Cadeaux historiques

First edition, no copies on deluxe paper were issued; one of the review copies.

A few minor stains to the lower cover, otherwise a pleasant copy.

Fine autograph inscription signed by Malek Haddad to Gilbert Cesbron: "... cette nuit sans clair de lune mais avec Dieu..."

Provenance: from the library of Gilbert Cesbron, with his handwritten signature at the head of the printed dedication page and the Cesbron family blind stamp serving as an ex-libris.

First edition, a copy on ordinary paper.

Small stains and rubbing to the spine, with loss of some letters of the title; a pleasant copy.

Fine autograph inscription signed by Réda Falaki to Gilbert Cesbron.

Provenance: from the library of Gilbert Cesbron, with his autograph signature at the head of the printed dedication leaf and the Cesbron family blind stamp serving as an ex-libris.

First edition of the French translation, one of 50 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only large-paper copies.

A stain at the foot of the spine and slight foxing to the lower right corner of the front cover.

A rare and pleasant copy.

First edition, no large-paper copies were printed.

A pleasing copy.

Autograph inscription signed by Maurice Druon to Gilbert Cesbron.

First edition, of which no large-paper copies were issued.

A pleasant copy.

Autograph inscription signed by Jean Cau to Gilbert Cesbron.

First trade edition, and first edition under this title; the text originally appeared in 1903 in the bulletin of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (a 143-page article, pp. 1337-1480).

Preface by Henry Robinson Towne.

A few pencil reading marks in the margins alongside some paragraphs.

Publisher's full red cloth, smooth spine very slightly darkened, spine ends slightly sunken, a small snag at the head of the lower board.

Provenance: from the library of H.L. Hollingworth, then at Columbia University in New York, with his autograph ownership inscription in black ink on an endpaper.

Harry Levi Hollingworth was a leading theorist...

Second edition, revised, corrected and enlarged, with an engraved frontispiece portrait of Anne de Gonzague, a headpiece and several tailpieces.

These apocryphal memoirs, published anonymously and presented as the work of the princess herself, are attributed to Gabriel Sénac de Meilhan. The text is preceded by the literary portraits of the princess drawn by Cardinal de Retz and by Bossuet, together with a letter by Armand-Jean Le Bouthillier de Rancé. The work closes with letters presented as being by Anne de Gonzague, followed by an errata leaf.

Contemporary full mottled calf, covers framed in blind, flat spine decorated with gilt double...

New edition, limited to 750 numbered copies on vélin labeur paper, in the second issue of the publisher's boards.

Publisher's binding executed after the original design by Mario Prassinos.

A pleasant copy.

First edition, one of 21 numbered copies on Japon impérial paper, part of the deluxe issue (tirage de tête) after 10 copies on Japon nacré.
A fine copy with full margins.

First edition of the French translation, one of 34 numbered copies on japon bambou, the only deluxe issue.

A rare and handsome copy of this political spy thriller recounting a neo-fascist coup d'état.

The novel was adapted for the screen in 1981 by Peter Zinner, starring Franco Nero, Anthony Quinn, Christopher Lee, Claudia Cardinale, Eli Wallach...

Illustrated edition, with 28 fine plates and 4 maps.

Bound in half midnight-blue russia with corners, smooth spines decorated with gilt Romantic arabesques, gilt fillet frame on navy blue paper-covered boards, some minor rubbing to boards and to spines, yellow endpapers and pastedowns. Contemporary Romantic bindings signed by Rivage.

Some foxing, as is usual.

Provenance: from the library of Count Septime des Garets, with his autograph signature facing the half-title of the first volume, and blind stamps of the Château St Beron at the head of the half-titles.

Edition published the same year as the first edition.

Full burgundy limp boards, smooth spine, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, front wrapper preserved (some foxing); a modest binding.

Signed autograph inscription from André Malraux to Monsieur Pinty.

First edition, printed in a small number of copies.

Spine and covers marginally sunned, as is usually the case; a horizontal crease running through the entire pamphlet, which was circulated clandestinely in folded form; a small tear at the foot of the spine.

