Latest Acquisitions

First edition, one of 200 numbered copies on vélin alfama du Marais paper, the only large-paper copies.
A fine copy, complete with its dust jacket.

Pedigree was first serialized in the Brussels weekly Le Face à Main.

Taken to court by several people who recognized themselves in the novel, Simenon revised it for a new edition in 1948, leaving blank the passages challenged in the lawsuits. The Pléiade edition restored the full text in 2009.

A rare large-paper copy of this autobiographical novel. 

First edition of the German translation by Eveline Passet, published a year after the original French edition.

Publisher's boards, copy complete with its illustrated dust jacket, which bears a tear repaired with adhesive tape.

Autograph inscription signed by Daniel Pennac to his close friend Franklin [Rist], enhanced with an original drawing in black felt-tip pen depicting a little man brandishing an axe and shouting "Rends-moi mon livre, Franklin" [Give my book back to me!" at another, who replies "Niemals !" [Never!] D. Pennac.

An amusing inscription in a volume from the celebrated Malaussène saga.

Sixth edition, with a photograph of three women reading, mounted as frontispiece.

Bradel binding in brown half cloth with corners, signed Carayon, sides in French curl paper, black morocco title label to spine, fleuron, gilt rules, wrapper preserved. Very slight rubbing to the binding, soiled wrapper, light waterstaining to the first leaves, some foxing.

First edition in book form of The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, published in London by Chapman and Hall in 1837, following its appearance in monthly parts beginning in March 1836. Dickens’s first novel, the work is illustrated with forty-three engraved plates, including a frontispiece and engraved title, by Robert Seymour, Robert William Buss, and Hablot Knight Browne, known as Phiz. The printed title is dated MDCCCXXXVII.

Contemporary full brown calf, spine with false raised bands, decorated with broad gilt fillets, longitudinal gilt tools over the bands, and blind wave tooling; red calf...

First edition, with the beautiful relais wrapper illustrated by Vallotton.

Mounted at the head, an autograph letter of 3pp. and 50 lines to Henri Mazel, concerning the three-act drama La fin des Dieux, with a postscript on Poil de carotte. Mazel was a critic, writer and poet, founder of the review L'ermitage, and would leave a memorable testimony on Renard's work in his essay Le mercure.

Binding signed Pouillet at the top of the first free endpaper, in half carrot-red morocco with corners, smooth spine richly adorned with gilt and blind-tooled compartments and fleurons. Gilt top edge. Original wrappers and spine preserved. Light rubbing along the...

New edition, with no deluxe copies printed.

A very good copy.
Henry de Monfreid's handwritten signature on the half-title.

New edition.

A handsome copy, covers very lightly browned, discreet restorations to the joints.

Rare presentation copy, signed and inscribed by Albert Camus: "to Madame Jean Labattut whom I thank three times, in respectful homage, Albert Camus."

Inscribed copies of Camus' masterpiece are exceedingly scarce.

The recipient could be Streline Mercedes Terradell, who served as a nurse in France during WW1. In 1929 she married Jean Labatut (also spelled Labattut), architect and teacher, who a primary force behind the development of Princeton University's School of Architecture, 1928-1967 and designed architectural projects around the...

Illustrated edition of Victor Hugo's speeches and political writings.

Wide-margined copy on chine, numbered (6), unopened.

Illustrated wrappers with some soiling, water stains and minor tears to the margins, spine split, occasional foxing to the leaves.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on pur fil wove paper, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

Introduction and notes by Pierre Caizergues.

A collection of twelve issues of L'Amour de l'art for the year 1931, bound together in one volume, richly illustrated.

Half shagreen brown binding with corners, marbled paper boards, spine with four raised bands, gilt-lettered title and date on spine, marbled paper endpapers, gilt top edge, original Art Deco wrappers preserved. A few minor rubs and spots of soiling to the binding, some leaves lightly browned at the margins, otherwise a fine copy.

Contributions by Elie Faure, René Huyghe, Claude Roger-Marx, Germain Bazin, Jean Cassou, Paul Fierens, Raymond Cogniat, Charles Léger, Pierre Prat, Charles Sterling, Tristan Klingsor, Raymond...

First edition of the witnesses' depositions alone, from the parliamentary inquiry into the insurrection of 18 March.

