Poésies 1897-1906. Campagne première - Lumières tranquilles - Poèmes de la forêtPersonal copy of Huysmans
Binding in half ...
Nice copy.
Precious autograph signed by Adolphe Retté: "To JK Huysmans cordial homage of one who is en route".
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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 edition of the French translation, one of 25 numbered copies on pur fil, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.
Blood red morocco binding, gilt title lenghtwise, gold stingray boards framed in morocco, gilt decorative paper endleaves, original wrappers preserved, top edge gilt, an elegant binding signed Boichot. Front free endpaper slightly toned, otherwise a handsome untrimmed copy.
Illustrated with original woodcuts by Jean-Gabriel Daragnès.
First edition, totaling 240 numbered copies, ours one of 10 copies on japon à la forme, the deluxe issue, complete at the end of the volume with its additional complete suite of illustrations in black as stated in the limitation.
Illustrated with 17 splendid pochoir plates in black, white, and gold by George Barbier.
A rare and handsome deluxe copy of this George Barbier masterpiece.
First edition (cf. O'Reilly, 2192.)
Modern Bradel binding in brown half-cloth, forest-green morocco lettering-piece, marbled paper boards, beige endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers retained albeit lightly soiled; binding signed by Boichot.
Illustrated with 49 photographic plates hors texte.
"Minutieuse histoire analytico-chronologique des trente premières années de la Calédonie européenne. Il annonçait une suite qui n'a jamais vu le jour" (O'Reilly).
First edition on ordinary paper.
Half black long-grain morocco binding, smooth spine tooled in palladium with author, title, and date, anthracite-grey paper boards, original wrappers and spine preserved (the latter with two small stains at head and foot), endpapers and pastedowns of anthracite-grey paper, binding signed Thomas Boichot.
Precious and exceptional signed presentation inscription by Louis-Ferdinand Céline: "A Mac Orlan son admirateur et ami fidèle. LFerd"
First edition of the first of Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire’s essays on “Philosophie anatomique.”
Illustrated with 10 folding plates drawn by Huet and engraved by Plée père, containing 116 figures (cf. Agassiz III, p. 29, no. 51; British Museum (Natural History) II, p. 656; Engelmann I, p. 263; Quérard III, 320; DSB V, 355-358; Cahn (Th.), La vie et l’œuvre d’Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, pp. 81-112).
Bradel binding in full marbled paper boards, smooth spine with black morocco title label, modern binding signed by Thomas Boichot.
Some foxing to the plates.
Based on a meticulous examination of the various anatomical structures of the respiratory organs in vertebrate animals, the author formulates several principles concerning their organization, the most important being that of the Unity of Composition. According to this principle, all vertebrate species share the same structural elements in equal number. Despite Cuvier’s criticisms, this theory gained traction and was later refined through embryology and paleontology. The work is divided as follows: 1. On the gill cover in fish, hitherto known as the operculum […] and on the four corresponding bones of the auditory canal in air-breathing animals, called the stapes, incus, lenticular and malleus. – 2. On the bones forming the external framework employed in the mechanics of respiration, or the bones of the sternum. – 3. On the anterior bones of the chest, or the hyoid. – 4. On the inner bones of the chest […] including, in air-breathing animals, the elements of the larynx, trachea and bronchi, and in fish, those of the branchial arches, gill teeth and cartilaginous lamellae of the gills. – 5. On the bones of the shoulder, with respect to their determination and their role in the phenomena of respiration. “Geoffroy revitalized comparative anatomy in France and created scientific teratology, experimental embryology, and the concept of paleontological evolution […]. He and his friend Lamarck lived too early to be completely understood” (DSB, V, p. 358).
Two further essays were later published: “Des monstruosités humaines” (1822) and “Fragmens sur la structure et les usages des glandes mammaires des cétacés” (1834).
A precious copy printed on deluxe paper (the two other essays were issued only on regular paper). The text is identical to the octavo edition published the same year, except for the errata, which here contains 12 lines (versus 20 in the regular edition).
