Canailles, truands, vilains & vicieux

First edition, one of 1,450 numbered copies on vélin d'Arches paper, the only large paper copies after 50 on pur fil.
Spine slightly and insignificantly sunned.

Handsome autograph inscription signed by Paul Eluard to his friend Léo Malet.

First edition of the first two volumes of the jurist François Richer’s collection Causes célèbres et intéressantes avec les jugements qui les ont décidées, published in twenty-two volumes between 1772 and 1788.

The first volume is decorated with a few headpieces and tailpieces.

Bound in contemporary full brown mottled calf, spines with five raised bands, compartments decorated with gilt bands and fleurons, brown morocco title and volume labels, gilt roll on board edges, French curl paper pastedowns, red edges. Corners worn, headcaps damaged, rubbing and scuffing to spines, small marginal tears to pages 101, 365 and 473 of the second volume.

First edition, with all the first printing points (price of $5.95 at the upper right corner of the front inner flap of the dust jacket, "First printing" stated at the head of the copyright page).

Publisher's full burgundy cloth, smooth spine, complete with the illustrated dust jacket, showing light rubbing and some tears to the corners, not serious.

A pleasing copy of this work, masterfully adapted for the screen by Richard Brooks in 1967, starring Robert Blake, Scott Wilson, John Forsythe and Paul Stewart.

First edition of this paean to intoxication, adorned with a charming engraved frontispiece depicting Bacchus seated on a barrel, holding a wine cup in one hand and a bunch of grapes in the other.

Cf. Vicaire 326. Bitting 415. Barbier II, 75 d. Oberlé, Une bibliothèque bachique, 523 (for the 1798 ed.).

Bound in contemporary fawn half-calf with corners, spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt fillets, marbled paper boards, corners slightly worn, edges speckled red.

This work abounds with anecdotes and quotations drawn from the history of many lands. It asserts "that wine gives wit," offers "a catalogue of some illustrious drinkers," and claims "that...

First edition of the English translation of "De Logomachiis eruditorum" (Amsterdam, 1688) by the Swiss Reformed theologian Samuel Werenfels (1657–1740), a notably engaging essay on the obstacles to concord among Christians created by the endless disputes over the terminology used to define points of belief.

A few small spots of foxing.

Full speckled fawn calf, the spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt compartments and gilt tools; rubbing to the spine, the gilt title almost entirely effaced, headcaps trimmed down with a small loss to the tailcap; gilt double-fillet border with gilt corner tools on the covers; some wear to the board edges...

First edition of the French translation, one of 25 numbered copies on pur fil, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

Blood red morocco binding, gilt title lengthwise, gold stingray boards framed in morocco, gilt decorative paper endleaves, original wrappers preserved, top edge gilt, an elegant binding signed Boichot. Front free endpaper slightly toned, otherwise a handsome untrimmed copy.

New edition and the first printing of Jacques Tardi’s illustrations.
Publisher’s white boards, smooth spine.
A handsome copy.
Presentation inscription, dated and signed by Jacques Tardi to Joëlle Passani, with an original black-felt drawing depicting a sorrowful-faced Bardamu in a small vignette.
 

First edition on ordinary paper.

Half black long-grain morocco binding, smooth spine tooled in palladium with author, title, and date, anthracite-grey paper boards, original wrappers and spine preserved (the latter with two small stains at head and foot), endpapers and pastedowns of anthracite-grey paper, binding signed Thomas Boichot.

Precious and exceptional signed presentation inscription by Louis-Ferdinand Céline: "A Mac Orlan son admirateur et ami fidèle. LFerd"

First edition of the French translation, of which no deluxe paper copies were issued.

A fine copy.

Preface by Salman Rushdie, the work illustrated with drawings by the author.

Signed autograph inscription from Glen Baxter to Michel Crépu.

Autograph letter signed from Georges Bataille to Denise Rollin, 40 lines in black ink, two pages on one leaf.

George Bataille and Denise Rollin's relationship lasted from the autumn of 1939 to the autumn of 1943 and left behind it a short but passionate correspondence. This letter dates from the early days of their connection, but already reveals Bataille's agonies: “Perhaps I was too happy with you for some months, even though suffering did not wait long to interrupt, at least for a time, a happiness that was almost a challenge.”
A passionate lover, Bataille moved from exultation to the deepest doubt and even offered his lover a potential way out of...

