Victor Champs

First edition of each of the four volumes, one of 50 copies (for the first and third works) or one of 150 copies (for the second and fourth) printed on Japan paper, the only deluxe issue.
Bradel bindings in citron half morocco with corners, smooth spines slightly darkened, marbled paper boards, pebble-grained endpapers and pastedowns, covers and backstrips preserved in one piece, contemporary bindings signed Champs.
Covers and in-text or full-page drawings by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen for the first and second volumes, by Francisque Poulbot for the third, and by Louis Borgex for the fourth and final volume.
Each volume bears Aristide Bruant’s autograph signature beneath the colophon; the last volume also includes Louis Borgex’s handwritten signature.
A handsome complete set of four volumes, uniformly bound at the time by Champs.

First edition, one of 25 copies numbered and justified by the publisher on japon paper, the only printing along with 25 on china paper.
Our copy was mistakenly identified by the publisher as belonging to the china issue.
Bradel binding in half burgundy cloth, smooth spine, black shagreen title label, pebble-grained paper boards, illustrated colour covers by Adolphe Willette preserved, slightly later binding signed Champs.
Poems by Henri Bernard, Maurice Boukay, Georges d'Esparbès, Louis Marsolleau, Roger-Milès, Maurice Vaucaire, Gabriel Vicaire, and others.
Illustrated with 17 original lithographs by Adolphe Willette, here in double state as in the deluxe copies.
A handsome copy.

First edition, one of the rare copies on Holland paper, not mentioned in the printed justification.

Contemporary Bradel binding in half black morocco, smooth spine with gilt date at foot, cat's-eye paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, binding signed Champs.

Inscribed and signed by Eugène Manuel to Madame Michel Lévy.

Our copy is enriched with two dated and signed autograph letters by Eugène Manuel, mounted on tabs at the beginning of the volume, most likely addressed to one of his literary mentors regarding the first performance of his play "Les ouvriers".

In the first letter, written with delicate modesty and dated the day before the premiere on 17 January 1870, Eugène Manuel expresses his hope and longing for the distinguished recipient to attend the opening of "Les ouvriers": "Vous prendrez peut-être plus d'intérêt à l'auteur, lorsque vous saurez que je suis le neveu d'un de vos amis d'autrefois, Jules Lévy, qui avait pour vous une bien vive et bien sincère affection... [...] J'espère, monsieur, que rien ne vous empêchera d'assister à cette représentation, peu importante peut-être pour vous, puisqu'il s'agit que d'un acte, mais qui est sérieux pour moi..."

In the second, the author warmly thanks his correspondent for the attention paid to the play: "J'apprends aujourd'hui seulement que vous m'avez fait l'insigne honneur d'entretenir de ma petite pièce des Ouvriers, l'auditoire d'élite qui se presse à vos leçons du Collège de France... [...] le jugement d'un critique aussi considérable est une de ces bonnes fortunes que l'on ose ambitionner..."

First illustrated edition with 425 illustrations by Gustave Doré. As indicated on the title page, this is the fifth edition of the droll tales, but the first illustrated one.
Some first printing points: In the title "par Gustave Doré" appears on a single line. Page XXI is numbered XX. The caption on page 326 reads "Le joyeulx curé de Meudon". The name and address of Fain rue Racine N° IV appears on page 425.
Half burgundy morocco binding with corners signed Champs at the top of the first endpaper. Spine with raised bands richly decorated with ornate compartments. Burgundy morocco title label and date label mistakenly marked 1860. Gilt fillets on boards. Top edge gilt. Traces of rubbing. Corners rubbed. Some scattered foxing. Victor Champs is one of the most prolific and renowned binders of the late nineteenth century.
"This illustration is like no other in its powerful originality: it is Gallic, Rabelaisian, and sparkling with wit. Doré certainly poured the best of his talent into the Contes drolatiques. They had no success however and the entire edition was remaindered. Today, it is one of Doré's most sought-after works" (Leblanc).
"masterpiece where each vignette is a gem". Béraldi.
Although the edition is posthumous, the project arose from a meeting between Balzac and the bibliophile Jacob, whose friend Doré was.