Speckled calf bindings bearing the arms of Guillaume Pavée de Vendeuvre, spines with five raised bands with gilt dotted rules, black morocco title labels, brown morocco volume labels, year gilt at the foot, blind-tooled inner roll, pastedowns of curl on combed paper, comb-marbled edges. A very few abrasions, joints of the first volume weakened, one of them slightly split at the foot, first leaves of the second volume folded, very slight foxing to some leaves.

Bookplate of Hubert Heilbronn and...

First edition of this travel narrative with reproductions of the photographs Jack London took during his voyage, including one in color as frontispiece. Copy from the first printing.

Publisher's light blue binding, with a color depiction of the sailing ship “Snark” on the front cover, title and author in gilt on the front cover, smooth spine with gilt title, author and publisher. Very slight rubbing to the binding, otherwise a very fine copy.

First edition in-12 of Jacques le Fataliste et son maître, the very first issue to include three engraved frontispieces. The text is preceded by a tribute to Diderot by Jacques-Henri Meister, a close friend of the author and Grimm's successor at the head of the Correspondance littéraire.

Contemporary marbled sheepskin bindings, gilt borders to the covers, smooth spines with gilt compartments and fleurons, brown lettering-pieces and numbering-pieces, gilt roulette to the board edges, pastedowns in blue paste paper, all edges gilt. Rubbing to the joints and corners, a few scattered spots to the leaves, otherwise an attractive copy.

First edition of the French translation, one of 28 numbered copies on Arches wove paper, the only deluxe copies.

Fine copy.

Rare first edition.

Publisher's brown half cloth over flexible green boards, endpapers and following leaves browned, title printed on the front board.

A second fascicle, devoted to the Dytiscidae and Gyrinidae, appeared in 1852. 

A pharmacist practising in Metz, Jean-Baptiste Géhin (1816-1889) was also an amateur entomologist. He was the first to describe several insect species from the Moselle region, including Temognatha cehvrolatii in 1855 and Sitodiplosis Mosellana in 1857.

Autograph presentation inscription by Jean-Baptiste Géhin at the head of the front board.

Provenance: from the library of the entomologist Henri Achard de...

Second edition, the first having appeared in 1831.

Joseph Héliodore Garcin de Tassy (1794-1878) was a French Orientalist and specialist in India.

He studied Oriental languages under Silvestre de Sacy and, together with him, was one of the founders of the Société asiatique in 1822. In 1828 he was appointed to the chair of Indology at the École spéciale des Langues orientales, and in 1838 was elected a member of the Académie des inscriptions et belles-lettres. Initially known for his studies of Islam and his translations from Arabic, Turkish and Persian, Garcin de Tassy became the foremost French specialist in Hindustani.

Unlettered spine, small marginal losses to the...

First edition, one of 280 numbered copies on mould-made wove paper, this copy one of 30 hors commerce copies in special wrappers reserved for the 30 private subscribers to all of Paul Valéry's works.

Fine copy.

Decorated with typographical ornaments by René Ben Sussan.*

Precious signed autograph presentation inscription from Paul Valéry to his friend, the bookseller, publisher and bibliophile Ronald Davis: "à Ronald Davis pour sa collection et avec les bons souvenirs de Paul Valéry."

New edition, expanded from the novel entitled Amélina, épisode de la conquête et de la colonisation des Espagnols dans l'île d'Haïti (Tours, 1841), which comprised only the first narrative.

The following two, set respectively in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, are by a certain A***, who has not been identified.

Contemporary Romantic binding in full brown calf, smooth faded spine decorated with gilt Romantic arabesques, covers framed with gilt fillets and gilt Romantic arabesques, white moiré silk endpapers and pastedowns, corners bumped, gilt fillets to the board edges, all edges gilt.

Restorations to spine, a few minor spots of foxing.

First edition.
The issue consists of four pages The issue consists of four pages and includes a comic strip by Steinlen, "Horrible fin de Bazouge ou les Suites funestes de l'Intempérance", and a composition by Henri Rivière framing a poem by Emile Gourdeau.
Political column by Rodolphe Salis, literary contributions by Emile Gourdeau with the poem "Le Discours du Bitume", by Louis Marsolleau "L'Eau qui coule", and Georges d'Esparbès "Les Justices bibliques".
A pleasant copy despite some foxing.
Le Chat noir was a weekly magazine founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897, intended to promote the famous cabaret of the same name, of which it...