First appearance of the 18 poems by Charles Baudelaire published on pages 1079–1093 of the Revue des Deux Mondes, showing numerous variations from the text of the first edition issued in 1857 by Poulet-Malassis & De Broise.

Full black shagreen binding, smooth spine, double blind-ruled borders on covers, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, slightly later binding.

A rare and attractive copy.

First edition, one of 220 numbered copies printed on Vélin du Marais.

Rubbing to the slipcase and chemise, otherwise a clean and attractive copy.

Illustrated with 25 intaglio engravings by Elisabeth-Mary Burgin.

First edition printed on vélin d'Angoulême. Complete copy with the six banned poems and the usual misprints.

Half shagreen binding, spine with four raised bands twice ruled in gilt with gilt fleurons, marbled paper boards, marbled pastedowns and flyleaves, contemporary binding. Some foxing scattered foxing.  

First edition, one of the press copies.
Half brown shagreen binding, smooth spine with gilt floral panels, gilt initials C.T. at foot, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers, covers preserved, gilt edges, one upper corner slightly rubbed, binding dating from some years later.
Inscribed by Charles Terrasse (son of Claude) in ink at the head of a flyleaf.

Discreet restorations to the joints.
Precious presentation copy signed and inscribed by Alfred Jarry: "A Claude Terrasse son admirateur et son ami. Alf. Jarry" [his admirer and friend]

 

First edition, one of 25 copies on handmade laid paper, numbered and justified by the publisher, the only deluxe issue.
 
Bradel binding in half chocolate-brown morocco with corners, smooth spine, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, illustrated wrappers by Manuel Orazi and backstrip preserved.
Work illustrated with 136 black and colour drawings, in- and out-of-text, by Georges Bottini.
 
Bookplate mounted.
 
Our copy is enriched with a full-page original drawing, signed by Georges Bottini and heightened in black ink, depicting Jacques Beaudarmon wearing a bowler hat and conversing with the « môme...

First edition following the unobtainable mimeographed version produced by the author.
Inevitable minor wear along the edges of the covers and spine, restoration to the upper left corner of the front cover, newspaper clipping laid in. Barnes & Noble price sticker affixed to the front cover.
Commentary by Paul Krassner.
 
This incendiary pamphlet, issued by the marginal and modest Olympia Press, newly re-established in New York, was printed in only a small number of copies.
Gender discrimination, hate speech and incitement to genocide, a violent and unrepentant attempted murder of one of the most celebrated artists of the twentieth century, the advocacy of...

New edition.
Contemporary binding in half green shagreen, spine in four compartments set with gilt stippling, gilt fillets and gilt fleurons in the corner pieces, multiple blind tooled frames on the boards, white iridescent paper endpapers, all edges gilt.
Some leaves shorter in the bottom margin.

Handwritten inscription signed by George Sand on the first endpaper: “à mon bon ami Edmond Plauchut. G. Sand".

Today the only outsider to the family buried in the cemetery of the Nohant house, is Lucien-Joseph-Edmond Plau
chut (1824-1909) who began an epistolary relationship with George Sand in the autumn of 1848 when he was a voluntary expatriate after...

Autograph letter signed by Paul Verlaine to Anatole Baju, one page in ink on a watermarked leaf. Two small discreet adhesive reinforcements to verso. Published in Correspondance Verlaine, vol. III, CDLIII, p. 26–27.

An important letter by Verlaine, the most Decadent of poets, to the editor-in-chief of the journal Le Décadent, which published many of his poems. The poet announces the forthcoming release of a collection entitled Amis, a provocative allusion to the scandalous sapphic poems he had privately printed in 1867 under the title Amies.

Rare and fragile original French satirical leaflet dated August 1944.
Vertical and horizontal folds.
This rare document begins by stating sarcastic titles and last wishes of Adolf Hitler:
“Hitler, known as Adolphe to the Nazis and Dodofe to the Gretchens of my former Reich of Krauts, declares the following:On the verge of vomiting my soul to the devil, afflicted with dysentery accentuating the brown color of the flaps of my shirt, having my buttocks in disarray (the result of the kicks up my arse picked up on all the fronts of Europe)...”
This mock testament, written in August 1944, delivers a sarcastic commentary on the Axis powers' imminent downfall...

First edition, of which no copies were printed on deluxe paper.

