Les justes[The Just Assassins]
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.

Supple and very light, this beautiful, silky, puffy paper is nonetheless considered the least prized of luxury limited issues, and is not even regarded as a true “grand papier” (large paper, or special paper issue). In France, papier Alfa is used for authors' copies, or limited copies with the highest number, often printed in large quantities. In England, where large paper copies are less common, Alfa became the default publishing paper from the end of the 19th century. Often inexpensive, copies on Alfa are very pleasant to read and offer a good approach to book collecting.
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 the numbered copies on alfa paper.
Spine sunned as is usual, a small dent to one board edge, a small dark mark to the lower part of the front board.
Publisher's binding after an original design by Mario Prassinos.
First edition, printed in a small, numbered edition on alfa paper.
Rare and fine copy.
Signed presentation inscription from Jean de La Varende to the bibliophile Maurice Gorrée.
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, one of 1,050 numbered copies on alfa paper.
Publisher's binding after the original design by Mario Prassinos.
Spine very slightly sunned, as usual, with a small nick to the upper headcap.
First edition, one of 260 numbered copies on alfa paper.
Fine copy.
First edition, one of 24 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe issue.
With sections devoted in particular to Cesare Pavese and Alberto Moravia...
A rare and attractive copy of Dominique Fernandez’s first published work.
First edition of the French translation, one of 40 numbered copies on alfa paper, this one of 10 hors commerce copies, the deluxe issue.
Spine slightly sunned.
Rare signed and dated autograph inscription from Nikos Kazantzakis to Charles Orengo, then literary director of Éditions Plon.
Orengo, nicknamed “Père Joseph” by Françoise Verny, was a key figure in post-war French publishing. The founder of Éditions du Rocher, he went on to spend many years at Plon before being appointed to the management of the Librairie Hachette. He ended his career as chairman of Fayard.
First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on alfa, only deluxe copies. Some light foxing, mainly on the endpapers.
Rare signed presentation copy in French: “To my friend René Jasinski, in token of gratitude and friendship, these few scenes of Jewish life in New York. T. Twersky”, with a sentence in Hebrew translated by the author in French on a laid-in leaf: “Translation of the Hebrew inscription: sixth day of the week ‘Pekoudè’, year 5692 since the creation of the world, in the holy community of Paris”, (Friday, 4 March 1932 according to our calculation).
First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on alfa vellum, the only copies on deluxe paper.
Slight sunning at the foot of the spine.
A handsome copy.
First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on alfa vellum, ours being No. 1, the only copies on deluxe paper.
Rare and handsome copy.
First edition, one of 265 numbered copies on alfa paper.
A handsome copy, notwithstanding a small marginal tear to the lower cover.
First edition, one of 1,200 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only large paper copies after 50 on Marais.
Spine very slightly faded as usual.
Handsome autograph inscription signed by Henri Michaux to Raymond Queneau.
First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on alfa, the only deluxe issue.
Illustrations.
A few very light, insignificant spots of foxing.
A handsome copy, complete with its illustrated dust jacket.
First edition of the French translation, one of 325 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe issue together with a few alfa mousse copies not for sale.
Minor tears without loss at the head of the spine, which also shows slight sunning at the foot, final endpaper partially shaded.
A rare and pleasing copy.
First edition, a numbered copy on alfa du Marais paper, this one not included in the justification.
Handsome autograph inscription signed and dated by Aimé Césaire to Raymond Queneau: “Très sympathique hommage de ces bucoliques de sang et de soleil... [a very affectionate homage of these bucolics of blood and sunshine...]”
Covers and spine slightly sunned at edges (but not seriously).
First edition, one of 35 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.
A handsome copy, despite slight and marginal fading to the spine and covers.
First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe copies.
Spine very slightly faded, a pleasing copy.
First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe copies.
Bound in red half shagreen with corners, spine with four raised bands framed by blind fillets, sides covered in gilt-effect paper, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt on witnesses.
A handsome copy in an attractive binding.
First edition, one of 80 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.
A handsome and rare copy.
First edition, one of 18 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe copies.
Bound in navy blue half shagreen with corners, spine with four raised bands, gilt-effect paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.
A handsome copy in an elegant binding.
Inscribed and signed by Benoîte and Flora Groult to Maurice Gorrée (Benoîte signing on Flora’s behalf).
First edition, one of 110 numbered copies on alfa paper, this one not justified, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.
Bound in red half shagreen with corners, spine with four raised bands framed by black fillets, covers with gilt-patterned paper, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.
A handsome copy in an attractive binding.
Illustrated with 16 phototype plates.
First edition, one of 175 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.
A fine copy.
First edition, one of 100 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe issue.
A rare and handsome copy.
Inscribed and signed by Jean de La Varende to Monsieur Gorrée.
First edition, one of 60 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe copies after 28 on pur fil.
A handsome copy.
First edition of the French translation, one of 40 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.
Handsome copy.
First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe copies along with a few hors commerce also printed on alfa.
Fine copy.
First edition, one of 90 numbered copies on alfal paper, the only copies on deluxe paper.
Fine copy, complete with the loose and folding map.
First edition, one of 1050 numbered copies on bouffant alfa paper.
Publisher's binding after the original design by Paul Bonet.
Very handsome copy complete with its flexible cardboard slipcase.
First edition, one of the copies on alfa paper, only deluxe issue apart from 25 copies on pur fil.
Handsome copy despite some light sunning on the spine.
"La Revue Libre, a clandestine review, published in February 1944 an anonymous Lettre à un Ami allemand. It was by Camus. By Camus, too, was the second letter that appeared at the same date, under the pseudonym Louis Neuville, in the Cahiers de la Libération. Together with two others, which had remained unpublished, these letters make up the small volume Lettres à un Ami allemand, published in 1945, after the Liberation." (Henri Perruchot, La haine des masques...