Illustrated edition with 11 drawings by De Neuville and Riou. Catalogue DX bound in at the end of the volume (12pp.), from the Magasin d'éducation et de récréation.
Publisher's pictorial cloth binding "with the two elephants," in the very rare aubergine colourway. Front board stamp signed Souze, with the A.L. et Cie binder's ticket at the foot (1887 variant); rear board of the Lenègre type, with a central blind-stamped medallion on a black ground.
Superb front board. Spine with crisp gilt; tailcap crushed. Rear board fine, with a few darker patches. Rubbing to the headcap and tailcap and to the corners. Edges evenly toned. Corners sharp. Colour retouched at the headcap, tailcap and...

First edition of Marthe Robert's French translation, one of 106 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only large-paper issue.

Spine and boards slightly and marginally faded, as usual.

First edition, one of the review copies.

A very good copy.

Signed presentation inscription from Jean Cocteau to Claude Aveline: "... ce très long métrage et cet oiseau de nuit de tout coeur...

First public edition, one of 238 numbered copies on Arches paper, the only issue after 6 copies on Japon and 6 on blue paper.

Spine and boards slightly and marginally faded, as usual.

Fine signed presentation inscription from Paul Valéry to his friend, the bookseller, publisher and bibliophile Ronald Davis: "Exemplaire de Ronald Davis offert par l'auteur Paul Valéry."

First edition.
The issue consists of four pages and includes a comic strip by Ferdinandus: "Les Elections pour le Jury du Salon".
Literary contributions by Jean Rameau with the poem "Parfait amour", Alphonse Allais with "Chronique en l'air", Camille de Sainte-Croix with "Les préjugés de M Bosselet", George Auriol with "Ernest".
A fine copy despite occasional foxing.
Le Chat noir was a weekly magazine founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897, intended to promote the famous cabaret of the same name, of which it served as a record. It featured texts performed during the shows and stands as an important literary and artistic testimony to...

First edition of the French translation by Alexandre Vialatte, one of 148 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only grand papier copies.

Preface by Bernard Groethuysen.

Half gray morocco binding with corners, smooth spine, marbled paper sides, endpapers and pastedowns of marbled paper, original wrappers and spine preserved, gilt top edge, slipcase edged in mouse-gray morocco with marbled paper sides, contemporary binding signed Lévêque.

First edition of Alexandre Vialatte's French translation, one of 205 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the deluxe issue.

Spine and boards slightly and marginally faded, as usual.

First edition, on ordinary paper, of Philippe Jaccottet's French translation.

Very slight, insignificant rubbing to the joints.

A fine copy of this work, which was adapted for the screen by Volker Schlöndorff in 1966.

First collected edition, one of the press copies.

A very good copy.

Signed presentation copy from Paul Claudel to Luc Estang.

First edition, in two volumes, of the series Commentaires sur la guerre des Boches. Copies numbered on Arches laid paper for both volumes, from the tirage de tête.

Printed wrappers lightly soiled, spine and margins of the front cover of the first volume sunned, slight tears to the spine ends, corner creases to the leaves, and an ink stain in the margin of the first volume. A few passages highlighted in pencil in the first volume. The second volume is untrimmed, with full margins throughout.

Autograph inscription, dated and signed "S." from André Suarès to Ventura García Calderón, on the front free endpaper of the first volume: "A Mr. V...

Extremely rare first edition of this poem composed to mark the capture of Ulm (15–20 October 1805), during the Austrian campaign.

No copy recorded in the CCF. 

The only copy we have located is held by the Biblioteca musicale Gaetano Donizetti in Bergamo.

Francesco Zacchiroli (1750–1826), a native of Ferrara, is best known for his Description de la galerie royale de Florence (1783), although he was also a prolific writer of both verse and prose.

Traces of a label to the upper left corner of the front wrapper, a few minor spots of foxing.

First edition.
The issue consists of four pages and includes a comic strip by Steinlen, "Impressions d'un Lecteur."
Literary contributions by Alphonse Allais with "L'Esprit d'Ellen," Louis Denise with the poem "Hiver," Albert Glatigny with "Il n'aimait pas le boeuf," Louis Marsolleau with "Voyage à la découverte de l'Ile d'Amour," George Auriol with "Ernest," and Albert Tinchant with "Cottage."
Fine copy.
Le Chat noir was a weekly magazine founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897, intended to promote the famous cabaret of the same name, of which it served as a record. It featured texts performed during the shows and stands as an...

Illustrated edition with 600 original vignettes by Jean Gigoux, accompanied by an engraved frontispiece and a portrait of Gil Blas on chine, bound in between the address to the reader and the first chapter.

