Paris

Extremely rare ensemble including a catalogue-program on laid paper, 3 original broadsides and 4 flyers announcements printed on colored paper (salmon, pink, blue and yellow) for the Bal de la Grande Ourse organized by the Union des Artistes Russes in Paris, held on May 8, 1925. Not at the NYPL or the Houghton Library. 
The folio broadside announcement (49.5 x 32.5 cm) is printed on both sides on laid paper and illustrated with a drawing by Cubist painters Auguste Herbin and Henri Laurens, folded in half; with two alternate printings of the same broadside printed on thin blue paper, folded in half or in four.
Housed in a chemise and slipcase with a brown morocco spine.

Cover drawings for the catalogue by Herbin, Laurens, Larionov and Léger. The catalogue includes illustrations by Picasso, Gontcharova, Larionov, Léger, Rodchenko, Vassilief, Melnikoff, Frenkel, etc.

Rare copy on laid paper of the program for the Union des Artistes Russes ball on the theme of constructivist architecture, exceptionally signed by Michel Larionov at the bottom of the cover. The contributors of the catalogue include Bernouard, Brunelleschi, Bourdelle, Brancusi, Cendrars, Chagall, Delaunay, Foujita, Gleizes, Laboureur, Soupault, Tzara and Valadon. In addition to the masked ball, events such as the dance performance "Ballet Synthétique" and the "Balcon Poëtique", consisting of fragments of modern poetry readings on the balcony railing, were organized. Other events at this avant-garde ball included the "Space Walk", the "Invisible Orchestra" and a "Japanese Dramatic Theater", a composition by Claude Debussy entitled "Cake Walk".

A rare ensemble representing "a fascinating intersection of Russian émigré culture and the vibrant Parisian art scene of the early 20th century" (Libraries of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston).

First critical edition, with some parts of the text in first edition, illustrated with 10 portraits, 17 views and 10 facsimiles as well as the coats of arms of the Sévigné, Bussy, Grignan and Simiane families as frontispiece to the first volume.
Bound in half red calf, spines with four fine raised bands set with gilt friezes decorated with gilt fleurons and typographical motifs, gilt friezes at head and foot, owner's name gilt at foot of spines, red paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, elegant contemporary Romantic bindings.
Some foxing, manuscript ownership inscriptions in black ink at head of title pages.
Our copy is complete with the eleventh and twelfth volumes "Mémoires de M. de Coulanges suivis de lettres inédites de madame de Sévigné" published in 1820 at the initiative of M. de Monmerqué, editor of the marquise's letters and "Lettres inédites de madame de Sévigné, de sa famille et de ses amis" published in 1827 by the same publisher, which are always lacking to complete this set.
The eleventh volume is illustrated with 1 portrait, 3 facsimiles and 1 plate; the engravings of the twelfth having been bound and distributed throughout the first ten volumes.
Fine set, established in a charming and elegant uniform contemporary Romantic binding.

First edition, a Service de Presse (advance) copy.
Spine sunned with two small tears at head and foot, boards slightly soiled.
Iconography.
Exceptional full-page autograph inscription signed by Eugène Ionesco to his friends from the Renaud-Barrault company including Madeleine Renaud, Jean-Louis Barrault, Simone Benmussa, Jean Desailly: "Mon cher Jean-Louis, ma chère Madeleine, ma chère Simone, mon cher Jean, mon cher Sabatier, mon cher Cattand, ma chère Marie-Hélène, mon cher Outin, ma chère Benmussa, je vous aime, je suis vôtre pour toujours. Eugène ionesco." (My dear Jean-Louis, my dear Madeleine, my dear Simone, my dear Jean, my dear Sabatier, my dear Cattand, my dear Marie-Hélène, my dear Outin, my dear Benmussa, I love you, I am yours forever. Eugène ionesco.)
Our copy contains manuscript annotations and reading marks by Simone Benmussa in the margins of certain paragraphs.
Literary advisor to the Jean-Louis Barrault - Madeleine Renaud Company, then, in 1957, editor-in-chief of the Cahiers Renaud-Barrault, Simone Benmussa also directed, from the Théâtre de l'Odéon, the cultural service and the Cahiers of the Renaud-Barrault company. She adapted for the theater works by her friend Nathalie Sarraute, Pierre Klossowski, Jean Cocteau, Gertrude Stein... She was the companion of actress Erika Kralik.


 

Rare edition, no deluxe copies recorded, with statement of two thousandth edition.
Preserved wrappers with doublure, contemporary binding.
Upper cover illustrated by Jean Béraud.