Paris

Autograph note dated and signed by Paul Claudel, one page addressed to Thierry Maulnier (12 lines in blue ink on a single sheet).
Central folds.

Rare edition on Bible paper specially printed for the Free French Forces, one of the numbered copies.

Publisher’s original full blue flexible percaline binding, smooth spine, double red fillets at head and tail, red Cross of Lorraine stamped at the upper right corner of the upper cover, light blue paper endpapers and pastedowns, blue top edge.

Rare and attractive copy.

First edition, standard issue.

Spine lightly faded as usual; some leaves with brittle margins resulting in minor losses.

Signed autograph inscription from Raymond Queneau to Yvon Belaval.

First edition of the memoirs of the politician and former convict Jean Allemane, who took part in the Paris Commune. Fine signed presentation inscription in brown ink on the front free endpaper: "To my excellent friend and collaborator Emilien Chesneau, in token of my highest esteem. J. Allemane. Former convict of the Commune, Deputy for Seine. December 1906". (our own translation)

Marginal white offsetting to front board, discrete creases to board corners, spine faded, as it often is, with some handling creases, small pieces of clear tape to second and third boards, very light red offsetting to recto of first two leaves, an attractive copy.

First edition on standard paper.

Minor foxing to the top edge, a pleasing copy.

The following year, the work was adapted for the screen by its author, starring Jean Rochefort, Jacques Perrin, Jacques Dufilho, and Claude Rich.

Signed autograph inscription by Pierre Schoendoerffer to the writer and historian of the Bourbonnais, Jean-Charles Varennes.

First printing of the illustrated edition. One of 100 copies on Wattman from a special edition of 130 copies. 2 portraits of La Fontaine, one by Flameng, the second by Le Rat, and 12 plates by Emile Adan engraved by Le Rat, printed before letters. Title-pages printed in red and black. "This edition is illustrated with 12 charming drawings by Émile Adam" (Rochambeau). A handsome and refined bibliophile edition, made for late 19th-century collectors.

Contemporary 3/4 morocco binding signed Canape at the top of the first free endpaper. Flat spine, gilt title and volume number. Top edge gilt. Uncut throughout with wide margins. Spine slightly faded. Minor rubbing to the paper of the upper covers. Very light foxing to the plates.
A very fine copy.
Edition reprinted from the collective edition of 1678-1685 and preceded by "Recherches sur les Fables de La Fontaine by M. Paul Lacroix".

First edition, advance copy stamp at foot of spine.

A pleasant copy despite the very slightly faded spine.

Rare copy signed and inscribed by Paul Nizan to Louis-Martin Chauffier.

Final set of corrected proofs of Henri Calet's most important work: Le Tout sur le tout, 136 leaves in 17 unbound quires, with the "ready for press" manuscript inscription dated June 1, 1948. The pages are numbered from 10 to 271 (and, in pencil, from 9 to 274).

"In 1947, Henri Calet began writing "Aux vingt arrondissements", commissioned by Éditions de Minuit, ultimately published by Gallimard in 1948 under the title "Le Tout sur le tout". On 6 December 1948, Calet received for this book – considered by many to be his best – the first Prix de la Cote d'amour, awarded by an exclusively female jury. It honored a sad and tender narrative of great melancholy, allowing the charm and humor of life to overflow at every moment. The first edition of "Le Tout sur le tout" bears a colophon dated June 17, 1948. The work was released for sale on July 24 of the same year. [...] In addition to a number of manuscript technical instructions by Jacques Festy, production manager at Éditions Gallimard, they contain Calet's final autograph corrections, regular and legible" (J.-P. Baril).

"Through "Le Tout sur le tout", a critical reflection on autobiographical literature is initiated. One moves from an emotionally highly engaged self-writing – explosive, in a way – to an original and subtle genre that blends the detached attitude of Memoirs with the iterative aspect of a logbook. New genre, new language: the seismographic writing of La Belle Lurette gives way to that measured tone, bittersweet, imbued with the delectable nostalgia that constitutes Henri Calet's distinctive charm" (Frédérique Martin-Scherrer)

The most desirable copy and the final stage in the genesis of these "memoirs of a forty-year-old man," his last book and one of his great masterpieces.
Provenance: Jean-Pierre Baril. 

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 with no deluxe issue.

A pleasing copy, despite a few very small marginal spots to the boards and minor staining to the edges.

Fine and important signed autograph inscription by Pierre Schoendoerffer: "Pour Maurice Druon et pour Madeleine avec toute mon amitié. C'est un plaisir d'écrire une dédicace pour un ami. PS. : Vous avez vraiment sonnez (sic)de la trompette pour le Crabe. Cela m'a été droit au coeur. Merci."

First edition, one of 647 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe copies after 5 on Japan paper, 5 on Holland paper and 109 reimposed.

A handsome copy.

First edition of the French translation, one of 60 numbered copies on pur fil, head of the print run.

Preface by André Gide.

Rare and appealing copy.

New edition.

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

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

First edition, one of the numbered copies on deluxe paper, the only large-paper issue after 109 reimposed copies.

Fine copy.

First edition, one of 894 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe paper issue after 109 reimposed copies.

A fine copy.

Touching autograph note, dated and signed, addressed to his friend, the writer Christiane Baroche, eleven lines in black ink on a Post-it, concerning his wife’s illness and the treatment she is undergoing.

With the accompanying handwritten envelope on which the addressee added the name of her correspondent, Cortázar, in the upper left corner.

"31 (sic)/9/82 Chère Christiane,

un mot pour te remercier de ta carte et tes souhaits concernant Carol. Elle commence un traitement à la cortisone, et j’espère que bientôt il y aura de bons résultats. Merci de nous offrir ta maison, cela fait du bien de savoir qu’il y d’amis si bons. Je t’embrasse. Carol t’embrasse aussi très fort. Julio."

First edition, with no copies issued on deluxe paper.

Backstrip lightly creased, minor corner creases to the covers.

Inscribed, dated, and signed by Marguerite Duras to Yvonne Beaujour.