Dark writings

Clara REEVE
The Old English Baron : a gothic story
Printed for Charles Dilly|London 1780|10.50 x 17.50 cm|relié
Second edition, rare. A frontispiece by Hamilton. The first edition dates from 1778.
Contemporary English binding in full mottled brown sheep. Smooth spine decorated with foliage. Red morocco title-label. Border frieze on boards. 3 corners slightly bumped.
After The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole published in 1764, The Old English Baron is the second Gothic novel in literature, and the author, Clara Reeve writes in her preface: "this Story is the literary offspring of the Castle of Otranto, written upon the same plan, with a design to unite the most attractive and interesting circumstances of the ancient Romance and modern Novel, at the same time it assumes a...
€900
Exceptional copy inscribed by Charles Baudelaire
Exceptional copy inscribed by Charles Baudelaire
Charles BAUDELAIRE
Les Fleurs du mal[Flowers of Evil]
Poulet Malassis & De Broise|Paris 1857|12.10 x 18.80 cm|relié sous étui
First edition, printed on vélin d'Angoulême paper, with the usual misprints and including the six condemned poems, one of the few copies given to the author and “intended for friends who do not deliver literary services”.
Full emerald morocco binding, signed by Marius Michel, original wrappers preserved.

Precious presentation copy inscribed and signed by the author in pencil on the half-title page: “à M. Tenré fils, souvenir de bonne camaraderie, Ch. Baudelaire” (“to M. Tenré Jnr, a reminder of good friendship, Ch. Baudelaire”) and three handwritten corrections, in pencil on pages 29 and 110 and in ink on page 43.
...
€170,000
Pierre Jean JOUVE
Parler (Poèmes - 2ème série)
Georges Crès & Cie|Paris 1913|13.50 x 20.50 cm|broché
First edition printed on laid one of the first works of the author he later renounced.
Nice and rare copy.
Signed autograph of Pierre Jean Jouve to René Georgin.
€300
William FAULKNER
Tandis que j'agonise
Gallimard|Paris 1934|12 x 19 cm|broché
First edition in French, one of 210 copies numbered in Roman numerals on alfa paper, the only deluxe copies.
Preface by Valéry Larbaud.
Minor light foxing at head of first endpaper.
Handsome copy.
€450
"My dear little mother, you are mad"
"My dear little mother, you are mad"
Charles BAUDELAIRE
« Tu sais cependant bien que ma destinée est mauvaise. »Signed autograph letter addressed to his mother : “You know, however, that my destiny is bad.”
[Paris] 13 [juillet] 1858 (mal datée « juin »)|13.30 x 20.60 cm|2 pages sur un feuillet remplié sous chemise et étui
Autograph letter signed by Charles Baudelaire, written in pencil and addressed to his mother. Dry-stamped stationery of the Grand Hôtel Voltaire, Faubourg Saint-Germain. Address to Madame Aupick in Honfleur (Calvados) in the author's hand, together with several postal markings dated 13 and 14 July 1858. Several underlinings, deletions and corrections by Baudelaire. Trace of a wax seal bearing Charles Baudelaire's initials in pencil, probably in the author's hand. A small portion of the second leaf has been excised, with no loss of text.
This letter was first published in the Revue de Paris on 15 September 1917.
From the former collection of...
€15,000
Sacha GUITRY, Henri JADOUX
La fin du monde
Raoul Solar|Paris 1954|19 x 24.50 cm|broché sous chemise
Edition decorated with original illustrations by Henri Jadoux, one of 85 numbered copies on Johannot vellum, the only deluxe copies.
Handsome copy.
€150
Samuel BECKETT
Comment c'est
Les Editions de Minuit|Paris 1961|12 x 19 cm|broché
First edition on ordinary paper.
Autograph inscription signed by Samuel Beckett to Gaetan Picon.
Spine sunned.
€1,200
François Baculard D'ARNAUD
Nouvelles historiques
Chez Delalain|à Paris 1777|14.50 x 22 cm|2 volumes reliés
First illustrated edition with 3 title vignettes and 3 figures by Eisen in volume I (as well as 3 pages of engraved music) plus 3 tailpieces and 1 figure by Marillier, 2 by Barbier and 3 title vignettes by Marillier in volume II, plus 3 tailpieces. All engraved by Fessard, Longueil, Née, Delaunay and Halbou. Very fine illustration, very elegant.
Contemporary full calf binding with scale pattern. Spine with raised bands decorated. Red morocco title labels, and green morocco volume labels. Triple-ruled frame on boards. Edges gilt. Small lack to upper joint at head of volume I. Signs of rubbing. Pale scattered foxing. One lack to margin of p. 479. The binder has inverted the volume...
€450
Victor HUGO
Les chants du crépusculeSongs of Twilight
Eugène Renduel|Paris 1835|14 x 21.50 cm|relié
First edition.
Bound in red half Russia with corners, spine with four raised bands gilt-ruled and decorated with double gilt panels, date in gilt at foot within a compartment, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, rare wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, uncut, binding signed by Bernasconi.
The catalogue leaf of Victor Hugo’s works is present. A few folding creases to some leaves.