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 Lion en même temps que du Bélier et que tu as aidé de tes conseils et de ton exemple en t'embrassant très fort. Maurice Juin 58"
First edition, published at the author’s expense and in a small print run.
A few minor spots of foxing.
Bradel binding in full paper echoing the work’s gilt checkered cover, smooth spine, red morocco lettering-piece, fragile original wrappers preserved, gilt edges, binding signed by Thomas Boichot.
Rare signed autograph inscription from Auguste Villiers de l’Isle-Adam to the Marquis de Monthec.
First edition of this uncommon work, originally written in French.
Illustrated with two engraved frontispieces and two folding maps bound at the end of the first volume.
Bradel binding in bottle-green half cloth, flat spine gilt with a central floral tool and double gilt fillet at foot, marbled paper-covered boards, black morocco title label; modern binding signed Boichot.
Three of the four original wrappers preserved, occasional scattered foxing.
Prince Emmanuel Mikhailovich Galitzine or Golitsyn (1804–1853) was a member of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society.
First edition in English.
Elegant pastiche marbled paper Bradel binding by Thomas Boichot, black morocco title-piece, covers preserved (small marginal repairs to upper cover).
Autograph inscription signed by Josselin de Jong to head of upper cover.
First edition, one of the review copies.
Bradel binding in full wood-patterned boards, smooth spine, red morocco title-piece, covers and spine preserved, binding signed by Thomas Boichot.
A fine copy, handsomely bound.
Precious autograph presentation signed by Jacques Chardonne to Henri Béraud.
First edition, one of 55 numbered copies on pure wove paper, the only deluxe paper issue.
Bound in half brown morocco, spines with five raised bands, gilt dates at foot, boards covered with abstract patterned paper, endleaves and doublures of brown paper, original wrappers and backstrips preserved, gilt edges, bindings signed by Thomas Boichot.
A precious copy of this foundational text of modern feminism.
First edition on ordinary paper, with no mention of large paper copies.
Occasional light spotting, a small angular lack to half-title.
Elegant pastiche marbled paper Bradel binding by Thomas Boichot, brown morocco title label, covers preserved.
Handsome autograph inscription signed by the author: "A Guy de Maupassant, son ami [For Guy de Maupassant, his friend]."
First edition.
Small corner losses to the boards, clean and appealing interior condition.
Bradel binding in full combed paper, smooth spine with a black morocco label lettered lengthwise, binding signed by Thomas Boichot.
Rare signed autograph inscription by Ferdinand de Lesseps "à mon ami 'chéri' Rousseau".
First edition of the author's second work, one of 10 numbered copies on Holland paper, the only deluxe paper issue.
Bound in yellow half morocco with corners, spine with five raised bands, gilt date at foot, a small black spot at head of spine, floral and moiré patterned paper boards, pale green paper endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, gilt edges, bookplate of Gérard Pesme Baron de Saint-Genies pasted on a pastedown, binding signed by Thomas Boichot.
Half-title entirely toned.
A fine copy, handsomely bound.
Very rare collection comprising offprints of original editions of articles and reviews first published in the Journal des savants or the Bulletin de l'École française d'Extrême-Orient.
Bradel binding in green bottle cloth-backed boards, flat spine decorated with a central gilt ornament and double gilt fillet at foot, red morocco title label, marbled paper boards, some original wrappers preserved, modern binding signed Boichot.
Most of the fascicles are by the Indologist Auguste Barth (1834–1916), one of the founders of the École française d'Extrême-Orient, and the originator of Indochinese epigraphy through his studies of Sanskrit inscriptions in Cambodia. He was also a specialist in Indian religions.
The collection includes the following items:
I. Die Religion des Veda, von Hermann Oldenberg. Berlin, Wilhelm Hertz, 1894 (September 1896, 55 pp.).
II. Le pèlerin chinois I-Tsing. Edouard Chavannes: Voyages des pèlerins bouddhistes (...). Paris, Ernest Leroux, 1894 (November 1898, 52 pp.).