First collective edition of this complete series of 25 original lithographed plates printed on thick vellum.

Mounted engravings, preceded by a title page bringing together three series: Souvenirs de Carnaval (6 plates), Les bals masqués (7 plates), Costumes historiques (12 plates).

Each of these series first appeared in other journals: under the title 'Souvenirs de Carnaval' in Ritner et Goupil, 'Les bals masqués' in La Caricature and 'Costumes historiques' in Charivari.
Engravings in third state according to Vicaire.
Some foxing.

Red half straight-grained morocco Bradel binding, smooth spine decoratively tooled and lettered in gilt with a rich ornamentation of repeated floral motifs, marbled paper pastedowns and endpapers, binding signed V[ictor] Champs.

 
Very rare collection in a deluxe edition printed on thick vellum, elegantly bound.

First edition of this play comparing bourgeois marriage to legalized prostitution.
Bradel binding in half grey percaline with corners, smooth spine decorated with gilt floral motif, date and double gilt fillets at foot of spine, navy blue shagreen title-label with minor rubbing, marbled paper boards, covers and spine preserved, binding signed in blind by Victor Champs.
Handsome copy.

First edition.
Bradel binding in grey half-cloth with corners, smooth spine decorated with a gilt floral motif, gilt date and double fillet at foot of spine, navy blue shagreen title-label with slight rubbing, marbled paper boards, covers and spine preserved, binding stamp-signed in blind by Victor Champs.
Handsome copy.

First edition.
Bradel binding in grey half-cloth with corners, smooth spine decorated with a gilt floral motif, gilt date and double fillet at foot of spine, navy blue shagreen title-label with slight rubbing, marbled paper boards, covers and spine preserved, binding stamp-signed in blind by Victor Champs.
Handsome copy.

First edition.
Bradel binding in half grey cloth with corners, smooth spine decorated with gilt floral motif, gilt date and double fillet at foot of spine, navy blue shagreen title-label with minor rubbing, marbled paper boards, covers and spine preserved, binding signed in blind by Victor Champs.
Handsome copy.

First edition of this play set to music by Charles Gounod.
Bradel binding in half grey cloth with corners, smooth spine decorated with gilt floral motif, gilt date and double fillet at foot of spine, navy blue shagreen title-label with minor rubbing, marbled paper boards, covers and spine preserved, binding signed in blind by Victor Champs.
Handsome copy.

New edition, carefully revised and expanded by Dujardin and illustrated with 58 copperplate reproductions including 10 in color and 6 double-page (the title page erroneously announces 64, the table of contents correctly accounting for 58 plates). Limited edition of 100 copies on Velin paper. Normally the 100 copies are nominative and numbered, this one marked only "Réservé" in pencil.
Bound in contemporary half navy morocco with mosaic corners signed Champs at the top of the first endpaper. Spine richly decorated with 5 ornaments featuring 2 birds with laurel leaves in red mosaic compartments with ornaments and succession of fillets. Roll tooling at head and foot. Top edge gilt. Full-margined copy, uncut. Light traces of rubbing, particularly to the 2 upper corners. Title page yellowed by the tissue guard opposite, as well as the few pages which are also in contact with the tissue guards where the captions of the engravings are inscribed.
Superb copy.

First edition of the new French translation by Christian, illustrated with first printing of 10 plates by Gavarni on wood and multiple vignettes, initials, tailpieces by the same. Preface on Hoffmann by Christian.
Half lemon yellow morocco binding with corners, late 19th century, signed Champs at the top of the first endpaper. Raised bands spine richly decorated. Red morocco title label. Decorative fillets on boards. Peacock eye paper on boards. Top edge gilt. Small dark spots on upper board. Small dent at foot over 2 mm. Fresh tinted paper free from foxing, rare condition for this edition usually covered with foxing and browning.
Very handsome copy.
17 tales (Salvator Rosa, Antonia's Song, Coppelius...), including The heroic story of the famous minister Klein-Zach, nicknamed Cinnabar, in ten chapters.

