Marguerite YOURCENAR

Autograph note dated and signed by Marguerite Yourcenar, written from her Paris residence to journalist Marcel Baroche of the literary review Sud. Written on one of her visiting cards. 

Eighteen lines in green ink, with the autograph envelope addressed to her correspondent, concerning a proposed collaboration with Yourncenar initiated by the director of Sud.

[27 December 1980,
to the journal Sud, to Marcel Baroche,

Dear Sir, you have my acceptance of the proposal for a special issue on my work in 1982, together with my thanks in advance. There exist many photographs of me, a few of which strike me as fairly faithful likenesses: I do not person

First edition, one of 45 numbered copies on Holland paper, the deluxe issue.

Full chocolate-brown morocco binding, spine with five raised bands framed with black fillets, date gilt at foot, gilt rolls on the caps, marbled paper endpapers and doublures, gilt double fillet borders on the doublures, gilt fillets along the edges, original wrappers and spine preserved, all edges gilt, slipcase edged with matching chocolate morocco, sides in marbled paper, interior lined with grey felt. A splendid binding signed by Semet & Plumelle.

A very handsome copy, perfectly bound in full morocco by Semet & Plumelle.

First edition on regular paper.

Spine with some faint dampstains, marginal foxing to the covers, paper toned as usual.

Inscribed and signed by Marguerite Yourcenar: "A madame Joly-Segalen hommage de l'auteur, Marguerite Yourcenar. Les vivants vont vite."

Autograph letter signed by Marguerite Yourcenar, dated 23 January 1957, two pages in black ink on a single sheet, with the original envelope included.
On two densely written pages, Yourcenar confides her editorial frustrations to her close friend, the painter Elie Grekoff, recounting the blasphemous act of her publisher, who had torn in "en deux ou plutôt en quatre" [‘two or rather four’] the dedicated copy of her poetry collection Les Charités d’Alcippe (1956) and returned it to her by post. She discusses joint projects with Grekoff and requests that he accept the profits from a work he illustrated

First edition, one of 115 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe copies aside from 35 on pure thread.

Two small spots of foxing on the front cover, a discreet crease, a handsome copy as issued.
 
Rare and highly sought after in deluxe paper.

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on pur fil paper, this copy one of 10 hors commerce, the only grand papier (deluxe) copies.
A nice copy despite the very slightly sunned spine.
Autograph inscription dated and signed by Marguerite Yourcenar to Maurice Bourdel, director of publishing house Plon, and his wife : "... cette Electre perdue dans "un monde où l'ordre n'est pas"

First edition, one of 95 copies on pur fil, the only deluxe issue after 45 copies on Hollande.
A slight vertical crease on the front cover.
A handsome copy.

First edition, one of 23 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe paper issue together with 10 copies on pur fil.

Endpapers slightly toned and lightly foxed.

New edition.

Minor, inconsequential tears at the head of the spine and along the margins of the covers.

Fine and valuable signed autograph inscription by Marguerite Yourcenar to Georges Bataille : "Au directeur de Critique hommage de l'auteur, Marguerite Yourcenar, "Il y a quelque chose à dire en faveur de l'exception, pourvu qu'elle ne veuille pas se faire passer pour la règle." F. Nietzsche." 

Postcard dated 7 November 1975 and signed, addressed to the writer Christiane Baroche, comprising 16 lines penned in violet and red felt-tip, sent from her property in Maine, United States.

"Northeast Harbor Maine 04662 USA,

7 Nov 75,

chère madame; tous mes remerciements pour les Feux du Large (mots soulignés), image, très typique de notre temps, d'une 'femme de la mer' qui n'est ni ondine, ni sirène, ni noyée au fil de l'eau. Avec mes sympathiques pensées. M. Yourcenar."

At first, Marguerite Yourcenar wrote, in violet felt-tip, the Gallimard address, then corrected it in red felt-tip with Christiane Baroc

First collective edition, one of the 30 numbered copies on vélin d'Arches paper, the only deluxe copies ("grand papier").
Very nice copy.

First edition Gallimard, one of 55 numbered copies on pur-fil paper, only deluxe copies ("tirage de tête").
Nice copy.