III. Le Mahavastu, Sanskrit text published for the first time with introductions and commentary, by E. Senart. 1882–1897 (October 1899, 41 pp.).
IV. Grundriss der indo-arischen Philologie und Altertumskunde, edited by Georg Bühler. Strasbourg, Karl-J. Trübner, 12 fascicles published from 1896 to 1899 (September 1900, 82 pp.).
V. Le Cambodge. Le Royaume actuel, by Etienne Aymonier, Paris, Ernest Leroux, 1900 (August 1901, 17 pp.).
VI. Kaccayana's Pali Grammar, by Satis Chandra Acharya Vidyabhusana, London and Calcutta, 1901 (October 1902, 16 pp.).
VII. Lunet de Lajonquière, Inventaire descriptif des monuments du Cambodge, Paris, Imprimerie nationale, E. Leroux éditeur, 1902 (July 1903, 4 pp.).
VIII. On the Origin and Diffusion of Fables. Francesco Ribezzo: Nuovi studi sulla origine e la propagazione delle favole indo-elleniche comunemente dette esopiche. Napoli, Francesco Giannini, 1901 (January 1904, 29 pp.).
IX. L'École française d'Extrême-Orient (Hanoi, Imprimerie F.-H. Schneider, n.d. [1900], 11 pp.).
X. Stele of Vat Phou, near Bassac (Laos) (1902, 2 unnumbered ff., 6 pp., one folding plate).
XI. The Doublets of the Stele of Say-Fong. Letter to the Director of the École française d'Extrême-Orient (1903, 7 pp.).
XII. FOUCHER (Alfred): Report to the Governor-General of Indochina on the work of the École française d'Extrême-Orient during the year 1901 (1902, 10 pp.). – XIII. LEVI (Sylvain): Chinese Notes on India (1902, 2 unnumbered ff., 10 pp.).
XIV and XV. FINOT (Louis): Notes on Epigraphy (n.d. [1902], and 1903, 36 pp., one unnumbered leaf of errata and 4 photogravure plates).
XVI. SPECHT (Edouard): On the Deciphering of Sindo-Ephthalite Coins (Paris, Imprimerie Nationale, 1901, 43 pp.).
Most of the pamphlets bear a signed presentation inscription from the authors to Father Boyer.
First edition, 15 issues in 15 separate installments, abundantly illustrated with black and white photographs. Complete with the special issue "Hommage à Picasso" (No. 3, 1930) and the index for the year 1929, published as a separate 8-page stapled booklet.
Presented in a custom slipcase with a flat spine in blue morocco, title stamped in palladium and spine framed in palladium, decorative blue paper boards, sky-blue suede doublures; a handsome ensemble signed Boichot.
Some spines slightly faded not affecting the text, occasional minor foxing along the margins of certain covers.
Complete series of this legendary and non-conformist magazine founded by Georges Bataille, which gave voice to "fields of art and knowledge unrecognized by official culture or considered controversial: popular literature, jazz, cabaret, advertising, everyday life" (Annie Pirabot), along with so-called primitive art and objects.
Original edition printed in a limited number of copies of this excerpt from Bulletin of the Société de géographie (1882-1883).
This text was re-edited in 1885 by Hachette.
Work illustrated with figures in the text and a large folding map at the end (Route from Médine to Nango by the Gallieni mission).
Binding in black half-shagreen, spine with five raised bands decorated with cold fillets, boards of handmade paper, preserved original covers, modern binding signed by Boichot.
Covers restored with some stains, pleasant interior condition.
Work illustrated with figures in the text and a large folding map at the end (Route from Médine to Nango by the Gallieni mission).
Joseph Gallieni (1849-1916) was sent on a mission to the banks of the Niger in 1879. It was there that he negotiated a commercial agreement between the Sultanate of Ségou and France, granting our country trade rights on the Upper Niger.
Autograph letter signed by Joseph Gallieni to his cousin Henri Périssé, dated from Fort-de-France, November 23, 1884 (after this African mission, Gallieni had been assigned to Martinique).
New edition bearing a false statement of 128th edition.