First illustrated edition with 250 wood-engraved compositions by Edmond Morin. One of 50 numbered copies on Wattman paper (No. 49 in manuscript), second paper after 10 Japan copies from a total edition of 260 deluxe copies. Portrait of the author as frontispiece by Léopold Flameng. The ordinary edition contains no justification.
Contemporary half navy blue morocco with mosaic corners, signed Champs. Spine with raised bands decorated with richly ornamented compartments with a central red morocco motif. Roll tooling at head and foot, fillet on bands. Navy blue morocco title-label, date at foot. Separation fillets on boards. Top edge gilt. Covers and spine preserved. Uncut copy with full margins. Paper perfectly fresh, endpapers with some light foxing. Light rubbing, notably to corners and lower edges, otherwise very handsome copy.
A true literary phenomenon of the late 19th century, the work consists of a succession of light and humorous scenes that celebrate adolescent first emotions and love of women, then marriage and fatherhood. This results in a gentle eroticism that celebrates women through their adornments, makeup or clothing. Henry James himself praised the beauties of these light pieces, writing that he preferred an inch of Droz to a kilometer of Daudet...

First edition printed on laid paper.
Illustrated work, with a frontispiece drawing by the author.
Scattered foxing.
Bradel binding in half olive green cloth, smooth spine decorated with gilt fleuron, gilt double fillet at tail, brown shagreen title label, pebbled paper boards, covers and spine preserved, near-contemporary binding signed in blind Champs.

First edition.
Half black Russian morocco bindings, smooth spines decorated with gilt romantic arabesques, gilt dates at foot, marbled paper boards, pebbled paper endpapers and pastedowns, top edges gilt, slipcases edged with black morocco, pebbled paper boards, elegant romantic pastiche bindings signed Champs.
Bookplate pasted on an endpaper of the first volume, the facing page bearing this manuscript notation in pen: "édition princeps".
Fine copy, free from foxing, in an attractive romantic pastiche binding by Champs.

First edition.
Bradel binding in full caramel boards, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets, green shagreen title label, author's name in red shagreen, slightly later binding signed in pen by Champs.
Bound at the head of the work is an article by P.J.M. Proudhon entitled "L'Empire et la Bohême" and printed by the same publisher, the journal of the Office de la publicité, in which the work and the related law are discussed; namely the defense of intellectual property rights for each artist.

First edition. Fine edition, well printed on laid paper, complete with the errata leaf at the end.
Half emerald green morocco binding with corners ca 1860 signed on endpaper Champs. Smooth spine richly decorated with 6 successive Restoration-style tools. Gilt title and date at foot. Foxing to endpapers, some occasional foxing in the text on an otherwise clean copy. Full-margined copy, untrimmed.
Carteret: "Rare work, masterpiece of Hégésippe Moreau." The author is, despite himself, one of the cursed Romantic poets, who died at age 28 of tuberculosis, just as this first collection that would make him known was being published. 4 novellas or tales followed by poetry.

Illustrated with 11 original etchings by Valentin Foulquier, one of the numbered copies on Japan paper, deluxe copy.
Full red Russian morocco binding, smooth spine decorated with a gilt cartouche ornamented with gilt typographic motifs, gilt date at foot, gilt roulettes on headcaps, gilt fillet frame on boards, pebbled paper endpapers and pastedowns, triple gilt fillet frame on pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, gilt fillets on edges, perfect contemporary binding signed Champs.
Our copy includes a duplicate suite of the 11 etchings by Valentin Foulquier.
Furthermore, our copy is exceptionally enriched with an original watercolor signed by Valentin Foulquier on an endpaper.

