Victor SEGALEN

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Holland paper, being the only large paper issue.

Bradel binding with decorative paper featuring red and gold motifs, flat spine, small restorations to spine-ends and joints, brown shagreen title label with a corner skilfully restored, endpapers and pastedowns of blue paper with gilt motifs, soiled soiled covers and spine preserved, gilt top edge on deckle, contemporary binding.

Exceptional and precious presentation copy signed by Claude Farrère: "Pour Max-Anély que j'admire et pour mon ami Segalen. Claude Farrère." [For Max-Anély I admire and for my friend Segalen. Claude Farrère]

Later edition (the first was published three years earlier in 1906).

Bradel binding with marbled paper boards, smooth spine with some parts lacking paper, brown morocco lettering piece with some loss to margis, one joint split, handmade paper endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, contemporary binding.

Exceptional copy signed and inscribed on a mounted stub by Auguste Gilbert de Voisins to his celebrated writer friend and traveling companion on Chinese roads and rivers: "to Victor Segalen in thanks for speaking to me of the Orient. AGilbert de Voisins." 

Illustrated edition with 38 original engravings by Ling Chou, copper-engraved and hand-printed in sanguine, printed in 134 nominative and numbered copies on double Yu-Pan China paper.
The book, separated into two fascicles hand-sewn and covered in green moiré silk, is protected by two black lacquer plates and laces, work of the master lacquerer Tchou-Tze-Tsin.
The whole is contained in a moiré silk case closed by two ivory clasps, following the illustrator's design.
The case is partially and lightly discolored, with a light stain at the head of the first board of the case, handsome copy.
Signatures of Ling Chou, of the president and vice-president of the...

First edition strictly hors-commerce, one of 200 copies printed on glassine vellum or European paper, only print after 81 imperial Korean paper.

Our copy is complete with its overlay cover (the colour and decorative motifs often vary) and the white glassine paper label bearing the title Stèles printed in Chinese on the first part of the cover, the latter being folded into three parts.

Our copy is presented in a blueish paper chemise and slipcase, navy blue morocco spine, name of the author, title and date in palladium, slipcase in blueish paper, all signed Devauchelle in palladium.

Autograph letter signed by Victor Segalen addressed to Emile Mignard. Four pages written in black ink and blue colored pencil on a double sheet. Cross fold inherent to the sending.

Emile Mignard (1878-1966), also a doctor from Brest, was one of Segalen's closest childhood friends whom he met at the Jesuit college of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours in Brest. The writer maintained an abundant and regular correspondence with this friend in which he described with humor and intimacy his daily life in the four corners of the globe. It was at Mignard's wedding, on February 15, 1905, that Segalen met his wife, Yvonne Hébert.

A mechanical problem prevents the...

Double autograph letter signed by Victor Segalen to Emile Mignard. Nine pages and a few lines written in black ink on two bifolia and one single leaf. Horizontal folds from mailing.
Emile Mignard (1878-1966), also a physician from Brest, was one of Segalen’s closest childhood friends, whom he met at the Jesuit college Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours in Brest. The writer maintained with this companion a prolific and steady correspondence in which he described with humor and intimacy his daily life across the globe. It was at Mignard’s wedding, on 15 February 1905, that Segalen first met his future wife, Yvonne Hébert.
Lengthy letter discussing the progress of...

Autograph double letter from Victor Segalen to Emile Mignard. Two pages written in black ink on two leaves. Horizontal folds from mailing, scattered foxing.
Emile Mignard (1878-1966), also a physician from Brest, was one of Segalen’s closest childhood friends, whom he first met at the Jesuit Collège Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours in Brest. The writer maintained with him a prolific and sustained correspondence in which he described, with humor and intimacy, his daily life across the globe. It was at Mignard’s wedding, on 15 February 1905, that Segalen met his future wife, Yvonne Hébert.

Original color proof of a woodcut inspired by the work of Gauguin and engraved by George-Daniel de Monfreid for a frontispiece project, remaining unpublished, of Victor Segalen's Les Immémoriaux.

Only one other original color proof and one print run, in black and white (see below), are known to date.
Printed in two tones, green and brown, on old Japan and enhanced with gilt painting by the artist.

This engraved woodcut was to illustrate, as a frontispiece, the original edition of Segalen's Les Immémoriaux, an ethnographic novel, directly inspired by his trip to Polynesia following in Gauguin's footsteps. Segalen...