A handsome copy, despite a very slight nick at the foot of the spine.

Rare first edition of the French translation, with no copies printed on deluxe paper.

Spine slightly sunned, a vertical shadow on the lower cover, internally clean and attractive.

First edition, one of the numbered copies on pur fil, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

A fine copy.

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued.
A pleasant copy.
Inscribed by Gabriel Matzneff to his friend, the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme: "Pour Pol Vandromme, en amical hommage. Gabriel Matzneff."
 

First edition clandestinely printed in 175 copies on laid paper, each individually numbered.
 
Bound in full mint green morocco, spine with five raised bands framed by black fillets, subtle restoration to spine colour, date gilt at foot, endpapers and pastedowns of combed paper, gilt fillet border on pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, all edges gilt, chemise edged in mint green morocco, covers of cat's eye paper, white felt interior, an elegant binding signed by Alix.
 
A very rare and handsome copy bound by one of the most distinguished binders of the second half of the twentieth century.

 

First edition, with no copies printed on deluxe paper.

A pleasant copy despite two small creases at the foot of the front cover.

Inscribed and signed by Jean Favier to the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme.

Autograph letter signed by Jacques Mesrine, dated Wednesday 29 December 1976,  addressed to Jeanne Schneider, his love interest of the time. She smuggled out of prison the manuscript of his famous autobiography L'Instinct de mort. 66 lines in blue ink on two pages of a leaf. In the top left-hand corner of the letter, Jacques Mesrine has drawn a bouquet of flowers in multicoloured felt-tip pens. Usual horizontal fold, small tear to the fold in the right-hand margin.
Jacques Mesrine, who was in Fleury-Mérogis prison at the time, was delighted to receive so much proof of love and friendship in the many letters he received from his friends and family.
He, in...

First edition, one of 120 numbered copies on Lafuma pure wove paper, the only large-paper issue.

Endpapers very slightly and marginally toned, two small tears at foot of spine.

A rare and much sought-after copy in original state.

First edition, one of 20 numbered cop­ies on hollande, the only deluxe issue (grand papier) after 10 copies on japon.

Bound in gray half morocco in panels, smooth spine, gilt date at foot, abstract decorative paper boards, black onion­skin pastedowns and flyleaves, original wrappers preserved, pastedown book­plate, top deckled edge gilt, binding signed Boichot.
Small tears with small lacks of paper to the margin of an endpaper and on the front cover.
The work is dedicated to Paul Verlaine who wrote the preface "which was a way of advertising to gay readers" (Gra­ham Robb, Homosexual Love in the Nineteenth Century, p. 210).

Precious signed and inscribed...

Original autograph letter by the Marquis de Sade, consists of 27 lines of relatively tight handwriting. Most likely written to his wife, as evidenced by the letter's origin from Sade's family. The letter is physically composed of two glued pieces of paper. On the verso the Marquis wrote 19 lines and scrupulously crossed them out - a few words and letters are still quite visible.
Cited in Maurice Lever's biography, 'Donatien Alphonse François, marquis de Sade', Paris, Fayard, 1991, p. 631.

The complete trilogy of the "13", in first edition, each volume one of 50 copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe issue (cf. Claude Menguy). The limitation is mistakenly given as printed on "alfa"  halfway down the spine, though the copies are in fact printed on pur fil Lafuma (no copies were issued on alfa). The plain white wrappers were reserved for the large-paper copies; the photographic wrappers were used only for the trade issue.

Rare and handsome copies of each volume of the "13" trilogy, from the limited first issue. With their method of investigation grounded in observation and human behavior, these collections of short stories...

First edition, one of 15 numbered copies on Montval paper, the deluxe issue after 6 copies on nacré Japan paper.

A few minor foxing spots, chiefly affecting the edges.

Complete with the duplicate wrappers and spines.

First edition, one of 212 numbered copies on pur fil paper, constituting the deluxe issue.
Occasional light foxing, chiefly affecting the edges.

Accompanied by a newspaper clipping and a photographic postcard reproducing a portrait of Georges Bernanos by Laure Albin-Guillot.

Half red morocco over marbled paper boards, with morocco corners, spine with four raised bands outlined in black, minor abrasions to the bands professionally restored, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt with the original deckle edges preserved, original wrappers and spine bound in.

A handsome copy in an attractive binding.

First edition.

