Paul-Jean TOULET

First edition.
Contributions by Paul-Jean Toulet "Héloïse & "La main qui se pose" & "A un journaliste allemand", Philippe Chabaneix "Petits poèmes", Claude Misery "Rytrhme"...
Issue illustrated with 4 unpublished drawings by Emile Bessler.
Worming and small marginal tears to covers, handsome interior condition.

Autograph signed photographic postcard by Paul-Jean Toulet (17 lines in black ink) addressed to his nephew Pierre-Henri de la Blachetai and depicting the Vassincourt church in the Meuse during the Battle of the Marne.
The poet gives him news of his precarious health before they meet again at the château de La Rafette, the family property located in Saint-Loubès, northwest of Bordeaux, where Paul-Jean Toulet lived after his definitive departure from Paris in 1912: "... tu n'y trouveras rien de changé, qu'un compagnon nouveau pour tes vacances..." ["you will find nothing changed there, except a new companion for your holidays..."]
Paul-Jean Toulet continues by discussing the health of family members: "... La santé de ta bonne maman ne s'est malheureusement guère améliorée. Mais Solange a beaucoup engraissée - d'une joue..." ["Unfortunately your dear mama's health has hardly improved. But Solange has put on a lot of weight - in one cheek..."]
A dandy, inveterate opium addict and alcoholic, a poet misunderstood by the general public but admired by his peers, notably by José Luis Borges, Paul-Jean Toulet was a novelist (Monsieur du Paur, Mon amie Nane) but above all a master of poetic prose. His masterpiece Contrerimes, a collection of quatrains published after his death and combining embraced rhymes with crossed metrical structure, assured him posthumous success and inspired his poet friends including Francis Carco and Tristan Derème who, taking him as their model, proclaimed themselves "whimsical poets." Confessing that what he had loved most in the world were women, alcohol and landscapes, he died from an overdose of laudanum, a substance derived from opium.

Autograph signed photographic postcard from Paul-Jean Toulet (19 lines in black ink) addressed to his sister Jane to whom he gives family news.
The postcard depicts the entrance to the main street of Monfort-en-Chalosse in the Landes.
An opium-addicted and inveterate alcoholic dandy, a poet unknown to the general public but admired by his peers, notably by José Luis Borges, Paul-Jean Toulet was a novelist (Monsieur du Paur, Mon amie Nane) but above all a master of poetic prose. His masterpiece Contrerimes, a collection of quatrains published after his death combining enclosed rhymes and crossed metrical structure, assured him posthumous success and inspired his poet friends including Francis Carco and Tristan Derème who, taking him as a model, proclaimed themselves "whimsical poets". Confessing that what he had loved most in the world were women, alcohol and landscapes, he died of a laudanum overdose, a substance derived from opium.

Autograph signed photographic postcard from Paul-Jean Toulet (27 lines in blue ink) addressed to his cousin Mauricia Chaline who was his great provider of alcohol, food, tobacco and laudanum.
Penniless, he begs his cousin to come to his aid: "l'argent des pardessus... et autant pour le voyage et menues dépenses... me sont devenues indispensables quoi que je fasse..." ["the money for overcoats... and as much for the journey and small expenses... have become indispensable to me whatever I do..."] and confesses to feeling better in Avignon: "... le climat d'Avignon me convient assez - je n'y ait pas du tout de fièvre, c'est ce qui fait je pense, que je bois si peu..." ["... the climate of Avignon suits me well enough - I have no fever at all here, which is why I think I drink so little..."]
The postcard depicts the Notre-Dame de Tout-Pouvoir chapel of Avignon cathedral.
An opium-addicted and inveterate alcoholic dandy, a poet unknown to the general public but admired by his peers, notably by José Luis Borges, Paul-Jean Toulet was a novelist (Monsieur du Paur, Mon amie Nane) but above all a master of poetic prose. His masterpiece Contrerimes, a collection of quatrains published after his death combining enclosed rhymes and crossed metrical structure, assured him posthumous success and inspired his poet friends including Francis Carco and Tristan Derème who, taking him as a model, proclaimed themselves "whimsical poets". Confessing that what he had loved most in the world were women, alcohol and landscapes, he died of a laudanum overdose, a substance derived from opium.

First edition, of which there were no deluxe copies.
Work illustrated with 28 full-page compositions by Florane.
Spine and covers lightly soiled with small marginal tears.

First edition, one of 40 numbered copies on vellum, deluxe copies after 20 on China paper.
A small black stain at upper left corner of front cover.
Fine copy.

First edition, one of 1300 numbered copies on sunburst white alfa.
Fine copy.

First edition, one of 40 hand-numbered copies on Vellum paper.
Rebound in full green morocco, Jansenist spine with five raised bands, gilt date at foot, endpapers and pastedowns of combed paper, original wrappers preserved, top edge gilt on deckled edges, binding signed Janssens.
A tiny insignificant bump at the leading edges and top edge. Joint at head of upper board very slightly cracked.
Bookplate of the Jacques Odry library pasted on front pastedown.

Edition illustrated with original vignettes by Jean-Gabriel Daragnès, one of the numbered copies on vellum paper, ours one of the first 100 containing a duplicate suite of the vignettes.
Some browning at foot of spine, otherwise handsome copy.

First edition, one of 500 numbered copies on vellum, the only deluxe copies after 40 Japan.
The work illustrated with an original etching by Yvonne Préveraud as frontispiece.
Handsome copy despite minor spotting of no consequence to the endpapers.

First edition, one of 65 numbered copies on Navarre laid paper, deluxe copy after 35 on Rives wove paper.
Handsome copy.

First edition of the author's first work, one of the numbered copies from the first issue printed on press, the only printing with 4 Holland copies.
Bradel binding in full floral-patterned paper, smooth spine, dark blue morocco title-label, original wrappers preserved (one lack filled at foot of second cover), top edge gilt, elegant pastiche binding signed by P. Goy & C. Vilaine.

First edition.
Contributions by Paul-Jean Toulet "Quatrains et distiques" then "Contrerimes", Francis Carco "Les veillées du Lapin Agile", Louis Thomas...
Issue illustrated with drawings by Félix Appenzeller and William Muller and reproductions of works by Raoul Dufy, Maurice de Vlaminck, Ossip Zadkine, Henry de Waroquier.
Handsome copy.