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..."
Rare first edition of the French translation, one of 350 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe issue after 50 copies on pur fil.
Spine and boards very slightly and marginally sunned, of no consequence.
Rare and attractive copy.
First edition of the French translation by Alexandre Vialatte, one of 148 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only grand papier copies.
Preface by Bernard Groethuysen.
Half gray morocco binding with corners, smooth spine, marbled paper sides, endpapers and pastedowns of marbled paper, original wrappers and spine preserved, gilt top edge, slipcase edged in mouse-gray morocco with marbled paper sides, contemporary binding signed Lévêque.
First edition, one of 32 numbered copies on Alfama paper.
A rare and fine copy.
First edition, one of 250 numbered copies on alfa paper reserved for presentation and review.
A pleasing copy.
Signed presentation inscription from Jean Giraudoux to Maurice Martin du Gard, additionally signed by Jean-Louis Barrault and Madeleine Renaud, who created the roles of the imperial prosecutor Blanchard and Lucile Blanchard.
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, one of 300 numbered copies on alfa paper reserved for the press service.
A few spots of foxing, chiefly affecting the endpapers and edges, small tears to the boards at the edges, a small loss at the foot of the spine, which also shows slight sunning at the head.
Presentation inscription signed by Marguerite Yourcenar to Mr. Van Melle.
First edition, one of 1,040 numbered copies printed on Navarre alfa paper.
Publisher's paper-covered boards after Paul Bonet's original design.
Endpapers fully shaded throughout, as often encountered.
First edition, one of 350 numbered copies on alfa paper reserved for the press.
Spine slightly cocked.
A touching and highly desirable signed autograph inscription from Louise de Vilmorin to her lover, the French sports shooter, businessman and politician Jean de Beaumont: "à mon Jean chéri que j'aime toujours davantage sa mendiante de baisers. Louise", enhanced with a drawing of a four-leaf clover enclosing the name Louise.
First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on alfa mousse paper, the only deluxe paper issue.
A pleasing copy.
Signed autograph inscription from Jean Freustié to Micheline Amar: "... this Marthe ou les amants tristes to which she will owe much..."
First edition, one of 175 numbered copies on alfa paper, being the only large-paper copies after 23 on pure laid and 155 on vellum.
A fine copy despite two small tears at the head and foot of the spine.
Autograph presentation inscription signed by Hervé Bazin to Robert Géry, accompanied by a small drawing of a viper with its forked tongue extended.
First edition, one of 2,270 numbered copies printed on alfa paper, the only printing.
A pleasing copy despite small marginal tears to the wrappers.
First edition, one of 10 numbered copies on Alfama paper, the only deluxe paper issue apart from a few hors commerce copies also printed on Alfama.
Minor, unobtrusive traces of corner creasing to the wrappers.
A rare and pleasing copy.
First edition, one of 110 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe paper copies.
Frontispiece with a photographic portrait of Léon Blum.
A pleasant copy.
First edition, one of 50 copies numbered on alfa paper, the only deluxe paper issue.
Bound in full beige sheepskin, spine ruled in black, gilt date at foot, minor rubbing to the edges of the boards, marbled endpapers, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.
Pencil annotations relating to the reading of the work.
Gift inscription by a former member of the José Corti publishing house: "A monsieur Marchaux en témoignage de sympathie ce tout premier livre publié par José Corti."
Above all else Damas's writing theatened conventional society. This pamphlet Retour de Guyane was bought in big numbers by the colonial authorities and burnt.
...First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only copies issued on deluxe paper.
A rare and handsome copy.
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.
First edition, one of 26 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only copies issued on deluxe paper.
A rare and attractive copy.
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 the numbered copies on alfa paper reserved for the press.
One joint slightly pinched along its length, otherwise a pleasant copy.
Autograph inscription signed by Colette to Michel Corday.
First edition, one of the copies printed on alfa paper.
A small split to the spine, a few light foxing spots.
Manuscript signatures of Joseph Kessel and Hélène Iswolsky.
First edition, one of 42 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe paper issue.
Minor, unobtrusive foxing to the foot of the upper cover, otherwise a pleasing copy.
Preface by Thierry Maulnier.
First edition of the French translation prepared by Jacques Schiffrin and André Gide, one of 80 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe paper issue, with a further 45 copies on pure rag.
A rare and fine copy.
First edition, one of 110 numbered copies on deluxe paper, our copy unnumbered, the only large-paper issue.
With a photographic portrait of Léon Blum as frontispiece.
Some scattered foxing, notably to the edges and endpapers; minor marginal tears to the covers, without significance.
First edition, one of 40 numbered copies on alfa paper, our copy not specifically numbered, issued as the only deluxe paper copies.
A few small spots of foxing, mainly affecting the edges and the endpapers, which show two small traces of adhesive paper.
First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on alfa paper, our copy lettered "A" among the 8 hors commerce lettered copies, the only deluxe paper issue.
A tear at the foot of the spine at the level of the sewing supports, otherwise a pleasant wide-margined copy.
Dated and signed autograph presentation by the publisher beneath the print statement: "Affectueusement reservé à mon admirable collaboratrice Suzanne qui est aussi la plus charmante & la plus précieuse des filleules - que dis-je ? la seule filleule qui compte ! Paris 18 octobre 1942."
First edition of the French translation, one of 230 numbered copies on alfa paper.
With a preface by Romain Rolland.
A fine copy, the spine very slightly toned.
First edition, one of 38 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe copies issued.
A very handsome copy.