Rare.

First edition, handsomely illustrated with six engraved title-frontispieces and seventy plates on thick wove paper, with tissue guards, whereas most recorded copies contain only sixty; all etched by François Louis Couché and finished with the burin by Bovinet.

Bradel-style half grey percaline bindings, spines decorated with gilt fleurons and fillets, brown morocco title labels, French curl paper pastedowns.

Light rubbing to the bindings, some foxing and soiling, rather conspicuous restorations and small marginal losses to a few leaves, not affecting the text.

Manuscript ownership inscription on the half-title of each volume, in the barely legible name of a lieutenant...

First edition; no large-paper copies were issued.
A pleasant copy.
Autograph inscription signed by Guy Bedos: "Pour Florence et Maurice pour rire entre amis, affectueusement. Guy.
 

First edition, one of 40 numbered copies on vélin pur fil paper, the deluxe issue.

A rare and attractive copy, illustrated with drawings on plates.

First edition, one of the numbered copies on alfa paper.
Half navy blue shagreen with corners, spine with five raised bands (slightly faded), moiré-effect paper boards, marbled paper endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, contemporary binding signed by Caffin, binder in rue Saint-Lazare, Paris.

Some light foxing, mainly affecting the edges.

First edition, edited by Frédéric Masson, illustrated with a portrait of Cardinal de Bernis as frontispiece to the first volume and a facsimile of a letter as frontispiece to the second.

Contemporary Bradel bindings in full sienna cloth, smooth spines decorated with double gilt fillets, black sheepskin title labels.

A pleasant copy.

Letter written by a secretary and signed by Louis XVI, addressed to Cardinal Ludovico Calini, in ink over eleven lines. The signature of Charles Gravier, Comte de Vergennes, appearing at the foot of the bifolium, accompanies that of the King for these New Year wishes. The recipient's name is inscribed on the verso: "Mon Cousin le Cardinal Calino".

A few waterstains, a small hole at "qu'il vous ait".

"My Cousin, I have seen with pleasure from your letter of October 1st the token of the sincerity of the wishes you express for me at the beginning of this year. Your good intentions are as well known to me as you must be certain of my desire to give you...

First edition of this remarkable album devoted to the Island of Elba, published in Paris by Dusacq & Cie in 1862 and printed by Lemercier. Large folio, loose sheets: 4 pp. of text comprising the Notice historique et archéologique sur l'Ile d'Elbe, 1 lithographed dedication leaf and 18 lithographed plates, including the title-frontispiece. The views were drawn from nature by André Durand and lithographed with the collaboration of Eugène Cicéri. The Bibliothèque nationale de France likewise records the work as comprising 18 numbered plates, including the frontispiece.

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on Holland paper, the deluxe issue.
Bound in full ebony morocco, smooth spine decorated with small inlays of garnet morocco and pearl-grey box calf, the latter framing the author’s initials and the title; the first numeral of the date, given in Roman numerals, appears within a square of pearl-grey box calf. Morocco boards framed with wide panels of chocolate suede, the upper cover with a large granulated paper panel lettered with the title and date of the edition set in garnet morocco, the initials framed by a rectangle of paper taken from a map of Haute-Savoie; bluish paper...

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 45 numbered copies on Holland paper, the second issue of the deluxe printing after 7 copies on Japan paper.

Small marginal tears to the wrappers, a pale stain in the centre of the front wrapper.

First collected edition, one of 36 numbered copies on Holland paper, constituting the deluxe issue.

A very good copy.

First edition.

Publisher's original black and yellow pictorial boards, smooth spine. A fine copy, complete with its photographic dust jacket.

Photographic illustrations.

Handwritten signature of Barack Obama, dated, on the half-title page.

First edition of the French translation by Bernard Faÿ, for which no deluxe copies were printed. One of the review copies.

Dated and signed autograph inscription from Bernard Faÿ to the Duke Pozzo di Borgo.