Mounted opposite the definitive version printed on p. 223 is a precious autograph poem by Victor Hugo, entitled “La pauvre...
€12,000
Georges BATAILLE
Somme athéologique II : Le coupable, édition revue et corrigée suivie de L'Alleluiah
Gallimard|Paris 1961|12 x 19 cm|broché
Edition first in part, one of 30 numbered copies on pur fil, the only large paper copies.
Slight traces of sunning, not serious, to head and to foot of spine.
A good and rare copy.
€1,500
Samuel BECKETT
Pas moi
Les Editions de Minuit|Paris 1975|10.50 x 18 cm|broché
First edition, one of 150 numbered copies on vélin d'Arches paper, this copy not justified, the only large paper copies along with 92 on vélin supérieur and a few hors commerce.
Autograph inscription signed by Samuel Beckett to a close friend.
A good copy.
€1,200
Henri BÉRAUD
Quinze jours avec la mort
Plon|Paris 1951|14.50 x 20 cm|broché
First edition, one of 35 numbered copies on Hollande, tirage de tête.
A very good copy, with edges preserved.
€700
François Baculard D'ARNAUD
Théâtre
Chez Delalain|à Paris 1777|14.30 x 22.20 cm|2 volumes reliés
A factitious collection composed of the 4 plays by Arnaud: Fayel, Le Comte de Comminge, Merinval, Euphémie. Le comte Comminge is separated from Fayel only by a half-title, just as Euphémie from Mérinval (with no loss in the collation). 3 figures in volume I, one by Eisen, one by Restou, one before letters; one by Eisen and one by Restou in volume II.
Contemporary full mottled calf bindings. Decorated spines with raised bands, roulettes at foot. Red morocco title label, and green morocco volume label. Triple fillet frame on the boards. Gilt edges. Surface wear on the spine of volume II with a loss in the first compartment, and loss of gilding...
€280
Matthew Gregory LEWIS, ABBÉ PREVOST
Le moine. Valérie. Manon Lescaut. Le talisman du coeur. La peine du talion. Le règne de Satan. Riche et pauvre. Télémaque. Mes prisons. la princesse de Montpensier. Les contes de l'atelier. Le barbier de Séville. Le mariage de Figaro. La mère coupable.
Gustave Havard|Paris 1849|21.50 x 31 cm|relié
Popular illustrated edition bringing together 14 titles and more, from the Romans populaires illustrés collection. Drawings by Johannot, Beaucé, Staal, Bertall, Baron... It includes the rare title The Monk by Lewis.
Contents: Valérie by Madame de Krudener. Manon Lescaut by Prévost d'Exiles. Le talisman du coeur by Louis Lurine. La peine du talion by Jules Lacroix. Le règne de Satan by Benjamin Gastineau. Riche et pauvre by Emile Souvestre. Télémaque by Fénelon. Mes prisons by Pellico. La princesse de Montpensier by Madame de Lafayette. Les contes de l'atelier by Michel Masson. Le vicaire de Wakefield by Goldsmith. Simple histoire by Inchbald. 3 plays by Beaumarchais. Printed in 2...
€280
Samuel BECKETT (inscribed to Geer van VELDE)
Assez - Exemplaire du peintre Geer Van Velde
Les Editions de Minuit|Paris 1966|14.50 x 19.50 cm|broché
First edition. One of 100 deluxe advance copies on B.F.K. de Rives, only deluxe copies along with 512 others on B.F.K. de Rives.

Precious copy inscribed and dated April 1966 by Beckett to his friend the painter Geer (Van Velde) and his wife Lise.

Nice copy.