Half heather red morocco binding, spine with five raised bands set with black fillets, gilt fillet frame on boards of Africanist-patterned paper, almond green paper endpapers and boards, original wrappers preserved, restorations to boards, top edge gilt, binding signed by Boichot.
Autograph inscription signed by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry on the half-title page: "Pour madame Capietto. En souvenir de quelques passages à Alger et, cette fois ci, d'une semaine bien mélancolique. Et avec toute mon amitié.
Antoine de Saint Exupéry." (For Madame Capietto. In memory of some visits to Algiers and, this time, of a very melancholy week. And with all my friendship. Antoine de Saint Exupéry.)
First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on hollande, the only deluxe issue (grand papier) after 10 copies on japon.
Bound in gray half morocco in panels, smooth spine, gilt date at foot, abstract decorative paper boards, black onionskin pastedowns and flyleaves, original wrappers preserved, pastedown bookplate, top deckled edge gilt, binding signed Boichot.
Small tears with small lacks of paper to the margin of an endpaper and on the front cover.
The work is dedicated to Paul Verlaine who wrote the preface "which was a way of advertising to gay readers" (Graham Robb, Homosexual Love in the Nineteenth Century, p. 210).
Precious signed and inscribed copy to Catulle Mendès who will go on to write six years later "the first description of a male homosexual orgasm" (Graham Robb) in his novel La Maison de la Vieille.
This novel, although still tinged with a moralistic, guilt-ridden view of homosexuality, features the first gay sex scene in a French novel. It takes place near the Opera, in a palatial Turkish bath house, one of Paris' most famous cruising spots at the time when the influence of the Arabian Nights and the prospect of hedonistic pleasures were all the rage: "In this overheated atmosphere, Jacques savors the pleasures of body reflection and massage. Then comes the 'unpleasant brusqueness of the shower' before entering the steam bath, where several bodies lie naked and immodest. Suddenly, a young man of twenty appears with 'an aristocratic bearing, a blond head, the fat, bulging chest of the Capitoline Antinous statue'. It was love at first sight. Jacques looks out for him, follows him 'panting' and thus succumbs to 'unnatural vice'" (François Buot, Gay Paris, Une histoire du Paris interlope entre 1900 et 1940).
Neil Bartlett even suggests Oscar Wilde might have read the novel based on the plea he wrote to the Home Secretary from Reading Gaol, which features a similar description of his erotomania (Paul Hallam, The Book of Sodom, 1993).
This deluxe copy is exceptionally inscribed to Catulle Mendès, who also pioneered the writing of novels centered around gay and lesbian protagonists.
Provenance: library of Comte René Philipon, specialist in occult sciences, collector, entomologist and patron of the arts, with his pastedown bookplate featuring the Rosicrucian symbol of the Phoenix rising from the ashes.
An Annotated Bibliography of Homosexuality, II, 6694.
First edition, printed in a small number of copies, of this offprint from the Mémoires de la Société naturelle des sciences naturelles de Cherbourg, vol. XX (1876).
See O'Reilly, Tahiti, 2693. Only three copies recorded in the CCF (BnF, Aix-Marseille, Cherbourg).
Bradel binding in blue half cloth, smooth spine, long red marbled morocco title label, marbled paper sides, original wrappers preserved, modern signed binding by Boichot.
This pamphlet, which contains a large number of botanical entries on the Marquesas, Tahiti, the Sandwich Islands, New Zealand, etc., is a continuation of the study entitled Les Plantes alimentaires de l'Océanie (1875).
A rare and pleasing copy.
First edition, one of 170 numbered copies on vélin du Marais, the only issue after 30 copies on Arches.
Custom chemise and slipcase, chemise in half blue box calf, flat spine with blind and palladium-stamped lettering, date in palladium at foot, patterned paper boards, slipcase edged in blue box calf, patterned paper boards, sides and spine in petrol blue paper, signed by Boichot.
A very fine copy.
Illustrated with 3 original etchings in black by Georges Braque and one in black and grey as frontispiece.
