Canailles, truands, vilains & vicieux

Oscar WILDE, Albert CAMUS (Pref.)
La ballade de la geôle de Reading. - L'artiste en prisonThe Ballad of Reading Gaol
Falaize|Paris 1952|11.50 x 17.50 cm|broché
La Ballade de la geôle de Reading. – L'Artiste en prison [The Ballad of Reading Gaol]
Falaize | Paris 1952 | 11.5 x 17.5 cm | original wrappers

New edition of the French translation by Jacques Bour and the first edition of Albert Camus' famous preface. One of 50 numbered copies on Madagascar paper, tirage de tête.
A fine autograph inscription from Albert Camus: “à Michel Simon grand artiste avec les voeux chaleureux d'un de ses vieux admirateurs [For Michel Simon, a great artist, with warmest wishes from an old fan],” and an autograph inscription from the translator Jacques Bour: “à Michel Simon qui ferait crouler tous les murs!...
€6,000
Otto STRASSER
Hitler et moi [Hitler and I]
Grasset|Paris 1940|11.50 x 18.50 cm|relié
First edition of the French translation, an advance (service de presse) copy.
Bradel paper binding by Goy & Vilaine, grey calf title piece, covers preserved.
Very rare autograph inscription by Otto Strasser to Pierre Loewel.
A rare copy.
€900
Jules BARBEY D'AUREVILLY
Les diaboliques[The She-Devils]
E. Dentu|Paris 1874|12 x 18.50 cm|relié
First edition, of which there were no large paper copies.

Near contemporary red half morocco over marbled paper boards by P. Ruban, spine in six compartments, raised bands bounded by black fillets, date gilt at foot of spine, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, covers preserved, top edge gilt.

Attractive ex libris engraved by Provost-Blondel on pastedown, representing a helmet with a feather, medallion and a strip with the motto “Tojours en face.” The ex libris belonged to Victor Coué, a 2^nd Lieutenant killed in the First World War.
This copy has two frontispieces: one lithograph heightened by Félicien Rops showing a caricature of Barbey d'Aurevilly...
€4,500
Maurice BLANCHOT
Sade ou le Royaume de l'Unique [Quelques remarques sur Sade] - Manuscrit autographe complet[Sade, or the Kingdom of the Unique [A Few Remarks on Sade] – Complete autograph manuscript]
S. n.|s. l. S.d (1946)|-|en feuilles
Complete autograph manuscript of 12 pages on 6 octavo leaves with a title difficult to decipher, perhaps: "Sade or the Kingdoms of the Unique" and which would appear under the title "Some Remarks on Sade" in Critique no. 3-4 of August-September 1946.
Manuscript with very dense writing, containing numerous deletions, corrections and additions.

"It is Sade's thought that pushes Blanchot's to its fulfillment, and it is also Blanchot's that fulfills that of Sade." (Georges Bataille)
Bataille's writing and friendship are undoubtedly not unrelated to the importance that Blanchot would attach throughout his life to this tutelary figure of his philosophical...
€2,300
Francis CARCO (inscribed to André DIGNIMONT)
La route du bagne[he Road to the Penal Colony]
Ferenczi|Paris 1935|12 x 19 cm|broché
First edition on ordinary paper, from which only 5 Holland and 20 vellum deluxe copies were printed.
Precious signed autograph inscription from Francis Carco to his friend the Montmartre painter (André) Dignimont: " à mon vieil ami André Dignimont en souvenir de la chanson des Bat' d'Af' / très affectueusement / Francis Carco." ["to my old friend André Dignimont in memory of the song of the Bat' d'Af' / most affectionately / Francis Carco."]
Spine lightly sunned without gravity.
€450
Francis CARCO
L'homme traqué[The Hunted Man]
Albin Michel|Paris 1922|17 x 25.50 cm|en feuilles sous chemise et étui
First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on vélin de cuve paper reserved for the “XX” bibliophile group, the tirage de tête.
A good copy complete with its double covers by Albin Michel and the “XX” bibliophile group.
Joints of chemise rubbed, modern slipcase, tiny insignificant worming to endpapers.