Copy of the first issue, complete with all the characteristics noted by Carteret that distinguish it from the second issue.

Half green long-grained Russia morocco binding, sides in green paste paper, smooth spine decorated with gilt compartments and three blind-stamped floral plaques with gilt accents, gilt title and date, stone paper pastedowns. Some rubbing to the binding, corners and edges slightly worn, occasional foxing and soiling to a few leaves.
Bookplate...

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued, of this children’s book designed in the form of a tourist postcard from the Baladar Islands to be sent to friends.

Publisher’s pictorial boards.
Illustrated with drawings by André François.

Inevitable rubbing to the spine, owing to Jacques Prévert’s practice of sending inscribed copies of this work through the post; a small dampstain to the right-hand margin of a few leaves.

Signed and dated presentation inscription in felt-tip pen by Jacques Prévert: "Vive l'amitié Jacques Prévert Paris de printemps 1958" enhanced with an original drawing in green, yellow and red coloured pencil depicting a flower accompanied by...

First edition of the French translation, one of 10 numbered copies on Japanese paper, the deluxe issue.

Rare and fine copy, with full margins.

First edition.
The issue consists of four pages and includes a caricature titled "Le jury de Peinture. - Esquisse du tableau de M. Gervex".
Literary contributions by Alphonse Allais with "La Petite coquette", Albert Samain with the poem "Le Sabre", Georges d'Esparbès with "L'Avarice", General Francis Pittié with the poem "L'Enfant caméléon", Rosario...
A pleasing copy.
Le Chat noir was a weekly magazine founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897, intended to promote the famous cabaret of the same name, of which it served as a record. It featured texts performed during the shows and stands as an important literary and artistic testimony to...

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued.

Richly illustrated. A fine copy.

Precious dated and signed presentation inscription from André Malraux: "Pour Fanny et D. Galanis leur vieil ami André Malraux dec.47."

First edition, illustrated at the end of the volume with a folding plate comprising 5 figures.

Our copy is preserved in its original wrappers, with mustard-coloured temporary paper covers overlaid with modern marbled-paper wrappers with flaps. 

The sole edition, and very rare, of this important treatise in the history of textile cleaning.

Impressed by the results obtained before the Revolution in a laundry at Bercy, Chaptal, upon being appointed Minister of the Interior, had the question investigated by several chemists, including Bosc, Roard, Curaudeau, Bourgeron, de Layre and Cadet de Vaux, who were commissioned to test and assess this new...

Fourth draft of the screenplay.

Printed wrappers worn, reinforced at the spine with adhesive tape, soiling, corner creases, small tear to the front cover, otherwise good internal condition. The mentions of the third draft printed on the front cover and title page are struck through and corrected in ink - "quatrième version" [fourth draft].
Newspaper clippings, brochures, and documents relating to the film and its screenings are laid in. A few pencil annotations on pages 22, 23, 105, and 108.

An intermediate draft of the screenplay for Louis Malle's classic film recounting a traumatic episode from his childhood during the Occupation.

First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on vat-made vellum reserved for the Société bibliophilique des XX, this copy being that of Georges Calmann-Lévy, from the hors-commerce deluxe issue.

Manuscript signature of the Comtesse de Noailles beneath the limitation statement.

Below, a signed autograph presentation inscription from the president of the Société bibliophilique des XX.

Rare and handsome copy, preserved in sheets under double wrappers and spine, housed in a chemise and slipcase of full mauve moiré silk.

As usual, some rubbing to the joints of the chemise and to the slipcase.

Autograph inscription signed by Joseph Kessel and addressed to the Geneva autograph collector Claude Arnaud, on a loose leaf.

Fold mark from having been enclosed in an envelope.

First edition.
The issue consists of four pages and includes a comic strip by Steinlen: "Ce qu'il advint d'une Petite Fille."
Literary contributions by Fernand Fau with "Economies", Victor Margueritte with the poem "Vœu royal", Charles Cros with "La Chanson de la plus belle femme", Louis Denise with "Statuette byzantine", Paul Morisse with "Féminines"...
A pleasant copy despite a few marginal tears and light soiling.
Le Chat noir was a weekly magazine founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897, intended to promote the famous cabaret of the same name, of which it served as a record. It featured texts performed during the shows and stands...

First edition, one of the press copies.

Important signed autograph inscription from Marcel Jouhandeau to André Malraux: "Pour André Malraux avec mon souvenir affectueux. Marcel Jouhandeau."