First edition, one of 62 numbered copies on Madagascar paper, the deluxe issue in this format.
Contemporary English binding by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, one of the most celebrated and distinguished London bookbinding firms of the early twentieth century, in olive-green half morocco, uniformly faded smooth spine decorated with gilt dotted lines, rules and floral ornaments, together with black rules, olive-green cloth-effect boards, original green wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, retaining the original deckle edges.

First edition, one of the first-issue copies numbered by the printer.

Minor tears to the joints and foot of the spine.

Rare dated autograph inscription by Georges Duhamel, signed with his real surname: \"Au docteur Weissenbach souvenir de nos études, son affectueux GDuhamel.\"

Manuscript presentation inscription by the recipient at the head of the front wrapper.

First edition, one of the review copies.

A very good copy, with only slight, inconsequential sunning to the spine.

Signed presentation inscription from Paul Morand to Maurice Clavel: \"... son lecteur très attentif et hebdomadaire...\"

First illustrated edition, one of 400 numbered copies on mould-made wove paper, this copy with an additional suite of all the illustrations in a second state on China paper.

Front and rear endpapers heavily foxed throughout, occasional light foxing elsewhere.

Illustrated with 55 compositions, comprising one on the wrapper, a title-page vignette, a portrait plate, a dedication vignette, five vignettes (one for each act), five full-page plates, and 41 illustrations within or surrounding the text.

Each act is illustrated by a different artist: François Thévenot designed the wrapper and frontispiece; Adrien Moreau illustrated Act I, Charles Léandre Act II, Albert Laurens Act...

First edition, one of 1,050 numbered copies on alfama paper.

Publisher's boards after the original design by Mario Prassinos. A tiny sunned area at the head of the spine.

A remarkably fresh copy.

First edition, one of 262 numbered copies printed on pur fil paper in a larger format.
A very good copy.

First edition, limited to 1,000 copies, this being one of 950 printed on Outhenin-Chalandre paper.

A fine copy, with a frontispiece map of the Pays d'Ouche region and complete with the publisher's printed publicity slip.

Signed and dated autograph inscription from Jean de La Varende to the bibliophile Maurice Gorrée, dated 1954.

In 1951, the novel was adapted for the screen by Yves Allégret, starring Jean Marais, Françoise Christophe and Jean Debucourt.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies printed on imitation Japan paper.

A fine copy.

Signed presentation inscription from Jean de La Varende to the bibliophile Maurice Gorrée.

First edition, one of only 11 numbered copies on Hollande paper, constituting the deluxe issue.

A rare and attractive copy, illustrated with two drawings by Jean de La Varende, engraved on wood by H. Cols.

First edition, one of 11 numbered copies on Hollande paper, constituting the deluxe issue.

A rare and attractive copy.

First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on Hollande paper, constituting the deluxe issue.

A rare and attractive copy with full margins.

First edition, one of 1,050 numbered copies on alfa paper.
Two very faint areas of sunning at the head and foot of the spine, otherwise a very good copy.
Publisher's illustrated boards after the original design by Mario Prassinos. 

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued.

A small loss to the upper right-hand corner of the title and half-title pages.

Signed presentation copy from Roland Barthes to the writer, art critic and television personality Max-Pol Fouchet.

First edition, one of 950 numbered copies on vélin labeur paper.
Publisher's binding after the original design by Paul Bonet.
A fine copy complete with its original acetate dust jacket.

First illustrated edition, with original lithographs by Renée André-Piot, one of 600 numbered copies on Vidalon royal wove paper.

Some foxing.

Autograph presentation inscription signed by Joseph Kessel to Jacques Lengrand.

Accompanied by an original Roger-Viollet photograph, with the agency's stamp on the verso, showing Joseph Kessel seated at a table in the La Cloche d'Or restaurant in Paris in 1952, cigarette in hand, beside a young woman.

Creasing to the right-hand margin of the photograph.

Manuscript annotations by Roger-Viollet and two stamps on the verso of the photograph.

First edition, one of 15 numbered copies on Kaji pearlescent Japan paper, the deluxe issue.