Signed by René Char and Georges Braque on the colophon.
First edition, one of 180 numbered copies on Arches.
Housed in a custom chemise and slipcase, chemise in half raspberry-red morocco, flat spine with title gilt-stamped lengthwise, author gilt-stamped at head and illustrator stamped horizontally at foot, modern marbled paper boards, slipcase edged with raspberry morocco at head and foot, modern marbled paper boards and spine, chemise and slipcase signed by Boichot.
A very fine copy.
Illustrated with 9 original full-page lithographs in black and colors by Marc Chagall including one on the cover.
Signed by Léopold Sédar Senghor and Marc Chagall at the colophon.
First edition, a first impression copy numbered in the press.
Binding in half brown morocco, spine in five compartments, gilt date at the foot, geometric pattern paper boards and endpapers in the same paper, top edge gilt, wrappers and spine preserved in perfect condition, binding signed by T. Boichot.
Apollinaire's second major poetic work with bold graphic innovations and a portrait of Guillaume Apollinaire by Pablo Picasso as frontispiece.
“Some of the best war poems, all languages combined, are brought together in this collection, alongside experimental works such as Les Fenêtres (close to Cubism) and La Jolie Rousse, which were far ahead of their time” (Cyril Connolly, Cent livres-clés de la littérature moderne, n° 32).
A beautiful copy on non-brittle paper which is unusual, and a rare and surprising handwritten inscription signed by Guillaume Apollinaire: “à monsieur le critique littéraire de La Libre Parole, hommage de Guill. Apollinaire." (“To the literary critic of La Libre Parole, tribute by Guill. Apollinaire.”)
Who could be the recipient of this inscription, unnamed but addressed to a collaborator of the famous anti-Semitic newspaper founded by Édouard Drumont? The ostensibly philo-Semitic position of Guillaume Apollinaire is well-known. In an 1899 letter, he boasts to Toussaint Luca that he tried to provoke Henri Rochefort, who was reading La Libre Parole, by deploying L'Aurore in front of him but, as the young Dreyfusard regrets, without daring to engage the controversy. In 1902, he publicly marked his fraternity with the Jewish people with a new publication in La Revue blanche, “Le Passant de Prague": “I love Jews because all Jews suffer everywhere”. Then in Alcools, he will dedicate a poem to the Hebrew religion: "La Synagogue". But it is undoubtedly through his poem “Le Juif latin”, published in L'Hérésiarque et Cie that Apollinaire poetically reveals the essence of his particular link with Judaism: that he shares the condition of eternal stranger, the feeling of uprooting and the search for identity.
It may, therefore, seem very surprising that this poet, whose only trace of political commitment was in favor of Dreyfus, dedicated his work to a La Libre Parole journalist, even if he is a literary critic.
And in fact, La Libre Parole does not contain literary columns!
A few months before the poet's death, this laconic inscription thus proves to be a formidable and final scoff of poetic impertinence
to political intolerance...
First edition in French of the translation, corrections, additions and clarifications, established by Joseph Toussaint Reinaud in 1845, from the Arabic text printed in 1811 under the care of Louis Langlès.
Bradel binding in full marbled paper, original covers preserved, binding signed Thomas Boichot.
Very rare copy without foxing.
First edition, one of 60 numbered copies on vergé d'Arches paper, deluxe copies ("tirage de tê").
Bound in brown half morocco, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, binding signed by Thomas Boichot.
Nice copy.
First edition, one of 500 copies, no grand papier (deluxe issue) copies.
Half morocco binding, spine with five raised bands, marbled paper boards framed in gilt, mould made flyleaves and pastedowns, original wrapper covers preserved, binding signed by Thomas Boichot.
Handsome copy signed and inscribed by Paul Verlaine to Émile Le Brun to whom Verlaine dedicated one of his poems (Dédicaces, sonnet XVI).
This copy includes manuscript corrections by Paul Verlaine himself and an exceptional manuscript poem on page 123.
A nice copy, elegantly bound, containing the first printing of the famous Art poétique [Art Poetics], Verlaine's response to Boileau's Art Poétique.