Second edition, enlarged with the passages suppressed from the original edition of 1851.

Illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of the authors engraved by A. Descaves.

Contemporary red half shagreen, spine slightly faded, with five raised bands and black fillets, marbled-paper boards, upper board slightly and marginally faded along the left edge, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved and mounted.

Signed presentation copy from Edmond de Goncourt to the journalist and writer Louis Ulbach.

First edition, printed in a small number of copies, of this offprint from the Revue des deux mondes, issue of 15 September 1858. 

Printed colportage stamp on the half-title, a few small spots of foxing.

Our copy is preserved in its original state, stitched in temporary pink paper wrappers, with a few pale stains at the foot of the rear wrapper.

One of the contributions made by the liberal journalist Prévost-Paradol (1829-1870) to the moderate opposition to the Second Empire: beginning with a comparison between France and Great Britain, he highlights the limited freedom of action enjoyed by believers under France's Concordat system. 

At the head of the...

First edition, printed in a small number of copies, of this offprint from the Annales de la Société belge de microscopie, vol. II, p. 55.

Spine split, unlettered, with title in manuscript; small losses and marginal nicks to the wrappers.

Illustrated at the end of the volume with 2 fine plates of foraminifera by E. Vanden Broeck, lithographed in two tones by G. Severeyns.

Not in the BnF. Unrecorded by Sabin, Leclerc, or Nissen.

At the head of the title-page, signed presentation inscription from Ernest Vanden Broeck: "A Monsieur Gustave Dollfus, hommage affectueux", together with several autograph corrections in the text.

Geologist...

A substantially posthumous publication, prepared by Ayres de Sá from the notes and papers of the second Viscount of Santarém (1791–1856), who, in addition to his diplomatic and political roles amid the turbulent struggle between Marianist and Miguelist factions in Portugal, was the first historian to develop the study of cartography in a methodical manner.

The work is illustrated with 97 plates in the first volume and 40 plates in the second.

Cherry half-shagreen bindings with corners, spines with five raised bands framed by black fillets and showing some rubbing, marbled paper sides, a scratch to the left margin of the upper cover of the first volume, endpapers and pastedowns...

Edition illustrated with 36 watercolours by Pierre Laprade, one of 30 hors commerce copies printed on Arches laid paper and issued in special wrappers for the 30 private subscribers to all of Paul Valéry's works.

A fine copy.

Precious signed presentation copy from Paul Valéry to his friend, the bookseller, publisher and bibliophile Ronald Davis : "Exemplaire de Ronald Davis, the only man in the world who possesses all that has published. Paul Valéry."

New edition, one of 20 hors commerce copies printed on pur fil laid paper and issued in special grey Ingres wrappers, reserved for the 20 private subscribers to all of Paul Valéry's works.

Spine and covers very slightly yellowed, with no serious effect; internally in pleasing condition.

Precious signed presentation inscription from Paul Valéry to his friend, the bookseller, publisher and bibliophile Ronald Davis: "Exemplaire de Ronald Davis qui a déjà tant d'écriture de moi que ce n'est pas la peine d'en remplir encore cette belle page !  Paul Valéry."

New edition embellished with a medallion portrait of Montaigne on the title-page, engraved by Noël Pruneau. Reprint of the edition issued by Bastien in 1783, which was limited to 500 copies and quickly sold out.
Contemporary full glazed and speckled brown calf binding. Smooth spine decorated with four floral tools and various roll-tooled ornaments. Black wax lettering and volume labels. Triple fillet border on the boards. A few scattered foxing spots.
Fine copy in a high-quality contemporary binding. Small fragment lacking at the head of the upper joint of volume I. Headcap of volume II restored, with the beginnings of a split to the upper joint. Some rubbing, particularly along the...

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued.

A vertical crease to the front wrapper.

Signed presentation inscription from Paul Ricoeur to Jean-Luc Drouin.

First edition, one of 80 numbered copies on Lana Ingres laid paper, this copy No. 1, the only deluxe issue.
A fine copy despite two yellow scratches to the right-hand margin of the rear cover.

First Danish edition, translated by the author from the original English edition published the same year.

Illustrated covers, rare in this state of preservation. Some rubbing, soiling, and marginal tears. Two autograph ownership inscriptions by Ragna Gateau on the half-title and title pages, one dated 1937.

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued.

A fine copy, complete with the publisher's promotional wraparound band.

Signed presentation inscription by Virginie Despentes on the title page.

Illustrated edition of Victor Hugo's speeches and political writings.