Signed by the author on justification page.
€1,000
Jean GENET
Les Nègres[The Blacks: A Clown Show]
Marc Barbezat|Décines [Décines-Charpieu] 1958|15 x 19.50 cm|relié sous étui
First edition, one of 32 numbered copies on nacré Japon, the tirage de tête.
Bound in full embossed khaki leather, smooth spine without lettering, the title of the work and the author's name in gilt on the front cover reproducing the calligraphy of the original wrapper, publisher’s name and place in gilt on the back cover likewise reproducing the calligraphy of the rear wrapper, endpapers and pastedowns of wood-grain effect almond paper, wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt; slipcase covered with wood-grain effect almond paper, echoing the binding and bearing on the covers the same features as the binding.
A few small spots of foxing on the spine and upper edge, slightly...
€4,500
MIGITA TOSHIHIDE
Le meurtre de Kudo Suketsune par Goro Tokimune
Matsunaga Sakujiro|1880|35 x 72 cm|une feuille
Original print.
Triptych of three prints joined together (glued at the back with a paper strip). Three sheets assembled as one. Hole at each extremity. A lack to the left margin. A central fold.
In the 12th century, Tokimune avenges his father's death by killing his murderer, Kudo Suketsune. Toshihide was a pupil of Yoshitoshi, his prints are characterized by a blend of traditional and Western styles.
€600
Jean LORRAIN
L'aryenne
Paul Ollendorff|Paris 1907|14 x 19 cm|broché
First edition, one of 10 numbered copies on Hollande, the only large paper copies.
Cover illustration by Antoon van Welie.
Two slight tears to foot of joints near edges, occasional small spots essentially to ffep, but otherwise a good, well-margined copy.
Rare.
€1,500
HENRI II
Ordonnances et édits notamment sur la criminalité et la gendarmerieRoyal Ordinances and Edicts, notably on Crime and the Constabulary : Edict Issued by the King Against All Murders and Assassinations Committed Daily in This Kingdom, Published by Public Proclamation by Order of the Parliament Court, Friday, Fifteenth of July 1547 [together with] New Ordinance of King Henry the Second, Issued on the 15th Day of November 1547, Concerning the Constabulary [together with] Second Letters Patent of King Henry the Second on the Matter of Frank-Fiefs and New Acquisitions Throughout the Kingdom of France, Published by Trumpet and Public Proclamation at the Crossroads of Paris, on the Eleventh Day of January 1547 [together with] Ordinances Issued by the King Concerning the Constabulary, Provisions and Supplies [together with] Ordinances and Edicts of King Henry on the Offices of Senior Provosts, Aldermen, and Other Civic Offices in the Cities of France. Published in Judgment by the Court of Parliament in Paris, on the 28th Day of November 1547.
Pour Jehan André • Charles l'Angelié|à Paris 1547-1548|16 x 11 cm|relié
Collection of 5 royal ordinances on various subjects.

1/ Edict faict par le roy contre tous meurdres et assassinementz qui se commettent journellement en ce royaume, le vendredi, quinziesme du moys de juillet 1547. Title vignette with royal arms.

2/ Ordonnance nouvelle du roy Henry deuxiesme de ce nom, faicte le XV jour de novembre, Mil cinq cens quarente sept:sur le faict de la gendarmerie.

3/ Secondes lettres patentes du roy Henry Second de ce nom, sur le faict des francz fiefz & nouveaux acquestz par tout le royaume de France, publiées à son de trompe & cry public par les carrefours de ceste ville de Paris, le unzieme jour de janvier, l'an mil cinq cens quarante...
€1,200
When the Misappropriation of Public Funds Was Punishable by Death
When the Misappropriation of Public Funds Was Punishable by Death
[Roland LE VAYER DE BOUTIGNY] (Nicolas FOUQUET)
Observations sur un manuscrit intitulé Traitté du péculat
[ F. Foppens]|s. l. [Brussels] 1666|8 x 13.50 cm|relié
Anonymous first edition. This work is listed as no. 2023 in the bibliography of Elzevier editions (Willems, Vol. II). For the author's identity, see Barbier, Dictionnaire des ouvrages anonymes.
Contemporary full limp vellum binding with yapp edges. Smooth spine. Faded manuscript title in red ink to spine.
€450