n. l.

Later print of a black and white photograph of Joan Crawford, taken in the 1950s.

A fine copy.

Inscribed and signed by Joan Crawford to the renowned autograph collector Claude Armand: "Dear Claude thnak you for your warming letter. Bless you Joan Crawford."

Original colour photograph depicting a smiling Jacques Chirac.

Attractive ensemble held together by a paperclip, which has left a discreet mark in the upper left margin of the photograph.

Enclosed are an official letter, its envelope, and a card on which Jacques Chirac, then Prime Minister, wrote in black felt-tip pen the following words: "vous remercie de votre aimable message de félicitations et vous adresse ses sentiments les meilleurs."

Signed by Jacques Chirac in blue ink at the foot of the photograph.

Original and unpublished manuscript by “Jean Cocquebert de Roquelaure de Reims”, dated 1647; 1 title leaf and 216 folios numbered in ink (431 pp. of text), including 2 ff. of a “Table of Towns and Other Places Contained in this Book” at the end. The full list of towns and villages cited in the manuscript is provided at the end of this description.
Full limp vellum binding, smooth spine with a calf lettering piece. Some dampstaining; one quire detached.

During the closing years of the Thirty Years’ War, a traveller from Reims named Jean Cocquebert, set down in this exceptional...

Fine autograph letter signed by Colette to her friend Bolette Natanson. Two pages written in ink on blue paper. Horizontal folds inherent to the mailing of the letter.
As ever protective and maternal with her friend, Colette compliments her: "Comme tu es gentille, - comme tu es Bolette". Nineteen years her senior, she praises the youth of "[her] child": "Tu es ma 'provision d'hiver', la jeunesse dont j'aurai besoin, plus tard, bien plus encore qu'à présent. Soigne-toi bien ma jeunesse en grange".
Having grown up from early childhood in artistic circles—she was the daughter of Alexandre and the niece of Thadée...

Black-and-white photograph showing Kirk Douglas smiling, facing the camera.

A handsome example.

Boldly signed by Kirk Douglas in the upper right corner of the photograph.

Provenance: from the collection of renowned autograph collector Claude Armand.

Black and white photograph of Micheline Presle, circa 1950s.

A fine example.

Inscribed and signed by Micheline Presle to the prominent autograph collector Claude Armand: "A Claude Armand mon amical souvenir. Micheline Presle."

Original black and white photograph of Roger Peyrefitte.

A fine example. Photographer Rodolphe Haussaire's printed stamp to verso.

Inscribed, dated and signed by Roger Peyrefitte to the noted autograph collector Claude Armand.

Later print of an iconic 1950s photograph capturing "The look" in profile, with her right hand resting on her hip.

Signed in black felt-tip pen by Lauren Bacall.

Provenance: from the collection of renowned autograph collector Claude Armand.

Original watercolour signed with Sonia Delaunay’s initials, “S.D.” One leaf under a wooden frame with a mat, a few minor chips and small lacks to the frame. Red stamp on the verso of the leaf: "Ce projet de tissu provient de l'Atelier que dirigeait Sonia Delaunay entre 1925 et 1933. Son fils, Charles Delaunay".

Exceptional sketch of a colourful chevron dress, one of the famous "tissus simultanés" created by Sonia Delaunay. Likely to be a preparatory drawing for a dress featured in Delaunay’s portfolio Ses Peintures, Ses Objets, Ses Tissus Simultanés, Ses Modes, published on the occasion of the 1925 Exposition...

Black and white photographic postcard depicting Raymond Poulidor in cycling attire.

A handsome copy. To the verso, a promotional label for Raymond Poulidor equipment has been affixed.

Inscribed autograph tribute signed by Raymond Poulidor in brown felt-tip pen to the upper left margin of the card.

Provenance: from the collection of renowned autograph collector Claude Armand.

Edition regarded as the masterpiece of the painter and engraver Charles Eisen, and a counterfeit of the famed Fermiers généraux edition.

This edition is illustrated with 2 engraved frontispieces by Vidal, 2 title vignettes, 1 portrait after Hyacinthe Rigaud, along with 80 plates and 43 tailpieces. One engraving is unfortunately missing from our copy, which contains 79 engravings instead of 80.

A few minor spots, not affecting the text.

Bound in contemporary full green morocco, flat spines slightly sunned, decorated with double gilt fillets and gilt floral and typographic motifs, red morocco lettering-pieces and volume labels, gilt roll tooling at head and tail...

Entertaining fragments of handwritten notes and reflections by Sacha Guitry on the French origins of the English language, approximately 75 lines in black ink across 6 leaves.

Sacha Guitry wittily comments on the hospitality of the English language: "Aucune langue n'a été plus accueillante que la langue anglaise..." and its deep-rooted traditions, heavily influenced by French: "J'ai pu constater (on me l'avait dit mais je ne le croyais pas ! ) que, à la chambre des Lords lorsque le Roi prend la parole un huissier s'écrie : Oyez ! oyez ! Or, le mot oyez s'écrie o - y - e - z et c'est le vieux français : oyez ! du verbe ouïr - écouter." [...] "Lorsque le Roi...

Christmas greeting card illustrated with a printed drawing by Mathurin Méheut, to which he added a few handwritten words on the verso, addressed to a couple of friends:

"Aux vieux et très bons amis Dupouy ceux du tertre et de toujours, à toute leur famille. Les voeux bien sincères de MMéheut."

Marguerite Méheut, the artist’s wife, also added a note to convey her own wishes: "Aux parents, aux enfants, tous nos meilleurs voeux de bonne et heureuse année. Toutes nos amitiés à partager. Marg. Méheut."

Two small stains on the verso of the card.