Wide-margined copy on chine, numbered (32), unopened.

Illustrated wrappers with some soiling, dampstaining and minor marginal tears, cracked spine, occasional foxing to the leaves.

First edition.
The issue consists of four pages and includes a comic strip by Jules Grévy: "Une Farce à Yeddo".
Literary contributions by Alphonse Allais with "Obsession", Albert Samain with the poem "Le Fouet", George Auriol with "La Famille des Houzelles", Jean Lorrain with "Prince héritier", Germain Nouveau with "Kathoum"...
A pleasing copy.
Le Chat noir was a weekly magazine founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897, intended to promote the famous cabaret of the same name, of which it served as a record. It featured texts performed during the shows and stands as an important literary and artistic testimony to the bohemian life and...

First edition of Mademoiselle Fifi, published in Brussels by Henry Kistemaeckers in 1882. The volume brings together seven stories previously published in Gil Blas between December 1881 and March 1882, then revised by Maupassant for their first appearance in book form. The edition comprised 2,000 copies on laid paper and a further 50 on Japan paper; the present copy is from the regular issue on laid paper. Etched portrait of Maupassant by Just as frontispiece. Untrimmed.

Half raspberry...

First edition of the French translation, one of 41 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the sole large-paper issue.

Spine and boards slightly and marginally faded, as often; two small spots of foxing in the left margin of the front board.

Original edition illustrated with 85 drawings by Benett, with a world map at the end of the volume. General publisher's catalogue in fine, DS.
Publisher's tan pictorial cloth binding with the two elephants and fan design, signed Souze and bound by Lenègre. Spine type D, back board type n. A very fine front board with well-struck gilt; a crease to the upper right corner. Minor touch-ups to the colour at the head, tail and corners, with some stiffening of the cloth. Spine sound, with an area of soiling to the right of the title extending onto the front board. Diffuse dark marks on the back board. Scattered foxing to the first two leaves, sparse thereafter except in the catalogue...

Illustrated edition with decorative initials and 16 original lithographs by Lucien Moretti, each signed in pencil; one of 173 numbered copies on Arches wove paper.

Preface by Georges Brassens.

A fine copy, issued in loose sheets in a folder and burgundy cloth slipcase.

Signed presentation inscription from René Fallet: Pour madame et monsieur Prigent 13 apostoliquement leur René Fallet, together with a signed presentation inscription from Raymond Moretti to the same recipients.

Our copy is further enhanced by the autograph signature of Georges Brassens on the facing page.

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on Imperial Japanese paper, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

New edition.

Our copy is preserved in its original temporary binding, with marbled-paper wrappers. (cf. Sabin 6327.)

Marbled-paper spine lacking, abrasions to the marbled-paper covers, and a dampstain to the upper left corner of the volume, gradually diminishing through the text.

We follow the attribution given by Hoefer and Sabin for this uncommon pamphlet, a critique of the theories of Cornelijs de Pauw. Its authorship remains uncertain: Pierre Poivre (1719-1786) has been proposed, as has Antoine-François Pernety (1716-1796), probably through confusion with his Dissertation sur l'Amérique et les Américains of 1769; both attributions continue to find favour...

First edition, one of 35 numbered copies on Madagascar paper, the deluxe issue.

A rare and fine copy, with full margins.

First edition of this extremely rare botanical monograph, written by the great navigator following the scientific expedition sent to the Black Sea and the Greek islands aboard La Chevrette, during which he was entrusted with observations in natural history and archaeology (it was during this mission that the Venus de Milo was unearthed).

Cf. Pritzel, 2480.

Late 19th-century brown half cloth, smooth spine with library shelf label at foot and red morocco lettering-piece, marbled paper boards, corners slightly rubbed, speckled edges.

Bound in at the end are three short monographs, all in first edition and published in 1842, the year of d'Urville's death, dealing...

Edition not recorded by Sabin, 47516, who cites the first edition printed by the Imprimerie Royale [title, IV-196 pp.]. Not in JCB.

Our copy is preserved in its original wrappers, with plain temporary covers.

A few small spots of foxing.

A collection of diplomatic documents relating to the negotiations preceding the Treaty of 1763, concerning the boundaries of Acadia and Louisiana, the cession of Canada, and the fisheries of Newfoundland and the West Indies.

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

Introduction and study by Jean Bloch-Michel
A fine copy despite two slight areas of sunning at the head and foot of the spine. 

