Ephemera

Rare collection of approximately 250 issues of the bilingual English–French maritime gazette published in Constantinople, covering the period from 1 July 1869 to 3 June 1870.

No library appears to hold a complete run. The numbering is at times erratic, and a manuscript note reading "suspension" apparently accounts for a gap of several days in November 1869, together with a dating error.

Bradel bindings in half black cloth, smooth spines ruled in gilt; two frayed spine-ends with tears, a vertical abrasion with orange and green staining to the spine of the first volume, beige paper-covered boards with small losses, a few scuffs to the edges; modern bindings.

Some occasional spotting; one leaf restored with adhesive and a small article excised; a small loss to one leaf and several manuscript annotations in red or blue pencil.

In addition to maritime news (shipping routes and timetables, announcement of the opening of the Suez Canal in the issue of 16 August 1869, etc.), the gazette abounds in columns, classified advertisements—both private and commercial—and summaries of miscellaneous news items, at times in a humorous vein.

Thus one reads in the issue of 15 November 1869: "M. Théophile Gautier ne s'est pas marié comme on l'avait annoncé, mais il s'est cassé le bras sur le paquebot, en allant en Égypte."

On this subject, a stubborn bachelor remarked: "Entre deux mots il faut choisir le moindre." More seriously, several professors from the recently inaugurated (1868) Lycée français de Galatasaray contributed to the newspaper’s editorial staff.

New issue of this musical score, the title page illustrated with a drawing by René Lefebvre depicting the Statue of Liberty rising above a French village.
Fine copy.

Rare first edition printed in a small number of copies.

Covers slightly faded and sun-toned at the edges, as is usually the case.

First edition, published anonymously by Delaporte,  secretary and prompter of the Comédie-Française.

Contemporary black cloth Bradel binding, smooth spine, red shagreen lettering-piece with some loss, marbled paper boards, upper corners slightly worn, 19th-century binding.

Copies recorded only at the BnF and in Rouen (CCFr).

Printed initials at the foot of the title page.

Rare summary, by the Comédie-Française secretary and prompter, of the grievances held by the Company against the actor Talma, focusing particularly on performances of Marie-Joseph Chénier’s play Charles IX.

The play, which achieved immense public success, drew criticism from the Gallican Church, leading to its ban after the 33rd performance.

On July 21, 1790, the play was performed again in defiance of the ban. The Comédie-Française troupe then split between the "revolutionaries" and the other shareholders, who refused to perform with Talma.

First edition of this paper on cassava and the cultivation of peanuts, read before the General Assembly of the Royal Aragonese Society on 22 August 1800.

Our copy is preserved in modern plain beige wrappers, with a few insignificant spots of foxing.

From the library of the comte de Lasteyrie du Saillant, the renowned agronomist, with his red printed stamp on the title-page.

Rare and luxurious invitation card for the exhibition organized by art critic André Warnod on "art nègre," a term he coined in 1910 in the journal Comœdia to originally designate African and Oceanic statuary. From January 20 to February 20, 1926, four painters were invited to exhibit at the art gallery of the Grande Maison de Blanc, Place de l'Opéra in Paris. These were most likely the French artists Marguerite Guy-Lemm (née Lemaire) and Luc-Albert Moreau, the Uruguayan Pedro Figari, and the Dutchman Kees van Dongen.

Fine condition, light gray debossed lettering on soft dark gray paper, crease marks at upper right corner.

Very rare document on the so-called "Eau de Cologne," illustrated with a headpiece depicting the city of Cologne.

Written by Giovanni Antonio Farina (1718–1787), one of the heirs and successors of the inventor of the famous lotion, the Italian perfumer Giovanni Paolo Feminis (1660–1736), who had settled in Cologne.

Jean-Antoine Farina would later transmit the formula to his descendants, the last of whom, Jean-Marie Farina (1785–1864), successfully marketed the celebrated water during the first half of the 19th century.

This pamphlet details the various medicinal applications of Eau de Cologne (the names of the ailments are printed in capitals). "Il y a environ un siècle que cette Eau a été inventée et composée par le Sr. Paul Feminis, Italien, et ancien Distillateur à Cologne, et qu'elle est en grande réputation dans toute l'Europe. On ne peut donner à cette Eau tout l'éloge qu'elle mérite : ses vertus sont au dessus de tout ce qu'on peut en dire, et l'expérience constante qu'on en a par les effets surprenans que dans une infinité de Maladies elle opère continuellement, sur toutes les Personnes, de quelque sexe et âge qu'elles soient, en est une preuve si convaincante, que c'est à juste titre qu'on lui donne le nom d'admirable".