Illustrated edition with 24 original compositions by Adolphe Lalauze, one of 200 numbered copies on Japan paper or grand Arches vellum, ours on Japan paper from the deluxe issue.
Full floral fabric binding, smooth spine, sand morocco title-label, covers and spine preserved, contemporary binding signed by Champs.
Preface by Léo Claretie.
Handsome copy despite some light foxing.
Our copy contains two states of the etchings by Adolphe Lalauze.

Illustrated edition with 12 hors-texte watercolors as well as 225 vignettes and ornaments by Maurice Leloir.
Half blue morocco binding with corners, spine with five raised bands showing minor rubbing, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, top edge gilt, binding signed by Champs.
Some foxing.
Preface by Guy de Maupassant.

Illustrated edition with 33 original compositions by Charles Delort engraved with burin and etching by L. Boisson and, as frontispiece, a portrait of Antoine Hamilton.
Half blue morocco binding with corners, spine with five raised bands set with gilt dots decorated with triple gilt compartments richly adorned with gilt typographical motifs, gilt date at foot, frame of gilt fillets on marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt, contemporary binding signed by Champs.
Some minor foxing of no consequence.
Handsome copy attractively bound.

First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on Holland paper, the only deluxe copies.
Bradel binding in half brick red percaline with corners, smooth spine decorated with a gilt floral motif, gilt date and double fillet at foot, black shagreen title-label, marbled paper boards, covers and spine preserved, contemporary binding signed by Champs.
Rare and handsome copy.

First edition.
Bradel binding in half red cloth, smooth faded and lightened spine decorated with a gilt floral motif, gilt date and double fillet at foot, brown shagreen title-label with scratches, marbled paper boards, engraved bookplate pasted on one pastedown, binding signed by Champs.
Some foxing.

First edition for Séraphita and third version of Louis Lambert.
Reliures in half morocco, covers and spine preserved, bindings signed by Champs.
A nice copy, rare and sought-after.

First edition, the first volume being at the right date of 1832, which is very rare according to Clouzot.
Binders in half navy blue morocco navy corners, smooth back decorated with cartridges decorated with golden floral friezes, golden dates in tails, gilt fillets on the plates of marbled paper, guards and contreplats of handmade paper, blankets and back preserved, elegant bindings in the romantic style signed by Champs.
Rare and pleasant copy set in a perfect romantic binding of Champs.

Illustrated with original vignettes by Jean Gigoux.
Half dark green morocco with corners, spine with five raised bands richly decorated with gilt compartments and fleurons, gilt date at foot, top edge gilt retaining deckled edges. Binding signed Champs.
Work illustrated, as frontispiece, with a portrait of the author on China paper as well as 600 vignettes here in first printing by Jean Gigoux.
Some rubbing to joints, otherwise a handsome copy.

First printing of the 40 original compositions by Paul Avril etched, one of 50 numbered copies on China paper.
Half sand morocco binding with corners, spine with five raised bands set with gilt stippling decorated with quadruple gilt compartments embellished at angles and centers with mosaic pieces of green and brown morocco, gilt date at foot, frame of gilt fillets on marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved (covers marginally spotted), top edge gilt on deckled edges, elegant contemporary binding signed by Champs.
Our copy is complete with the duplicate state on Japan paper of each of the etchings.
Handsome copy elegantly bound.

Work illustrated with drawings and watercolors by Felician Myrbach and Luigi Rossi engraved by Guillaume brothers.
Handsome copy elegantly bound.

First edition, one of 150 numbered copies on Japan paper, deluxe copy.
Bradel binding in half blue morocco with corners, smooth spine faded decorated with gilt floral motif, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, near-contemporary binding signed by Champs.
Work illustrated with 28 original compositions by Oreste Cortazzo engraved as etchings by Abot and Clapès.
Our copy, like all copies of the deluxe issue, is complete with the double state of the etchings.
Handsome copy in charming binding by Champs.