First collected edition, one of the numbered copies on alfa paper.

An attractive copy.

Signed autograph presentation inscription by Jean Cocteau on the half-title.

Rare first edition of the French translation, one of 350 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe issue after 50 copies on pur fil.

Spine and boards very slightly and marginally sunned, of no consequence.
Rare and attractive copy.

Edition limited to 125 numbered copies on B.F.K. de Rives paper, illustrated with 11 full-page colour illustrations by Loustal, one of the leading figures of contemporary comics.

Spine slightly pinched at foot, otherwise a rare and attractive copy, complete with its folder and slipcase in yellow and red cloth.

Fine page design by Sandrine Granon.

At the colophon, pencil signatures by Loustal and by the president of Les Cent Une, the bibliophile association responsible for publishing the work.

First edition, one of 210 numbered copies on Lafuma Madagascar paper, this copy unnumbered.

A fine copy.

Fine presentation copy, warmly inscribed and signed by Paul Valéry to his friend Ronald Davis, bookseller, publisher and bibliophile: "A Ronald Davis, échange, selon le Magicien d'Aladin, d'une vieille lampe contre une neuve ! Paul Valéry."

Edition illustrated with 159 original illustrations by Louis Jou, printed in a single issue of 135 named and numbered copies on Rives laid paper.
A shadow from newspaper clippings to the left margin of the front free endpaper.

Fine copy housed in a brown full-board chemise and slipcase.

Amusing autograph letter signed and addressed to Thierry Maulnier, some twenty lines in blue ink written on a sealed letter, celebrating his election to the Académie française on 13 February 1964, the day before this letter was written.

The address, the recipient's name and the sender's name are cast in the form of a quatrain :

"A Thierry l'Immortel

 Dont Jacques est l'origine

 Ce billet temporel

 Afin qu'un oeil devine : au figaro rond-point des Champs-Elysées Paris."

Jacques Audiberti congratulates his friend : "... moi l'un de tes plus anciens...

Rare first edition of the Brazilian translation.

Sabin 24637 records only the 1870 French edition of his Conférence sur la guerre du Paraguay.

Not in the CCF.

Modern half blue morocco binding, spine with four raised bands and gilt fleurons, some rubbing to the joints, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns.

Minor worming at the beginning and end of the volume, not affecting the text, some foxing, ink stamp to the title page.

Brazil was a member of the "Triple Alliance", which pitted the Argentine Republic, His Majesty the Emperor of Brazil and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay against the government of Francisco Solano López (1827-1870)...

First edition, illustrated with 18 figures in the text.

Spine and covers slightly sunned and faded, with small losses along the edges; a pleasant copy internally despite occasional minor foxing.

From 1895 onwards, René Dussaud (1868-1958) undertook several archaeological missions in Syria, a field to which he would devote much of the rest of his career.

Signed presentation inscription by René Dussaud on the half-title to the archaeologist Emmanuel-Alban Guillaume-Rey (1837-1916), an Orientalist and archaeologist specializing in medieval Syria.

First edition, one of the numbered copies on bouffant alfa calypso paper.

Publisher's full blue cloth binding after the original design by Massin, smooth spine, complete with its original acetate dust jacket and wraparound band.

A fine copy.

Signed presentation inscription from Marguerite Yourcenar to Mr Steiner: "... ces temps troublés comme les nôtres..."

Autograph note signed by the Aga Khan on a fragment of paper, bearing the words: "I have the honor to be your obdt servant Aga Khan"

The note is undated, but is written in English (Aga Khan IV was French-speaking) and bears the characteristic signature of Aga Khan III, born Mohammed Shah, who served as the 48th Imam of the Nizari Ismailis from 1885 to 1957.

Accompanied by a dated and signed certificate of authenticity issued by the distinguished London bookseller and autograph dealer Winifred A. Myers, whose premises were located at 70 Bond Street.

Typed letter dated 16 September 1971 and signed by Joseph Kessel, responding favourably to a request from the Geneva autograph collector Claude Arnaud.

"Monsieur, je vous remercie de votre lettre, et c'est avec plaisir que je vous adresse cette signature."

Accompanied by the original typed envelope.

First edition of the French translation, one of 25 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe issue.

Faint, light foxing to spine, rear wrapper and final endpaper, otherwise a pleasant copy.

First edition of the French translation, illustrated with 18 engraved plates, 10 of them hand-coloured (cf. Blackmer 87; Atabey 68; Contominas 39; Monglond VII, 654-655).