First edition of these 102 plates heightened in colors.
Modern cream-colored paper boards with gilt floral motif by Thomas Boichot, black morocco title label to spine. Ex libris of the "Fashion Group of Paris" on pastedown.
A little worming to first plate, the other plates very fresh.
A nicely bound copy.
First edition on ordinary paper.
Some scattered foxing.
Bradel binding in full combed paper, smooth spine, navy morocco lettering-piece framed with gilt fillets, elegant pastiche binding signed by Thomas Boichot.
Rare and precious autograph inscription signed by Hector Malot: "A Guy de Maupassant, son dévoué confrère."
First edition for which there is no mention of large paper copies.
Bradel binding of paper boards, dark blue morocco title label with gilt fillets, covers preserved, elegant binding by Thomas Boichot.
Handsome autograph inscription from the author : "A Guy de Maupassant, son ami."
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 by Georges Suarez : "au maître qui jeta le trouble dans ma cervelle républicaine" [to the master who stirred up my republican brain].
First edition, one of 647 numbered copies on pur fil, the only large paper copies after 109 reimposed.
Contemporary half green morocco, spine with five raised bands, date in gilt at foot, patterned paper boards, green paper endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and sunned spine preserved, top edge gilt, binding by Thomas Boichot.
Fine presentation inscription signed by Pierre Drieu la Rochelle to a pair of very close friends: "A Guillaume [et] Marcelle de Tarde ce Feu Follet qui en s'évanouissant emporte ma jeunesse votre amitié m'est précieuse et m'a fait beaucoup de bien \ Drieu." [To Guillaume and Marcelle de Tarde, this Will o' the Wisp which in vanishing carries away my youth, your friendship is precious to me and has done me much good].
Pre-publication edition of the most celebrated poem of the French Resistance: "Liberté, j'écris ton nom" by Paul Éluard.
Other contributions include André Gide’s "Trois rencontres avec Verlaine", Jean Cayrol, Luc Dietrich on "Le Chiffre des choses", Gabriel Audisio, and Albert Béguin.
Bradel binding in full paper, smooth spine, cream paper endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, binding signed Thomas Boichot.
Minor tears without loss along the margins of the covers, a light dampstain at the head of the first few leaves.
First state of the text with two words in the plural: “désirs” and “souvenirs” in stanzas 19 and 20, later changed to the singular. True original of the first public appearance (the publication in Poésie et Vérité 1942, antedated to April 3, 1942, was in fact printed only at the end of 1942 in a clandestine run of 65 copies). The manuscript sent to Max-Pol Fouchet, editor of the journal Fontaine, originally bore the title Une seule pensée, which was struck out and replaced by Liberté. However, Fouchet preferred to retain the less explicit version. In his memoirs, he explains that by means of this subterfuge he managed to secure official authorization from the censorship office in Algiers by passing the text off as a love poem.
This poem, which appeared at least ten times during the Second World War, would become the emblem of the Resistance and one of the most famous poems of the twentieth century. First publications (after the catalogue of the Max-Pol Fouchet library sale, 8 October 2022, which included the manuscript of the poem):
- Fontaine, No. 22, June 1942. First public appearance (approved and authorized by the censor), under the title “Une seule pensée.”
- Candide No. 963, 2 September 1942, excerpt (the final two stanzas).
- La France libre (London) No. 23, 15 September 1942 (under the title “Une seule pensée” and unsigned).
- Poésie et Vérité 1942, La Main à plume, late September 1942 and antedated to 3 April 1942 (to circumvent Vichy censorship). True first edition and first appearance of the poem under the title “Liberté.” In this version, one of the two words (“désirs”) is plural and the other (“souvenir”) singular.
- Cahiers du Rhône (Neuchâtel, La Baconnière), January 1943, under the title “Une seule pensée.”
- Revue du monde libre (London) No. 4, April 1943 (title: “Une seule pensée,” both “désirs” and “souvenirs” plural), small-format edition parachuted by the R.A.F.
