for each of the volumes with print runs varying from 297 to 1,250 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe copies along with the reimposed ones.
Some spines lightly sunned.
A rare and handsome set.

Autograph letter signed by Roger Martin du Gard addressed from Nice to his friends Rim (3 pages, 46 lines in black ink) great suppliers of sweets and other delicacies for the author of Les Thibault who seems to rediscover, under the Provençal sun and tranquility; a soothed sweetness and carefree spirit of living simply, the proximity of a school further facilitating this ideal peace :
"Nice. 1er novembre 34
Chers amis, pour si agréable qu'il soit, c'est un rôle bien gênant à tenir que celui du vieux monsieur qu'on gave de sucreries ! Je suis attendri jusqu'aux larmes que vous pensiez ainsi à me régaler à distance, et le coeur me fond dans la poitrine en...

Autograph letter signed by Roger Martin du Gard addressed from Cassis to his friend Alice Rim (3 pages, 48 lines in black ink) in which he savors his peaceful solitude in deserted Cassis. He thanks her for all the delicacies and confectioneries with which she supplies the Provençal hermit who only deplores the absence of his friends Carlo and Rim at his side :
"Cassis. 8 janvier 34
Chère madame, Et serait-ce de petites crottes de musaraignes dans du papier d'argent, que je serais déjà pénétré de reconnaissance par votre amicale attention ! Imaginez donc ce que je puis éprouver en décortiquant ces délicieux tortillons de La Rochelle, croquants et onctueux, insinuants comme...

Fine and amusing signed manuscript letter from Roger Martin du Gard addressed from Cassis to Alice Rim (3 and a half pages, 54 lines in black ink) in which he lyrically praises the benefits of the delicious Parisian confections that his correspondent sends him: "... Et quelles sucreries ! Si Dieu pouvait goûter ce que Boissier fabrique avec ses fruits, comme il serait honteux des grossiers produits de ses arbres, et comme il aurait envie de recommencer sa création..." ["... And what confections! If God could taste what Boissier makes with his fruits, how ashamed he would be of the crude products of his trees, and how he would want to begin his creation anew..."]
He also...

Beautiful and amusing signed manuscript letter from Roger Martin du Gard addressed from Cassis to Alice Rim (38 lines in black ink) in which he displays all his insatiable appetite for sweets.
Fold mark inherent to postal mailing.
"Cassis. February 11th, 34,
Dear Madam,
a certain Carlo, Comma, - whose infernal nerve you know - had the audacity to present himself alone (word underlined) in Cassis! (I must say that he had been conscious of the disappointment he was going to cause, and that he arrived with his arms loaded with sumptuous bags of fondant sweets and stuffed dates, from the most delicate confectioner) If...

Humorous autograph postcard signed by Roger Martin du Gard addressed from Cassis to Alice Rim (21 lines in black ink) describing the Provençal winter.
"Cassis. 13 dec.33,
Dear Madam,
Thank you for these few lively and friendly pages. Don't regret Cassis. It's freezing here. Not that it's as cold as elsewhere, but we don't know how to heat ourselves. The "Réserve" is empty. There we find a drowsy son-in-law, alone, roasting his shins by the big central stove stuffed like a locomotive and smoking just the same. The port is deserted. I believe the Mediterranean (sic) is carrying ice floes. (To be verified...) Congratulations to Carlo Rim for the Marraine...

First edition of each volume, with print runs varying from 297 to 1,250 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe copies along with the reimposed editions.
Spine of the fifth volume split, printed "nrf" mention scratched on the back cover of the first volume of the seventh part.
Rare and handsome complete set with publisher's slip.
Autograph inscription dated 1929 and signed by Roger Martin du Gard, on a loose leaf: tribute from the author, absent from Paris, to Robert de Saint-Jean.

First edition of each volume, with print runs varying from 297 to 1,250 numbered copies on pure thread paper, the only deluxe copies along with the re-imposed editions.
Light foxing and a tear at the head of the spine of the second volume, printed collector's stamps on the title pages of the fifth, sixth and seventh volumes, some foxing at the foot of the first leaves of the sixth and seventh volumes.
A rare and handsome set.

First edition for each of the volumes with print runs varying from 297 to 1,250 numbered copies on pure thread paper, the only deluxe copies along with the reimposed copies.
Spines and front covers of volumes 4 and 6 partially sunned, one endpaper foxed, otherwise handsome set.

First edition, one of 115 copies on laid paper Lafuma-Navarre reimposed in Tellière quarto format, ours one of 10 hors commerce lettered copies, deluxe issue.
Spine slightly sunned, small tear at foot of first board, otherwise a handsome copy.

First edition, one of 122 copies on laid paper Lafuma-Navarre reimposed in Tellière quarto format, deluxe issue.
Spine slightly sunned, two small crease marks on boards, otherwise a handsome copy.

First edition, one of 122 copies on laid Lafuma-Navarre paper, reimposed in Tellière quarto format, ours one of 10 hors commerce lettered copies, deluxe copy.
Spine very lightly sunned, slight tear to margin of front cover, otherwise handsome copy.

First edition, one of 108 copies on vergé pur fil paper Lafuma-Navarre re-imposed in Tellière quarto format, the tirage de tête.
Spine discolored with small tears on the headpieces, otherwise nice set.

First edition, one of 108 copies on laid Lafuma-Navarre paper, reimposed in Tellière quarto format, deluxe copy.
Spine very lightly sunned, handsome copy.

First edition for each of the volumes with print runs varying from 297 to 1,250 numbered copies on pure laid paper, the only deluxe copies along with the reimposed ones.
Two spines slightly sunned, rare light worming on four endpapers, otherwise handsome set.

First edition of the French translation by Roger Martin du Gard and the author, one of 550 numbered copies on Alfama du Marais vellum, the only deluxe copies.
Spine very lightly sunned, handsome interior condition.

First Gallimard edition printed a few months after the first edition published by 'Au sans pareil', one of 54 numbered copies on Japan paper, deluxe copy.
A marginal stain affecting the entire length of the front cover, handsome interior condition.

First edition, one of 898 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe copies after the 110 reimposed.
Half brown shagreen binding, spine with four raised bands set with black fillets, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.
Autograph inscription signed by Roger Martin du Gard to Joseph Breitbach enhanced with a passage from the work: "pardonnez ses intarissables bavardages au vieux sacristain qui a émis cette pensée profonde : Faut jamais laisser la vérité à la portée d'un imbécile ...[P.99]" (forgive the endless chatter of the old sacristan who uttered this profound thought: Never leave the truth within reach of an imbecile...)

First edition, one of 207 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe copies after the 109 reimposed.
Half shagreen binding in havana brown, spine with four raised bands set with black fillets and showing very light rubbing without consequence, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.
Autograph inscription signed by Roger Martin du Gard to Joseph Breitbach including a passage from the work: "les vieux, presque tous, finissent par savoir que rien ne vaut la peine... moi, je n'ai pas eu de chance : je l'ai su vraiment trop tôt. ça m'aura tout gâté...[Acte III, sc. 10]" (the old, almost all of them, end up knowing that nothing is worth the trouble... me, I wasn't...

First edition printed in 600 numbered copies on laid chamois paper
A handsome copy.

First edition, one of 207 numbered copies on "pur-fil" paper, only leading copies after 109 reimposed.
Insolated back, nice interior state.
Autograph signed by Roger Martin du Gard Maurice Martin du Gard.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on pur fil, the only large paper copies.
A very attractive copy.

First edition, one of 647 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe copies with 49 reimposed.
A small stain at the foot of the front cover, handsome copy.