First edition.
Black half morocco binding, spine with four raised bands adorned with gilt dotted fillets and double gilt compartments decorated at the corners, gilt date and the inscription "Ex. de J. Drouet" at the tail, marbled paper boards and endpapers, preserved covers and spine, top edge gilt, binding signed by René Aussourd.
Some minor foxing, mainly at the beginning and end of the volume.
Precious signed and inscribed copy by Victor Hugo to Juliette Drouet, the great love of his life: ‘To you, my lady. Humble homage. V.'
This copy comes from the library of Pierre Duché, who acquired Juliette Drouet's entire library and commissioned René Aussourd to bind the volumes uniformly, marking each with an identifying inscription at the foot of the spine.
Bookplates pasted on a pastedown and a flyleaf.
In late 1878, after more than forty years together, Victor Hugo and Juliette Drouet finally moved in together at Avenue d'Eylau, in the small town house where the poet would spend his final years. "From that moment on, Juliette's life became little more than an unbroken sorrow, a servitude of every hour. She herself suffered from stomach cancer, knowing she was condemned—to die of hunger!" (Louis Guimbaud, Victor Hugo et Juliette Drouet, Paris, 1927). Despite her illness and severe physical weakness, she remained devotedly at Hugo's side as his caregiver. It was during this time that Bastien Lepage painted a strikingly realistic portrait of her: "From her goddess-like face, once serene and noble, the relentless illness had made a frail human visage, drawn and hollowed, furrowed with wrinkles—each one telling a story of pain." (ibid.)
Religions et religions was published two years before Juliette's death; is was one of the last books Hugo dedicated to the unwavering love of his life. In a final tribute to her lifelong devotion, he later offered her a photograph inscribed: "Fifty years—that is the most beautiful marriage."
Copy from the most intimate source.
First edition for which there is no mention of large paper copies.
Bradel binding of paper boards, dark blue morocco title label with gilt fillets, covers preserved, elegant binding by Thomas Boichot.
Handsome autograph inscription from the author : "A Guy de Maupassant, son ami."
HUGO Victor
La Pitié suprême [The Supreme Compassion] Calmann Lévy, Paris 1879, 150 x 240 mm (5 15/16 x 9 7/16 ”), half shagreen
First edition.
Elegant half dark blue shagreen over marbled paper boards by René Aussourd, spine in four compartments with gilt dots and double gilt compartments containing horizontal arabesques and gilt stars, date and “ex. de J. Drouet” in gilt at foot, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved (marginal repairs to covers), top edge gilt, ex-libris of Pierre Duché on one endpaper.
An exceptional presentation copy, inscribed by Victor Hugo to Juliette Drouet, the love of his life: “The first copy for you, my lady. V.” [Premier exemplaire à vous, ma dame. V.]
New edition.
Bound in navy blue half morocco with corners, spine very slightly faded with four raised bands framed by gilt fillets and adorned with double gilt compartments, one featuring an inlaid red morocco panel; blind-ruled border on moiré-patterned paper boards; marbled endpapers and pastedowns; original wrappers and spine preserved; top edge gilt. Binding signed by Mabilde.
Inscribed, dated and signed by Anatole France to Madame Maurice Guénot.
A handsome copy, elegantly bound.
First edition in deluxe-paper, issued only a few days after the ordinary trade edition, which was printed in 950 copies on Marais paper. This copy is one of 200 numbered on Outhenin-Chalandre, the only deluxe issue. Rare signed presentation copy of Romain Gary’s first published work, inscribed: “À Roland Feuvrier, bien amicalement Romain Gary \ 15 nov. 1945.”
A pleasant copy despite a few small spots and minor marginal tears to the boards.
First edition, with no mention of copies on deluxe paper.
Half black shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands framed by gilt garlands, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt top edge, contemporary binding.
Pleasant copy.
First edition, one of 125 numbered copies on Japan paper, the deluxe issue.
Contemporary binding in red half morocco with corners, spine with five raised bands ruled in black, minor rubbing to spine without affecting its integrity, marbled paper boards, endpapers and pastedowns in a different marbled paper, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt on witnesses, binding signed by René Kieffer.
A handsome copy, finely bound.
First edition, printed on ordinary paper, of the 1914 Prix Goncourt, awarded in 1916.
Bound in burgundy half morocco with corners, spine with five raised bands highlighted by black fillets, date gilt-stamped at foot, covers in marbled 'oeil-de-chat' paper, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine — slightly faded — preserved, top edge gilt, binding signed by Devauchelle.
A handsome copy in an elegant binding.
Rare signed presentation inscription from Adrien Bertrand to Saint Georges de Bouhélier.
A patriotic pacifist, Adrien Bertrand was wounded by shell splinters in the chest at Hemamesnil in Lorraine at the end of October 1914. Aware that his wounds were fatal, he devoted himself to writing "L'appel du sol" before dying on 18 November 1917.
