Paris

Photographic portrait of René Maran in his office
s.l(Paris) s.d(ca 1940), 16.8 x 12.1 cm, one photograph pasted in a two-sided card wallet.

Black and white photographic portrait of René Maran, contemporary silver print on gloss paper. Signature of the photographer Robert Davis (Paris) printed on the bottom right of the photograph.
The photograph is fixed with two dots of glue in a two-sided card wallet and recovered in glassine protection paper.
It is enriched with a signed handwritten presentation: “A M. Henri Devaux. Bien cordialement. René Maran.” “To Mr Henri Devaux. Best regards. René Maran.”
Photographs of the very discreet Goncourt Prize are rare and sought after.

[Gérard de NERVAL] Félix Tournachon known as NADAR

Photographic portrait of Gérard de Nerval
Original photograph on albumen paper, in carte-de-visite format, mounted on a board from the Nadar studio, depicting Gérard de Nerval.
“There remains this face on Nadar's photo, which is arguably the most revealing portrait of a man that the darkroom has never held in its night. Nevertheless, this face is Nerval, this intelligent look, a little worried, and above all good and humble. It is this uncared for chinstrap beard, this baldness so unlike the bald skulls of the Louis-Phillipe bourgeoisie, this poverty so worthy and yet so simply offered to the eyes of those who want to see it. It is these idle and tired hands, resting on the vagabond's old knees, these hands, of which it is said, that the workman at rest “does not know what to do”. He has a full working head to give to his hands, books and books to write still, of which he has drawn up a list; but no, he remains here, immobilised in this moment of posing in front of the photographer, which could be any other moment, for something still freezes him, something that his language, the most subtle in the world, cannot name.” (Albert Béguin)

A beautiful and rare, very contrasted, copy of one of the only known portraits of the writer.

Second print, after the very rare first edition published the same year, of this poem-object composed in the form of a leaflet illustrated in colour by Fernand Léger about the poem Liberté by his friend Paul Éluard.
Serigraphy printed copy on strong beige paper.
Discreet blue discharge at the bottom of the third section and first and last boards very lightly yellowed, otherwise a beautiful, extremely rare, copy.

First edition, one of the numbered copies on laid paper.
Half brown shagreen binding with corners, spine slightly faded with five raised bands set with cold fillets, marbled paper boards, endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.

First edition, one of 85 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe copies after 15 on pur fil.
Half midnight blue shagreen binding with corners, spine with five raised bands set with blind fillets, marbled paper covers, endpapers and pastedowns, original covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt retaining deckled edges.
Handsome copy agreeably bound.

First edition, illustrated with 32 color illustrations by Sureda and engraved by Aubert (full-page, headpieces and fine lettering), many of which are enhanced in gold or silver ink.

Limited edition of 400 copies. One of 300 copies on Rives B. F. K. numbered 321.
Inscribed on the title page by the authors: "To Madame de Siguera-Feissly, the most beautiful thing in the world is a rose in a glass. Respectful homage. Jérôme and Jean Tharaud. Paris. March 1937".

Full green morocco, lined and inlaid in blue and beige morocco, signed in gilt on the bottom of front turn-in by Randeynes et fils. Marbled paper-covered slipcase lined with brown shagreen leather. Smooth spine with various elaborate gilt motifs . Inlaid title labels framed in gilt. Boards decorated with a rich oriental-style design of blue, camel and brown inlays, with an elaborate central diamond-shaped motif. On the morocco turn-ins, repeated inlays of various colors and gilt motifs. Gilt edges. "Ponceau" silk endpapers. Colors faded to spine. Original illustrated soft covers covers and spine preserved. Wide margins, superb paper condition, as new.

Provenance : ex libris "A. de Siqueira-Feissly", etching by Junod depicting an armchair in a library.