Original ochre publisher's boards, black title label to spine. Complete with the original illustrated dust jacket, featuring a photograph of a submachine gun on the front panel, with a small tear at the head of the spine.

A fine, full-page autograph inscription signed by Luciano Lutring, dated 9 February 1968: « Ai fratelli Pierrot e Jean-Pierre Noël per ricordarsi anche nella lontananza, che un futuro migliore ci attende... La mia stima, amicizia e riconoscenza ; non vi sarà mai di troppo ! Luciano Lutring. » (To the brothers Pierrot and Jean-Pierre Noël, so that they may...

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on Imperial Japanese paper, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

Illustrated edition with decorative initials and 16 original lithographs by Lucien Moretti, each signed in pencil; one of 173 numbered copies on Arches wove paper.

Preface by Georges Brassens.

A fine copy, issued in loose sheets in a folder and burgundy cloth slipcase.

Signed presentation inscription from René Fallet: Pour madame et monsieur Prigent 13 apostoliquement leur René Fallet, together with a signed presentation inscription from Raymond Moretti to the same recipients.

Our copy is further enhanced by the autograph signature of Georges Brassens on the facing page.

Autograph letter from Donatien Alphonse François de Sade, written in a tall, narrow hand on one page, addressed to his wife Renée-Pélagie.
Undated, this letter was written in early July 1779 at the Vincennes prison. It is published in Marquis de Sade. Lettres à sa femme, Marc Buffat, 1997 (p. 112).

Marginal dampstaining, a few creases, and a small marginal loss from the letter's unsealing. Address to Madame de Sade in Paris on the verso.

First edition, one of 32 numbered copies on Alfama paper.

A rare and fine copy.

First edition on ordinary paper.

A transverse crease to the upper edge of the front wrapper.

Illustrated.

Rare dated and signed presentation inscription from Fernand Legros to the journalist Brigitte Kantor: "... avec ma gratitude pour un journaliste objectif et attentif..."

First edition on ordinary paper.
Spine slightly sunned, with a few small nicks.
Signed presentation copy from Léo Ferré to a woman named Véronique.

 

First edition, privately printed in a small number of copies as an offprint from issue No. 6 of the review Hermès, devoted to the theme of emptiness, of which Henri Michaux was the first editor-in-chief.

A few stains to the upper wrapper.

Signed autograph inscription by Henri Michaux to his friend, the painter and draughtsman Bernard Saby: "Quelques mots encore amicalement à Bernard Saby. Henri Michaux."

Inspired both by his investigations into serial music and by his experiments with mescaline and hashish, Bernard Saby's painting aroused keen interest among his contemporaries. In 1956, his friend Henri Michaux welcomed him into the pages of...

Very rare first edition, one of 150 copies signed at the colophon by Conrad Rooks. OCLC records only two copies at the American College of Greece and at Princeton University Library.

Spine and boards marginally sunned, two stains to the right margin of the rear board.

Presentation copy, inscribed, dated and signed "to Sueeva Viegand with appreciation for kind thoughts and friendship. Sincerely Conrad Rooks 5/7/1963 / Paris 26 rue Saint Beniot [Benoît] ’

Extremely rare first edition of Conrad...

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on ivory laid edition paper, the only deluxe-paper copies.

A rare and fine copy.

Signed autograph inscription from Eric Jourdan to a friend named Guy: "... ce livre qui vient de loin presque à des années lumières, mais que j'accepte tel qu'il est. En signe d'amitié de toujours. éric 19 février 1996."

First edition on ordinary paper.

Publisher's full black cloth, smooth spine, black endpapers and pastedowns.

Illustrated with 100 photographs by Pierre Molinier, with text by Pierre Bourgeade.

A very good copy.

New edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Dutch laid paper, the only deluxe-paper copies.

A very good copy.

First edition of Antonin Artaud's French translation.

Repaired tears and small areas of loss at the head and foot of the spine, with minor marginal tears to the covers.

Signed presentation copy inscribed by Antonin Artaud to Alin Laubreaux.

First edition, one of the press review copies.
Trimmed copy, joints soiled and restored, stain to the lower cover.
Humorous signed autograph inscription by Paul Morand: "Cher Caracalla, j'apprends que vous n'avez jamais reçu mon Fouquet ; en juin dernier je vous l'envoyais avec ma fidèle pensée. Que le diable patafiole le facteur ! Je vous renouvelle ici ma très amicale sympathie. Morand."