The 18 plates include the two plates of musical notation and the large folding map at the end of the second volume.

Contemporary green half sheep, darkened smooth spines ruled in gilt, with a narrow gilt roll at foot, marbled paper boards, speckled edges.

Some foxing, light rubbing to the joints, a few gatherings browned. 

First and only edition of Auguste du Coudray's French translation of this account of a journey through Greece, written in the form of letters. Jacob Levin Salomo, known as Jakob...

First edition, illustrated at the end of the second volume with a folding map outside the text (cf. Gay 3608. Numa Broc 307).

Contemporary cherry-red half calf bindings, spines with four false raised bands ruled in gilt and black, red paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, speckled edges.

Scattered foxing, restorations to the joints and spines, a light dampstain to the lower margins affecting approximately the final two-thirds of the first volume.

A follower of Saint-Simon, Maurice Tamisier (1810-1875) travelled to Egypt in the aftermath of the 1830 Revolution with a small group led by Père Enfantin, who, following his imprisonment, hoped to unite in...

First edition, comprising only the introductory sections, without the translation itself, which required considerable labour on Biot's part, the text being renowned for its extreme obscurity.

Some foxing.

The Zhouli (Rites of Zhou) was known until the Tang dynasty as the Zhouguan (Offices of Zhou), since it is in fact a list of official functions divided into six categories, which later inspired the six ministries of the imperial administration.

The engineer Édouard-Constant Biot (1803-1850), son of the mathematician Jean-Baptiste Biot, was also a pupil of Stanislas Julien and rapidly became an outstanding sinologist, whose work remains in use to this day.

Rare first edition, printed in a small number of copies and illustrated with 3 plates, including 2 folding colour maps.
A very good copy despite some minor foxing to the wrappers and a vertical crease to the front wrapper.

The text presents the conclusions reached by the naturalist William Carpenter (1813-1885) following the deep-sea exploration carried out off the north of Ireland from 1868 to 1870 alongside Sir Charles Wyville Thomson (1830–1882). 

Copy belonging to the biologist Jean-Louis-Armand Quatrefages de Bréau (1810-1892), with his ink stamp in the upper right-hand corner of the title page.

Ledger of wine sales for shipment kept by a Beaune wine-trading house, 63 leaves (124 pp.) written in ink, followed by 26 blank leaves. The entries span the years 1787-1795, followed by a few pages dated 1809 containing draft letters, often sent from Koblenz, relating to delivery, probably drafted by intermediaries.

A rare order book from a wine-trading house, probably the Patriarche, constituting one of the earliest surviving records of their trading activity. This unpublished, first-hand source fills gaps in our knowledge of the house's early years, shedding light on export routes and the prices charged for the various appellations and vintages.

Limp...

Reunion of three highly sought-after first editions, most notably the last, printed in a very small number of copies, on the expulsion of the Moriscos from Spain between 1609 and 1614, written by Marcos de Guadalajara y Javier and Juan Ripol. 

Volume bearing the royal and Jesuit arms, and woodcut initials with foliate and figural designs, after the macabre engravings of Hans Lützelburger. Woodcut-engraved border on the first and third title pages, elegant double black-ruled frame around the text. 

A superb copy bringing...

First edition, one of 80 numbered copies on Lana Ingres laid paper, this copy numbered 1, the entire deluxe issue.
A fine copy.

Rare first edition, illustrated at the end of the volume with a large folding plate of inscriptions (cf. Blackmer 1317. Not in Atabey).

Contemporary half tan calf over marbled boards, with corners, darkened smooth spine ruled in gilt, black morocco lettering-piece, boards rubbed, red-speckled edges.

One joint fragile and tending to separate, some foxing.

"Pittakis is known as the first Greek archaeologist. His early steps were guided by the French consul in Athens, Fauvel, and in 1828, under the provisional government, he was appointed inspector of antiquities. In 1833, with the coming of King Otho, he was appointed supervisor of antiquities of mainland Greece. In...

First edition, very rare (cf. Cordier, Sinica, 1476); the NUC records only a single copy.

Spine inexpertly repaired with an adhesive strip, losses to the corners of the spine and covers, wrappers browned.

Melchior Yvan (1803-1873), physician and politician, took part in the mission sent to China under the direction of the diplomat Lagrené, with the aim of concluding a treaty of commerce and navigation with that country. He published his account of the journey in several parts between 1850 and 1855.

This pamphlet appears to be one of the author's very earliest publications relating to China.