As stated in the limitation, our copy is complete with the separately printed facsimile on 18th-century laid paper of a manuscript page specially written by Jean de La Varende.

A few small spots of foxing to some leaves, boards lightly discoloured, otherwise a pleasant copy complete with its chemise and slipcase.

Signed presentation inscription from Jean de La Varende to the bibliophile Maurice Gorrée.

First edition on ordinary paper.

A fine and rare copy.

First edition, one of 40 numbered copies on Holland paper, the deluxe issue.
Contemporary red half shagreen bindings by Bellevallée, spines slightly faded, raised on five bands tooled with black fillets, marbled paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, top edges gilt on the rough, original wrappers and spines preserved.

A rare and handsome copy, attractively bound.

New edition, with no deluxe copies printed.

A stain at the head of the rear wrapper, which also has a crease at the foot.

Signed autograph inscription from Edouard Glissant to theatre director and radio producer Lucien Attoun.

First edition, without edition statement, published simultaneously with the Paris edition issued by Pagnerre.

Contemporary red half-morocco bindings, flat spines twice ruled in gilt, large rule in blind and gilt floral tools, gilt roll-tooling at head and foot, slight rubbing to two headcaps, red cloth boards decorated with blind-stamped floral motifs, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, a few corners slightly bumped, a few minor nicks to some edges, contemporary bindings.
Some foxing and pale marginal staining, as usual, a small black ink stain in the margins of one gathering in the second volume, a slight loss to the upper right-hand corner of the first leaves of the sixth...

First edition, one of 15 numbered copies on Holland paper, the only deluxe copies after 5 on Japan paper.

Contemporary red half morocco over corners, spine slightly faded, with five raised bands ruled in blind, date gilt at foot, marbled-paper boards, combed-paper endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, others untrimmed, binding signed in blind by Vermorel.

Endpapers uniformly toned.

First edition, one of 200 numbered hors commerce copies on alfa paper, reserved for review copies.

Fine copy, complete with the publisher's review slip.

Signed presentation copy from Marcel Pagnol to Jacques Jaujard.

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 39 numbered copies on Lafuma Navarre pure rag laid paper, specially printed in quarto tellière format, the deluxe issue after a single copy on Chinese paper.
Contemporary burgundy morocco-backed corners, spine with four raised bands bordered by black fillets, boards covered in geometrically patterned decorative paper, marbled endpapers, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.

A rare and handsome copy, attractively bound, of this novel awarded the 1933 Prix Goncourt.

First edition of the French translation, one of 10 numbered copies on Japanese paper, the deluxe issue.

Rare and fine copy, with full margins.

First public edition, one of 238 numbered copies on Arches paper, the only issue after 6 copies on Japon and 6 on blue paper.

Spine and boards slightly and marginally faded, as usual.

Fine signed presentation inscription from Paul Valéry to his friend, the bookseller, publisher and bibliophile Ronald Davis: "Exemplaire de Ronald Davis offert par l'auteur Paul Valéry."

Autograph note signed by the Aga Khan IIIrd on a fragment of paper, bearing the words: "I have the honor to be your obdt servant Aga Khan"

The note is undated, but is written in English (Aga Khan IV was French-speaking) and bears the characteristic signature of Aga Khan III, born Mohammed Shah, who served as the 48th Imam of the Nizari Ismailis from 1885 to 1957.

Accompanied by a dated and signed certificate of authenticity issued by the distinguished London bookseller and autograph dealer Winifred A. Myers, whose premises were located at 70 Bond Street.

First edition of the French translation, one of 41 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the sole large-paper issue.

Spine and boards slightly and marginally faded, as often; two small spots of foxing in the left margin of the front board.

First edition, one of the numbered copies on bouffant alfa calypso paper.

Publisher's full blue cloth binding after the original design by Massin, smooth spine, complete with its original acetate dust jacket and wraparound band.

A fine copy.

Signed presentation inscription from Marguerite Yourcenar to Mr Steiner: "... ces temps troublés comme les nôtres..."