- France-Amérique (New York), 19 December 1943 (title: “Une seule pensée,” both “désirs” and “souvenirs” plural).
- Éditions des Francs-tireurs partisans français du Lot [Cahors, circa 1944–1945] (under the definitive title “Liberté”).
- Fontaine, special issue (Conscience de la France), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1945 (title “Une seule pensée,” both “désir” and “souvenir” singular).
- Au rendez-vous allemand, expanded to include Poésie et Vérité 1942, Éditions de Minuit, April 1945.
Very rare first edition, printed in only 50 copies, issued as an offprint from the *Revue Indépendante*.
Bradel binding in full decorated paper with abstract motifs, smooth spine, restored corners on the original wrappers, binding signed by Thomas Boichot.
Inscribed and signed presentation copy from Charles Maurras to Eugène Manuel: "To Joseph Gayda, in memory of a report that was too laudatory but very encouraging, this slightly modified 'Aubanel'. Charles Maurras. Paris, 24 September 1889."
One handwritten correction by Charles Maurras in the margin of page 43.
First edition, second issue, on ordinary paper, with the printer's date of 8 November 1913, and the corrected typographic error to Grasset on the title page, without the index.
Half grey morocco by Thomas Boichot, spine in six compartments, date at foot, covers and spine mounted on guards, top edge gilt, slipcase trimmed with grey morocco.
Inscribed copy to Count Primoli: “Hommage d'attachement respectueux et bien vif [As a token of my respectful and heartfelt affection].”
Joseph Napoléon, Count Primoli (1851-1927), was the great nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte. Closely tied to the imperial family during the Second Empire, he was later a faithful visitor to his beloved aunt, Princess Mathilde's salon, held at her mansion in the rue de Berri. His refined and spiritual conversation was much admired there. As a passionate book collector, he also met some of the great writers of his time: Gustave Flaubert, Théophile Gautier, the Goncourt brothers and even Guy de Maupassant. It was also there that he got to know, from the 1890s on, the young Marcel Proust. The two men forged an easy friendship. The Count was also devoted to strengthening literary and cultural ties between Rome (his city of birth) and Paris, and invited the writer several times to visit the Italian capital. Proust never went, but in his eyes, Primoli's letters alone carried “a little of the charm of Rome” (letter from Proust to Primoli, early 1907, cited in: Pasquali C., Proust, Primoli, la moda, p. 26). On the occasion of the death of Princess Mathilde, who had made their meeting possible, in 1904, Proust wrote to the Count: “allow me to say only that I shed bitter tears with you, because I loved the Princess with an infinite respect – and because it gives me so much pain to think of you so unhappy, you who are so good and for whom one would wish with all one's heart happiness; with your sad and wounded heart, one wishes that every evil blow would spare you.” (4 January 1904, ibid., p. 21).
When Swann's Way was published in November 1913, Count Primoli was one of the very first to receive a copy personally inscribed by the author. A letter from Proust dated from early January 1914 mentions the present copy: “Dear Sir, When my book came out you were one of the very first people I thought of. From the first day we were sending out books, I kept questioning my valet: ‘has Count Primoli's copy gone out?' He told me it had and it was true. Just today, when I received your card (so amusing and lovely) where you talk of the Mona Lisa's escort ‘in the guise of a musician,' I said to my valet: ‘Look, a card from Count Primoli.' He looked at it. ‘What? The Count is in Rome? But I sent the book to Paris!' I had a moment of fury and disappointment. Perhaps your concierge has sent your copy on to Rome. But just to make sure, I'm sending a second copy to Rome. Only, I have none left of the first edition. You'll find one in Paris when you come back, it's been there for some time. I can only send you a copy of the second printing, which, by the by, has fewer grave mistakes than the first. But I am too sick and too unhappy at the moment to correct them all myself...” (ibid., p. 51). This copy, then, is the copy of the second issue that Proust send to Primoli in Rome and mentions in his letter.
A fine copy bearing witness to the friendly links between Marcel Proust and Count Primoli.