Rare vintage polychrome "Happy Families" card game "The Trades," complete with all 42 cards, 1930s.

Comic portrayal of seven trades: Ramona (heating engineer), Lebouif (cobbler), Lavinasse (innkeeper), Boudingras (pork butcher), Courtepaille (farmer), Potard (pharmacist) and Dubifteck (butcher).

Without its original box, some traces of use, such as rubbed corners, and some foxing spots on the back of the cards. Good general condition.

Amusing vintage game revealing the stereotypes associated with seven trades during the French interwar period. 

First edition.

Illustrated with 16 drawings by Georges Adam.

A superb copy of this rare booklet by Louis Aragon, a true "anti-clerical, anti-capitalist, anti-colonialist, anti-patriotic" (Pierre Juquin) catechism for the children of the exploited working masses.

"On June 25, 1932, the Imprimerie centrale completed printing for the Bureau des éditions et de diffusion, 132, Faubourg Saint-Denis, Paris, a beautiful pamphlet, now a bibliophilic rarity [...] On the cover, a large red star - an important and recurrent image in Aragon's work - appears imprinted on children's brains. Sixteen quatrains, droll and didactic, punctuated for ease of reading, alternate with drawings by Georges Adam, whose nearly expressionist mockery, reminiscent of Rouault's paintings, overturns taboos and myths." (Aragon. Un destin français 1897-1939)


After breaking with the Surrealists, Aragon threw himself wholeheartedly into the Journal de la lutte antireligieuse. He wrote this pamphlet from Moscow and published it on the Party's presses, to ignite the fervor of proletarian youth. French poet Jacques Prévert would later follow a similar path with his play Émasculée conception. Anticlerical activism within French Communist associations was in full swing at the time: every symbol and events of religious life were reinterpreted through the lens of class struggle. "Red baptisms" were organised, forming a community of "Godless" children (drawing their name from the Association of Godless Workers) who corresponded with their Soviet counterparts.
Aragon contributed to these new rituals with this particularly radical children's book, deemed excessively antipatriotic by Maurice Thorez, which he would later disavow at the end of his life.

Subscription prospectus issued in the format of the work, with 2 black-and-white reproductions in the text and 2 colour plates hors texte.

A fine copy.

First edition of this program of events organized by the Centre National d'Art Contemporain from 16 October to 23 December 1974, presenting the works of Christian Boltanski and Jacques Monory.
The December date has been modified in green felt pen at the foot of the program.
Presentation of photographic, cinematographic and book-based works by Christian Boltanski and pictorial works by Jacques Monory.

A very rare document.

First roneo edition of the prospectus for the exhibition organized by the A.R.C. (Animation Recherche Confrontation) cinema section at the instigation of Christian Boltanski.
Signs of folding due to having been placed in an envelope.

The event was attended by Edmund Alleyn, Gianni Bertini, Christian Boltanski, Guðmundur Guðmundsson said Erró, Gérard Fromanger, Ipousteguy, Jean Le Gac, Tamas Zanko, Bruce Nauman, Pesce, Martial Raysse, Peter Stämpfli.

A rare document.

Remarkable collection of 19 letters patent transcribing into French law what had originally been the outcome of diplomatic conventions; the sovereignties concerned are as follows, arranged in chronological order of the letters patent: I. Imperial City of Reutlingen (January 1775, 6 pp.). – II. Principality of Nassau-Weilburg (26 April 1776, 23 pp.). – III. Electorate of Saxony (1 September 1776, 10 pp.). – IV. Republic of Ragusa (October 1776, 7 pp.). – V. Principality of Nassau-Usingen (10 June 1777, 8 pp.). – VI. Duchy of Saxe-Saalfeld-Coburg (15 August 1778, 11 pp.). – VII. Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (15 August 1778, 12 pp.). – VIII. Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (15 August 1778, 12 pp.). – IX. Prince-Abbacy of Fulda (29 August 1778, 7 pp.). – X. Duchy of Saxe-Hildburghausen (22 November 1778, 16 pp.). – XI. Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg (27 January 1779, 12 pp.). – XII. Kingdom of Portugal (7 February 1779, 10 pp.). – XIII. Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen (12 March 1779, 7 pp.). – XIV. Teutonic Order (1 April 1779, 11 pp.). – XV. Landgraviate of Hesse-Homburg (6 July 1779, 6 pp.). – XVI. Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt (31 January 1780, 10 pp.). – XVII. Prince-Bishopric of Münster (23 December 1780, 8 pp.). – XVIII. Electoral Palatinate (6 November 1781, 5 pp.). – XIX. County of Leyen (November 1782, 6 pp.).

Disbound collection.