First edition.
Half blue-grey cloth Bradel binding over marbled paper boards by Champs, spine with gilt stylized floral motif, date and double gilt fillet to foot, navy blue shagreen title-piece with a small angular lack to top, covers preserved.
Autograph inscription signed by Victor Hugo to his friend, the literary critic Henri Trianon.
Small manuscript correction to the first page of the introduction, a few small wormtracks to the title and half-title.
Provenance : Morizet collection, collection of Raymond Boueil with his engraved ex libris, Maurice Escoffier (Le mouvement romantique N°1557), Robert Schumann, manuscript initials (1965, N°207) and Philippe Zoummerouff (2001, N°62).

First edition, illustrated with a figure by Gravelot engraved by Allianet, a headpiece by Eisen and a tailpiece by Choffart, engraved by De Longueil. Fine printing, on deluxe paper.
Full brown sheep binding early 20th century signed Champs. Smooth Jansenist spine with gilt title and date. Minor rubbing to headcaps. Handsome copy. Blin de Sainmore composed this letter from Sappho after Ovid's heroic epistle on the same subject; Sappho writing to her lover before going to join him. The edition is enhanced with verses by Sappho translated by Boileau and Blin de Saimore. The composition of these editions by Blin de Saimore is very similar to those of Dorat, even using the same artists for ornamentation. Engraved bookplate E. Valton. 1880.

First edition, illustrated with a figure by Eisen engraved by Roubeau, a title vignette by the same engraved by Massard, and a tailpiece, this time engraved by Allianet. Printed on deluxe paper.
Full sheep binding from early 20th century signed Champs. Smooth Jansenist spine, with gilt title and date. Gilt fillet frame on boards. Minor rubbing to headcaps. Handsome copy. Blin de Sainmore, accustomed to literary and historical borrowings, chose in this work a tragic subject, confronting love and power in the relationship between Gabrielle d'Estrées and Henri IV, striving to paint the situation of the kingdom in these troubled times. The verse letter is preceded by an author's preface justifying his work, a verse epistle to Voltaire and a response from the latter. (One will notice the beautiful engraving after Eisen where Death endowed with her scythe and soaring with great black wings, hovers above Gabrielle looking at Henri IV's portrait). Engraved bookplate E. Valton. 1880.

Reprint of the 1559 edition by Claude Gruget, with notes by Paul Lacroix containing 72 novellas divided into 8 days and expanded with three other novellas from the Heptameron. Limited edition of only 120 copies on deluxe paper, this one of the 100 unnumbered copies on Holland paper with duplicate states of the engravings. Illustrated with etchings by Léopold Flammeng.
Contemporary half purple morocco with corners. Spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt fleurons and small green morocco mosaics. Date at foot. Top edge gilt. Original wrappers preserved. Spine slightly faded. Very handsome copy, perfectly executed. Binding signed by Champs. Note that the tissue guards having been removed too early, the engraving shows through in relief on the opposite page.
Unique copy comprising an engraved portrait in duplicate state, a second portrait also as frontispiece, 17 plates in duplicate state and 8 additional plates hors-texte (an ordinary copy should possess only 8 plates in total); being 27 plates of which 18 in duplicate state.

New edition, from the author's complete works, printed on ordinary paper.
Bradel binding in half caramel morocco, smooth spine decorated with a cartouche and double gilt compartments decorated at angles, date at foot, marbled paper boards, endpapers and pastedowns, covers preserved, top edge gilt, binding signed by Champs.
Fine copy handsomely bound.

The second edition, published in the same year as the first.
Half indigo cloth Bradel binding over marbled paper boards by Champs, gilt fleuron to spine, date to foot, navy blue shagreen title-label (very lightly rubbed) covers and spine preserved (upper cover with light scratching where someone has scraped away at the edition statement).
Handsome autograph inscription signed by Hippolyte Taine to Sainte-Beuve.
A good copy with practically no spotting.