“What to say of the sliding planes, the shimmering contours, the cut-out figures in the fog, the balance that any little thing can break, breaking and re-forming themselves under our very eyes? How to talk about the colors that breathe and pant? Of the swarming stasis? Of this world without weight, without force, without shadow? Here everything moves, swims, fells, comes back, falls apart...
€1,500
Samuel BECKETT
Tous ceux qui tombent
Les Editions de Minuit|Paris 1957|12 x 19 cm|broché
First edition of the French translation by Robert Pinget, one of 80 numbered copies on pur fil, the only large paper copies.
A good copy.
€580
François VILLON
Les oeuvres de François Villon. - Les Repües Franches le Franc Archier de Baignollet. Le dialogue de messieurs de Mallepaye, et de Baillevant. - Lettre a Monsieur de ***, en lui envoyant la nouvelle édition des Oeuvres de François Villon
de l'imprimerie d'Antoine-Urbain Coustelier|Paris 1723|10 x 16 cm|3 parties reliées en un volume
New edition.

Contemporary binding in full blonde calf. Spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt compartments and fleurons as well as a red morocco title-label. All edges red speckled.
Leaves of the first part entirely browned, due to paper of inferior quality compared to the rest of the volume.

Famous edition from the collection of French poets published by Coustelier. The works follow in this order: Les Repues franches. Le Franc Archier de Baignollet. Le Dialogue de messieurs de Mallepaye, et de Baillevant, Lettre à Monsieur de ***, en lui envoyant la nouvelle édition des Œuvres de François Villon et Le Petit Testament de F. Villon...
€1,000
Joseph DELTEIL (inscribed to Jacques RIGAUT)
Choléra - Exemplaire de Jacques Rigaut
Editions du Sagittaire|Paris 1923|13 x 18 cm|broché
First edition, one of the review copies service.
Back slightly insolated as generally.
Precious and very rare autograph signed by Joseph Delteil to Jacques Rigaut: "... to MJ Rigaut / cordial tribute / J. Delteil".
Superb dedication, at the crossroads of "isms": while Delteil is just enthralled surreal by the "pope" André Breton in his Manifesto that ranks among those who have made "act of absolute surrealism", Rigaut, for his part is definitely moving away from Dadaism following his friend Tzara.
An emblematic figure of the literary genius consumed by drugs and despair, Jacques Rigaut did not publish anything during his lifetime (except...
€2,500
Maurice BLANCHOT
Thomas l'obscur
Gallimard|Paris 1941|14 x 20.50 cm|broché
First edition, an advance (service de presse) copy.
Handsome, fine autograph inscription from Maurice Blanchot to Gaston Gallimard on ffep: "On ne s'arrête plus aux tables des heureux, puisqu'on est mort. (Charles Cros) / A Gaston Gallimard, ce livre destiné à écarter tout lecteur [One doesn’t stop any more at the table of the joyous, for one is dead. (Charles Cros) / To Gaston Gallimard, this book destined to drive away every reader]."
Two repaired tears to head of spine (slightly sunned), one tiny scratch to head of upper cover, paper yellowed at edges of some pages as usual, ffep repaired with small lack at foot.
€2,300
Maurice BLANCHOT (Franz KAFKA)
De Kafka à Kafka[From Kafka to Kafka]
Gallimard|Paris 1981|11 x 18 cm|broché
The first edition published only in paperback format, of which there were no deluxe copies, one of the Service de Presse (advance) copies.
Moving and precious signed autograph inscription from Maurice Blanchot to his sister Marguerite on a card mounted on the first endpaper: "Chère Marg, ce livre qui n'est pas un livre mais qui te dit en ces jours si sombres, ma fidèle, ma profonde affection. Maurice." ["Dear Marg, this book which is not a book but which tells you in these dark days, my faithful one, my deep affection. Maurice."]
Envelope bearing Marguerite Blanchot's address written by her brother Maurice mounted on the half-title page. Marguerite Blanchot...
€1,200
Jehan RICTUS
Le coeur populaire
Eugène Rey|Paris 1914|16 x 20.50 cm|broché
First edition, one of 125 numbered copies on Japan paper, deluxe issue.
Signed autograph inscription by Jehan Rictus to Félix Rey enhanced with an autograph poem.
Work illustrated, as frontispiece, with a portrait of the author signed in pencil by Steinlen and etched.
Endpapers lightly and partially shaded, handsome full-margined copy.
€580
Jehan RICTUS
Cantilènes du malheur
P. Sevin & E. Rey|Paris s. d. [1902]|16 x 24 cm|relié
First edition, one of 150 numbered copies on Japan paper, the only deluxe copies.
Half red morocco with corners, spine with five raised bands, date at foot, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt on deckled edges, J. Laurent's bookplate pasted to verso of front board, binding signed by Devauchelle.
Our copy includes the original Steinlen drypoint in two states.
The work is enhanced with a recto-verso autograph note from the author addressed to one of his friends.
Fine copy perfectly established.
€750