Rare example of this propaganda leaflet published by the Nazi Occupier, which became the most iconic image of the Resistance. This smaller version of the famous Affiche Rouge features the poster on the recto and a paragraph on the verso castigating « l'Armée du crime contre la France » ("the Army of Crime against France"). It opens with accusations against the « rêve mondial du complot juif » ("the global dream of the Jewish conspiracy") and claims that « si des Français sabotent, pillent et tuent (...) ce sont toujours des juifs qui les inspirent » ("if Frenchmen sabotage, loot, and kill (...) it is always Jews who inspire them").
A...

Autograph letter signed by André Malraux to Max Jacob. Two pages in black ink on a bifolium, with a drawing by Malraux.
Partially transcribed in Histoires littéraires, 2002, p. 123.
Hilarious letter by Malraux - waiting for Max Jacob to reply to his letters, he writes a false obituary announcing his correspondent's death. He added a drawing of a cat profile next to his signature.

Autograph manuscript by Juliette Drouet, entitled “General income for the year 1839” “General expenditure for the year 1839” (verso). Two pages in ink on one leaf.
Folds, blind stamp “Bath” in the upper left corner. Two small tears filled in, tiny holes barely visible.

A precious manuscript in the hand of Juliette Drouet, listing her expenses for 1839, a crucial year during which she gave up theater for good and became entirely dependent on her famous lover.
As was her custom at the end of each year, Drouet put her affairs in order, drew up columns and figures, compared her monthly income, and listed her expenses on the reverse: “food and...

Autograph letter signed by Ger­maine de Staël and dated 9 Janu­ary 1809 to Julie Nigris, daughter of Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun. Two pages written in black on a bifolium. Autograph address on verso, armo­rial wax seal traces and postmarks.

Usual folds, a tear with a small piece of paper lacking on the address page due to the opening of the seal. Published as an addendum in Sou­venirs de Madame Vigée Le Brun, 1837, vol. III, pp. 264-265.

Germaine de Staël is eagerly awaiting her portrait as Corinne - her novel's heroine- she had commissioned from the famous Vigée-Lebrun. The letter is a precious link in the fascinating history of the...

Printed visiting card of G. Clemenceau bearing the following autograph addition: "avec mes amicaux remerciements. GC."

A fine copy.

Autograph signed postcard, dated 8 February 1984, 8 lines in black ballpoint pen, addressed to her friend, the woman of letters Christiane Baroche, warmly thanking her for her friendship and for her laudatory reviews of her books.

Manuscript envelope addressed to Christiane Baroche included.

The postcard depicts a view of the leisure park at Cergy, in the Ile-de-France region.

"Christiane

tout ce que tu m'écris me fait très chaud au coeur. Je ne sais ce qui me touche le plus, ce que tu penses de moi comme auteur (écrivain c'est trop lourd ! ) ou ton amitié. Je t'embrasse. Annie."

First edition, one of 70 numbered copies on Rives BFK wove paper, the only issue after 10 hand-made Angoumois copies.

Illustrated with original colour engravings by Ania Staritsky.

A rare and handsome copy despite a small tear at the head of the spine.

Manuscript pencil signatures of Gaston Puel, Pierre-Albert Birot and Ania Staritsky at the colophon.

Autograph card signed, dated 7 September 1984, 20 lines in blue ballpoint pen, addressed to her friend, the writer Christiane Baroche, in which she congratulates her on her latest work "Plaisirs amers" which she "devoured" and enjoyed. Annie Ernaux humorously refers to her property plans linked to the sale of her book "La Place".

"Ma chère Christiane,

j'ai reçu "Plaisirs amers" le 6, l'ai lu le soir d'une traite (comme tu sais bien parler de l'amour, c'est merveilleux ! Et de la vieillesse... Un  seul regret : que ces deux-là n'aient pas fait l'amour ensemble, enfin, tu ne dis rien ! ). Le 7, jai voulu t'appeler, la belle avait quitté le nid, je...

Printed calling card of G. Clemenceau bearing the following autograph addition: "avec tous mes remerciements. GC."

A fine copy.

Original black and white photograph, dated and inscribed by Jacques Chirac.

A handsome copy.

Autograph inscription, dated and signed by Jacques Chirac: "Avec mes amitiés J. Chirac 24 4 74."

Provenance: from the collection of the noted autograph collector Claude Armand.

Ronéotype réalisé par Boris Vian de son manuscrit original, avec ajout autographe du titre : "Le penseur" et deux corrections autogrpahes, nouvelle initialement parue dans la revue Dans le train n°15, 1949, puis publiée dans le recueil posthume Le Loup-Garou en 1970.

Sans doute réalisé pour conserver une copie de sa nouvelle, avant l'envoi à la revue Dans le train, ce ronéotype du manuscrit originale signé a été conservé dans les archives de l'écrivain jusqu'à sa mort. les deux corrections autogrpahes et le titre au crayon semble indiquer que Boris Vian avait prévu une nouvelle publication.

Cette biogaphie express de la courte vie...

Ronéotype réalisé par Boris Vian de son manuscrit original, avec ajout autographe du titre : "L'amour est aveugle", nouvelle initialement parue dans la revue Paris-Tabou n°1 de 1949, puis publiée dans le recueil posthume Le Loup-Garou en 1970.

Sans doute réalisé pour conserver une copie de sa nouvelle, avant l'envoi à la revue Paris-Tabou, ce ronéotype du manuscrit originale signé a été conservé dans les archives de l'écrivain jusqu'à sa mort.
Ecrit d'un seul jet et comportant très peu de corrections, il témoigne de la créativité de l'écrivain et de son univers onirique hors du commun.

Provenance : Fondation Boris...