Original photograph, contemporary silver halide print on crumière paper, taken at the surrealist exhibition in Paris in 1938. “Wide World Photos – Services photographiques The New York Times” imprinted on the verso.
This picture depicts the object “Cadavre exquis” by André Breton, which was exhibited in the room adjacent to the main room at the exhibition and surrounded by paintings by René Magritte and sculptures by Hans Arp.
Stencilled inset glued on the back of the picture: “International Surrealism Exhibition 1938 opens at the Beaux-arts gallery. Paris. What to think of this curious “chest of drawers” on a woman's legs? Photo NYT Paris Fre. 18.1.38 DB.”

Entrance card (22.2 x 27.4cm), two tone recto print wood engraving on strong beige paper, central fold. One corner restored but a good copy.
Entrance ticket (n°1334 price 25) for the Grand Bal des Artistes organized at Bullier Hall, 31 rue de l'Observatoire in Paris on 23 February 1923 “for the benefit of the mutual aid fund of the Union of Russian Artists”.

Illustrated with a large, two tone wood engraving by Mikhail Larionov (1881-1964). On the back, the signature-stamp of S. Gourevitch, treasurer of the Union of Russian Artists.

Mikhail Larionov was a naturalized French, Russian painter and decorator, close to Kasimir Malevitch and Vladimir Tatline, husband of Nathalie Gontcharova. At the beginning of the 20th century, he was one of the pioneers of the Russian Avant-garde. In 1914, he moved to Paris and notably produced the sets for Serge Diaghilev's Russian Ballets.

First edition of this issue of the magazine edited by Jean-Louis Bory, with Pierre Bourgeade as editor-in-chief.
The entire issue is devoted to the work of Arman, who also authored the texts.
Illustrated throughout.

A handsome copy.

First edition of this issue of the Journal officiel des Établissements français de l'Océanie, published every Saturday at 3 p.m. (cf. O'Reilly & Reitman, Bibliographie de Tahiti, 10280).

With a small marginal tear along the central fold of the paper.

The official gazette of the territory, whose circulation in 1865 was 450 copies.

This issue is divided into two sections: the first, the so-called "official part," contains the text of three ordinances of Queen Pomaré IV concerning the acquisition of land, whether by donation, sale, or long-term lease, within the twenty-two villages of the islands of Tahiti and Moorea; the appointment of a district chief and president of a village council in Moorea; and the granting of remission of sentence to certain indigenous prisoners.

These ordinances, dated 14 August 1864, are signed by Pomaré and countersigned by the imperial commissioner Gaultier de La Richerie.

The text is printed in French, followed by its translation into Tahitian. The "non-official" section contains information on the state of the Tahitian population during the second quarter of 1864 (births, marriages, deaths), the provisions and postal services, the administration of justice, port traffic and the Papeete market, etc.; it also provides details on the Mexican campaign, with a proclamation of Emperor Maximilian dated 28 May 1864 following his landing at Vera Cruz.

A rare and appealing copy.

Rare collector’s head volume of this fascinating economic, agricultural, and industrial journal founded by economist and statistician César Moreau (1791–1860), who also established the "Société française de statistique" (cf. BNF, "Catalogue collectif des périodiques", III, p. 157. Not in Hatin.)

Text printed in three columns.

Contemporary half brown sheepskin binding, smooth spine gilt-ruled with decorative panels, joints rubbed and professionally restored, marbled paper-covered boards, corners worn, yellow edges speckled with red.
Issue no. 23 of the second year is lacking from our set, which collation is as follows:

• 1) 8 pp. comprising the society’s statutes and a personalized "Diplôme provisoire" issued to a member of the Académie (Jean Antoine Barthe, architect and former inspector of Public Works: one folding plate). These two documents bear several autograph signatures, including that of César Moreau.
• 2) 8 pp. listing the members of the Académie.
• 3) First year: 154 pp. covering issues 1 to 12 (January–December 1831), 2 plates including 1 folding: "Pompe à comprimer l'air et les gaz inventée par M. Jobard" and 27 models of ploughshares and ploughs. Pages 105 to 122 (supplement to the first year) have been bound at the end of the volume.
• 4) Second year: 192 pp. covering issues 13 to 24 (January–December 1832). Issue no. 23 (pp. 161–176) is missing.
• 5) 72 pp. for the "Recueil supplémentaire des mémoires", 4 parts, issues I to IX.

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 and lists the beneficiaries of Adolf Hitler's “bequests”:
The testament ends with this peremptory statement: “Made at ... on ... August 1944 in full mental, cerebral and physical decomposition. Dodofe Hitler king of the Little Funnies.”
A very rare anti-Nazi leaflet from the final days of World War II.