First edition, of which no deluxe paper copies were issued.

A copy complete with its illustrated dust-jacket, which, as is often the case, shows a few small marginal tears; wrappers lightly soiled.

Rare presentation copy by Georges Brassens to Michel Soulié.

First edition, one of the press review copies.
Spine with a small waterstain at the foot.
Signed autograph inscription from Jorge Semprun: "A Mr Pierre Pain, a good bookseller like good bread, in memory of a signing day and of a shared memory far richer. With warm regards. JSemprun."

 

First edition, one of the rare copies specially printed for the author on Holland paper.

Contemporary Bradel binding in half vellum-style paper boards, smooth spine slightly sunned and decorated with a central gilt ornament, marbled paper covers, wrappers preserved.

Fine signed autograph inscription by Binet-Valmer: "à Claude Farrère son admirateur, à Charles Bargonne, son ami reconnaissant, Binet-Valmer."

First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on japon paper, deluxe issue.

Minor tears and two small losses at the foot of the spine at the level of the deckle edges, a stain in the left margin of the upper cover, a wide-margined copy.

Illustrated with a photographic portrait of the author as frontispiece.

First edition, one of 100 copies numbered on alfa paper, the only copies on deluxe paper.

Photographic vignette on the upper cover.

A rare and handsome copy.

New edition, partly original as revised and expanded.

Vertical creasing to the upper cover, a pleasant copy.

Illustrated with a photographic portrait of the author as frontispiece, together with three further plates.

Scarce pamphlet issued by the relief committee for political prisoners of the Russian penal camps in Grenoble.

First edition, one of the deluxe copies on alfa, this one an unnumbered hors commerce, only deluxe issue after 10 copies on Arches.

Full blue-gray morocco binding, spine with five raised bands, gilt date at foot, yellow box calf doublure, watered silk free endpapers, original wrappers including spine bound in, all edges gilt, half morocco chemise in panels, wood motif paper boards, slipcase edged in morocco, wood motif paper boards lined with blue felt, outstanding binding signed Hélène Alix.

Unrecorded...

First edition, one of 85 numbered copies and 3 hors commerce copies, ours one of the 70 on B.F.K. de Rives paper.

A fine copy complete with its chemise and slipcase in full black cloth, spine of the chemise slightly faded, a small tear at the foot of the lower panel of the slipcase.

Illustrated with 19 original photographs signed in pencil by Henri Maccheroni.

First edition. One of 10 copies on vélin de Lana (lettered G, around which Genet has signed in blue ink), signed by Genet at the limitation page, most limited deluxe issue, except for a unique copy. Complete with the loose leaf beginning with “Une brusque lassitude...”. With an autograph letter signed by Jean Genet, on one page with customary fold marks from mailing, published in Edmund White, Jean Genet, pp. 260-261.

Illustrated with 29 erotic lithographs by Jean Cocteau, and an original pencil drawing by Cocteau, as well as a suite of the illustrations...

First edition, one of 500 copies, dated 1867 on the wrapper.

3/4 brown morocco binding, spine with four raised bands framed in gilt and decorated with double gilt compartments adorned with small gilt tools at the corners and a large central floral tool at centre, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved with two minor restorations to the upper cover, gilt top edge, elegant binding signed by Bernasconi. A few minor foxing spots, slightly more pronounced on the first leaves.

Rare and precious autograph presentation...

Bronze cast of the Marquis de Sade’s skull by the master founder Avangini. One of a unique numbered edition of 99 bearing a reproduction of Sade’s signature, this one No. 30.

Also included is a certificate of authenticity signed by the Comtesse de Sade, with the family’s wax seal.

Provenance: family archives.

First edition on ordinary paper with all the features of the first printing. Includes its publisher’s band expertly restored and the publisher’s catalogue at rear.

An exceptionally fresh copy, preserved with its rare red publisher’s band quoting Molly’s phrase “C’est le voyageur solitaire qui va le plus loin” (“he travels farthest who travels alone”, translation by John H. P. Marks) followed by this text on the verso:

 

“One...

First edition of the French translation prepared by Alexandre Vialatte, one of the complimentary copies.

A manuscript ex-dono erased in the upper right corner of the half-title page, resulting in a small loss of paper.

Signed autograph inscription by Alexandre Vialatte to Albert Thibaudet.