First edition, with no deluxe copies printed.

A pleasant copy.

Precious dated and signed presentation inscription from Jean Raspail: "A M. Marcel Jouhandeau de son ancien élève toujours fidèle. en respectueux hommage. Jean Raspail. 27 X 66".

First edition on ordinary paper.

A few small stains to the bottom edge, otherwise a pleasant copy.

Signed presentation inscription from Jean Raspail to Monsieur Patrier, dated 12 November 1973.

New edition published in the same year as the first, one of 425 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only large-paper copies after 65 copies on pur fil.

Fine copy, with full margins.

Illustrated with a frontispiece drawing by Jean Oberlé.

Dated and signed presentation inscription from Pierre Bourdan to Monsieur Prin.

First edition, one of 450 numbered copies on Marais pur fil paper, the only deluxe issue announced.

Fine copy, with full margins.

Signed presentation copy from Pierre Bourdan to Monsieur Prin, conveying his best wishes for the year 1946.

First edition.
Contemporary Bradel binding in full Empire-green cloth, smooth spine decorated with a gilt fleurion, date and double gilt fillet at foot, black morocco lettering-piece with a small marginal loss, original wrappers preserved, corners very slightly rubbed, without consequence, contemporary binding signed Durvand.

Precious signed presentation copy from Alphonse Daudet to the distinguished historian of the Napoleonic era and fellow member of the Académie française, Frédéric Masson.

Provenance: from the library of Émile Henriot, with his manuscript ex-libris beside the binder's name at the head of an endpaper ; on the facing page appears...

First edition, one of 70 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the deluxe issue after 25 hors commerce copies on Holland paper reserved for the Cercle lyonnais.

Rare and fine copy.

First edition on ordinary paper.

A very good copy.

Signed presentation copy from Jorge Semprun to Sylvie Genevoix.

New edition.

Preface and afterword by Francis Jeanson.

Slight rubbing to spine, three small stains at foot of rear board, otherwise a pleasant copy.

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued; one of the review copies.

Spine and covers lightly and marginally sunned, a crease mark to the lower right corner of the rear cover, complete with the publisher's review slip.

Signed presentation copy from Jehan Laurent Gheerbrandt to the writer Jean Henri Guillaumet.

First edition, one of 200 numbered copies on Lafuma pur fil paper, the only deluxe issue after 125 copies on alfa paper and 25 on Hollande.

A few minor rubs to the slightly sunned spine.

Important signed presentation inscription from Lise Lamarre to the eminent Resistance figure Jacques Debû-Bridel: "Puisse ce livre vous aider à conserver le souvenir de Lise Lamarre, française de bonne souche, dont le coeur et l'esprit surent dans la pire adversité dominer les évènements..."

This presentation inscription alludes to the ordeal endured by Lise Lamarre and her husband, who were accused of collaboration and imprisoned despite having themselves...

First edition, one of 70 numbered copies on Japan paper, comprising the deluxe issue.

A few spots of foxing to the boards, spines and some deckle edges.

Rare untrimmed copy, preserving the full margins, of the Tiger's philosophical testament.

Rare first edition, printed in small numbers of this offprint from the Annales de philosophie chrétienne.

Minor marginal tears to the wrappers, a small loss at the foot of the spine, occasional foxing.

First edition of the French translation established by Georges Guiffrey.

Beige half roan binding, spine with four raised bands framed by black fillets, slight rubbing to the bands, boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns.

"In 1855, if my memory serves, Georges Guiffrey set about translating Vanity Fair with Thackeray's blessing: the perfection of this version makes it very nearly a masterpiece of nineteenth-century French literature. A critic nevertheless found occasion to take issue with its recent reissue, on the grounds that it had been given no more than a discreet dusting-off. Guiffrey's French strikes him as...

New edition of Alfred Franklin's French translation, one of 300 copies on hollande paper, the only issue aside from 6 copies on Whatman paper.

Contemporary red half morocco, spine with five raised bands ruled in black, date gilt at foot, marbled paper boards, combed-paper endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt.