Rare (possibly complete) collection of this popular Chilean weekly printed in Valparaíso, not listed in the catalogue of the National Library’s periodicals.

Contemporary binding in red half sheep, smooth spine decorated with double gilt and black fillets, black morocco title label, marbled paper-covered boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns.

Although primarily concerned with historical and political matters—featuring frequent polemics against Spain and Peru—this provincial paper also aspires to literary status, including numerous poems, occasionally illustrated with small wood engravings. The "classified ads," of particular interest, along with the theatre listings, offer a vivid glimpse into daily life in a mid-19th-century Chilean city.

The final page of each issue carries advertisements. A few insignificant spots of foxing.

Very scarce.

First edition of the catalogue of the 33 works by Paul Cézanne exhibited at the Galerie Bernheim Jeune & Cie from Wednesday 1st to Saturday 18th December 1920.

Upper cover lightly sunned along the edges, printed stamp and shelf number to upper left corner of the inside front cover; otherwise a rare and attractive copy.

Some pencil annotations in the margins of a few of the listed works.

Catalogue illustrated with 10 reproductions of the artist’s works.

Introductory text by Octave Mirbeau.

First edition of the retrospective exhibition catalogue of 109 works by George Bottini, held at Galerie L. Dru from 15 April to 8 May 1926.

Minor foxing to the front cover, not affecting legibility.

Text by Adolphe Tabarant.

A rare and appealing copy.

Catalogue for the exhibition of 28 works by Edouard Vuillard held at Galerie Bernheim Jeune & Cie from Monday 13 to Saturday 25 February 1911.

Three light halos along the left margin of the upper cover, and a small tear along the right margin of the lower cover.

Illustrated catalogue featuring 3 reproductions of works by Edouard Vuillard.

Rare.

Exhibition catalogue of the 43 works by Kees Van Dongen shown at the Galerie Bernheim Jeune from Tuesday, March 1 to Wednesday, March 9, 1921.

Illustrated catalogue with 5 reproductions of Van Dongen's works.

Ink annotations on the verso of the front wrapper, the title page, and continuing on the final two pages of the catalogue, regarding a painting by the artist. Minor, usual rust marks around the staples.

Rare.

First edition of the catalogue listing 58 works by Henri Matisse exhibited at Galerie Bernheim Jeune & Cie from October 15 to November 6, 1920.

Upper cover slightly faded along the left margin, printed stamp to upper left corner of the verso of the front cover, otherwise a rare and attractive copy.

Illustrated catalogue featuring 19 reproductions of the artist's works.

Introductory text by Charles Vildrac.

First edition of the exhibition catalogue for 21 recent works by Pierre Bonnard, shown at the Galerie Bernheim from 19 May to 7 June 1913.

Catalogue illustrated with 10 reproductions of works by Pierre Bonnard.

Rare and handsome copy.

Catalogue for the exhibition of 29 works by Édouard Vuillard held at the Galerie Bernheim Jeune & Cie from Monday 15 to Saturday 27 April 1912.

Illustrated catalogue featuring 3 reproductions of works by Édouard Vuillard.

Rare and appealing copy.

First edition of this rare and fragile promotional item for the Galeries Lafayette consisting of 47 cardboard pieces with an illustration in medallion drawn by Jack Roberts and a children's song of eight verses.

A handsome copy, complete with its original printed crystal paper envelope.
 

Rare example of this propaganda leaflet published by the Nazi Occupier, which became the most iconic image of the Resistance. This smaller version of the famous Affiche Rouge features the poster on the recto and a paragraph on the verso castigating « l'Armée du crime contre la France » ("the Army of Crime against France"). It opens with accusations against the « rêve mondial du complot juif » ("the global dream of the Jewish conspiracy") and claims that « si des Français sabotent, pillent et tuent (...) ce sont toujours des juifs qui les inspirent » ("if Frenchmen sabotage, loot, and kill (...) it is always Jews who inspire them").
A discreet horizontal crease, otherwise superb condition for an ephemeral document.

Accompanied by the rare brochure entitled 'L'armée du crime' ('The army of crime') in the format of a newspaper illustrated with 14 pages of photographs.
A trace of horizontal fold. A fine copy.

First edition illustrated with photographic portraits.
Fragile dust jacket preserved, our copy is also complete with its soft red shagreen slipcase.

First edition of this in-folio broadside signed "Phelypeaux", printed on one side only and in two columns.

A scarce and pleasing copy despite traces of central folding.

First edition of this in-folio printed broadside signed "Phelypeaux", printed on one side only.

Visible fold marks to the broadside.