An attractive copy, handsomely bound.

First edition, one of 200 copies printed on hollande, the only deluxe issue.

Bound Bradel-style in three-quarter dark green morocco, flat spine with date at foot, cat's-eye paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved; binding signed by Carayon.

A few minor foxmarks to the boards and some of the deckle edges.

A rare, untrimmed copy of Guy de Maupassant's masterpiece, handsomely bound by Carayon.

First edition of the French translation, with no deluxe-paper copies issued.

Preface by Annie Le Brun.

A pleasant copy despite a few small stains to the lower edge.

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, illustrated with 4 plates, one folding, and a large vignette on the dedication leaf.

Contemporary full fawn calf, smooth spine gilt in compartments with gilt floral tools, olive-green shagreen lettering-piece, minor rubbing to the joints, boards framed with triple gilt fillets, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt fillets to the board edges, all edges gilt.

Contemporary ownership inscription on a free endpaper.

Internally in pleasing condition.

First public edition of this foundational text of the intellectual Resistance.

Handwritten ownership inscription recording the volume as a gift, small tears and one snag to the spine, rear cover creased along the right-hand edge.

First edition, false statement of ninth edition, no deluxe issue printed.

Small marginal tears without significance to the soiled boards.

Presentation copy signed by feminist activist Yvonne Netter of her important essay on the emancipation of women and their right to vote.

New edition, partly original.
Publisher's full grey cloth, smooth spine, a pleasant copy complete with its illustrated dust jacket.
Richly illustrated.
Signed presentation inscription from Yves Bonnefoy to Jacques Hartmann and his wife Nancy.
 

First edition of Anne Guérin's French translation, for which no deluxe copies were issued; one of the review copies.

A small, unobtrusive nick to the head of the spine.

Introduction by Daniel Guérin.

An attractive copy, complete with the publisher's printed notice.

First edition of the French translation, one of 210 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the deluxe issue.

Spine and boards lightly faded at the margins, as is often the case.

First edition, one of 70 named and numbered copies on Madagascar paper.

Faint marginal crease marks to the lower right-hand corner of the front wrapper.

Illustrated with a frontispiece drawn and wood-engraved by Vassily Photiadès.
Signed presentation inscription from Joseph Kessel to Emmanuel Arago, for whom this copy was specially printed.

First edition, actually printed in Nantes by Malassis despite the Paris imprint on the title-page, as revealed by a manuscript note by Mangourit himself cited by Barbier.

An anonymously published pamphlet, with a typographical vignette on the title-page.

Copy preserved in its original stitched state and therefore without wrappers, with a pencilled manuscript note on the title-page identifying the author.

Our...

First collected edition, one of 30 copies on alfa paper, this copy unnumbered but duly identified as printed on alfa at the foot of the spine and in the limitation statement, the only deluxe-paper copies.
Albert Camus's foreword appears here for the first time.
A pleasant copy.

First edition, with no deluxe issue, and bearing the correct printer's imprint date.

An unusual copy, with no edition statement on the title page but with the spurious mention « deuxième édition » at the head of the rear wrapper.

Minor tears at the head and foot of the spine neatly repaired, small losses at the head and foot of the front wrapper restored, paper browned as usual.

First edition on ordinary paper.

Spine very lightly sunned, a trivial defect.

Signed autograph inscription from Marcel Pagnol to Mr. R. Bouchard on the printed dedication page.

First edition, illustrated with a frontispiece in each volume and a folding plate at the end of the first volume.

Bradel-style bindings in brown half cloth with small corners, smooth spines very slightly faded and ruled in gilt, marbled-paper boards with a few minor scuffs, blue-grey endpapers and pastedowns, marbled edges, bookplates pasted to the front pastedowns.

Some foxing, as usual.

Our copy is complete with all three engravings: a view of St Peter's in Rome and a plan of the remains of ancient Rome in the first volume, and Trajan's Column in the second.

It also includes a second state of the plan of the remains of ancient Rome, with slight variations...