Very rare fully mimeographed first edition of this course prepared for officers of the French Army of the Levant, issued locally under the French Mandate in Syria and Lebanon.

No copy recorded in the CCF. Not in Hage Chahine.

Minor marginal tears to the wrappers, a manuscript ex-libris on the upper wrapper, and a hole in the lower wrapper also affecting the final page but not the text.

The Belgian Jesuit and orientalist Henri Lammens (1862–1937) spent almost his entire life in Beirut; he was the first to apply to the study of the origins of Islam a critical method as rigorous as that used for any historical subject, which earned him much hostility and repeated cautions from his superiors.

As a result, his major biography of Muhammad, completed as early as 1914, remained in manuscript.

First edition of these extremely rare statutes of an Indo-British lodge established in Calcutta since 1860.

No copy recorded in the CCF or in WorldCat.

Minor losses to the spine and corners of the boards, with one tear at the head of the upper cover skilfully restored.

Rare pre-first edition offprint of Charles de Gaulle's article Les Origines de l'armée française, published in issue 520 of the Revue d'Infanterie in January 1936. This 44-page text will be entirely reprinted two years later as the first chapter of his celebrated work La France et son armée, published by Plon in 1938. Our copy is enriched with an autograph inscription signed by the author "to M. Jean Auburtin": "With profound and faithful friendship. C. de Gaulle."

Blue wrappers slightly sunned at extremities, spine and upper joint rebacked, minor losses to spine, vertical crease probably from mailing, old creases to upper right corners, some ink stains on lower wrapper, old stamp affixed and partially torn on same wrapper.

First edition of this pamphlet, with contributions by Éluard, Tzara, Marcel Duchamp under his pseudonym Rrose Sélavy, Benjamin Péret, Erik Satie, Philippe Soupault, Georges Ribemont-Dessaignes, Vincente Huidboro, Walter Serner, Matthew Josephson, Théodore Fraenkel.
Three copies found in institutions (BnF, Thomas J. Watson Library, Princeton University Library, Ryerson & Burnham Libraries - Art Institute of Chicago).
Cover designed by Ilia Zdanevich (Iliazd) on a motif created out of 19th-century woodcuts: “The cover of Le Coeur à barbe is an emblematic image of the Dada aesthetic, where old engravings are combined with words to create visual puns and unpredictable associations.” (Princeton University Museum).
Extremely rare copy in excellent condition of the only published issue of this famous Dada journal - Tristan Tzara's counterattack to André Breton's criticism in the March 2, 1922 issue of Comœdia.

"For a few months now, we have been witnessing a regularised passive hunt for patriots, too highly noticed, it seems, at a time when risking their own life and that of their family's was not a shopfront item.
The odious thing about this way of acting is that it is strangely reminiscent of the Hitlerians. We dishonour, then we wait and see. Regardless of the esteem in which a person is regarded, a police visit always leaves a hint of ambiguity, it is believed. Vigilance more than ever, solidarity.” (7 December 1945 addressed by René Char to Francis Ponge)

The first and only edition of this legendary “Céreste Affair” poster printed by René Char with a very few copies and posted in the small village of Céreste, the heart of his resistance network. Paper slightly yellowed, some small marginal tears not affecting the text. 
Extremely rare, this poster is absent from all institutions and auction houses. The Bibliothèque Nationale de France itself only has a reproduction offered by Pierre-André Benoit.
The famous placard marks the end of the loving and combative relationship between René Char and the village of Céreste which was nevertheless Captain Alexandre's HQ and the birthplace of one of his most moving romantic adventures with his lover nicknamed “la Renarde” (the Vixen).

Exhibition catalogue listing 66 paintings by Félix Vallotton exhibited at the Druet gallery, 20, rue Royale in Paris, from 22 April to 3 May 1929.
Light worming to the first cover, otherwise a handsome copy.
Catalogue illustrated with 7 photographic reproductions of works by Félix Vallotton.

First edition of this rare and fragile advertising object for the Galeries Lafayette consisting of 47 cardboard pieces with a medallion illustration designed by Jack Roberts and a children's song of four verses.

Handsome copy complete with its original crystal paper envelope.
 

Exhibition catalogue of Paul Gauguin's works at the Galerie Barbazanges, 109 Faubourg Saint-Honoré, from 10 to 30 October 1919.
Illustrated with Gauguin's splendid colour self-portrait with halo and serpent, wood-engraved by Jules Germain.
Essay by François Norgelet, entitled "Gauguin au Pouldu".
Catalogue of 28 works by Gauguin, including two lithographs and two plaster casts. Minute black spot in the margin of the front wrapper.