"Papier Chine", made from bamboo bark and manufactured in the open air, giving it a gray hue, is generally considered the most luxurious of the special papers used for limited issues (grands papiers). It is exclusively used for first editions, sometimes limited to one or two copies. While it is a paper of unrivalled finesse and suppleness, its texture is also very fragile, not easy to leaf through and, above all, prone to foxing. However its unique quality has always granted it exceptional status, as Anatole France wrote in Le livre du bibliophile: “The papier de Chine deserves a special mention - its use needs to be specified. We are refering to true Chine, light as cork, very thin and very spongy at the same time, and as soft and shiny as a silk scarf. For all its qualities, papier de Chine, too inconsistent, owes its reputation not to its own beauty, but to its particular affinity with printing ink. Its texture, both smooth and soft, is better suited than any other to a fine print. This unique feature makes papier de Chine especially sought-after for the printing of engravings... The print comes out with incomparable sharpness. Books printed in small-format texts particularly benefit from being printed on papier de Chine.”
First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on China paper, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.
A pleasing copy.
Illustrated with plates by Louis Dunki.
Illustrated edition of Victor Hugo's speeches and political writings.
Wide-margined copy on chine, numbered (32), unopened.
Illustrated wrappers with some soiling, dampstaining and minor marginal tears, cracked spine, occasional foxing to the leaves.
Illustrated edition of Victor Hugo's speeches and political writings.
Wide-margined copy on chine, numbered (6), unopened.
Illustrated wrappers with some soiling, water stains and minor tears to the margins, spine split, occasional foxing to the leaves.
First edition, one of 8 numbered copies on Chinese paper, the deluxe issue.
Bound in full red morocco, smooth spine, spine and boards decorated with a geometric design of black and gilt fillets representing interlaced mountain peaks in zigzag pattern, endpapers and pastedowns illustrated with an original lithograph signed in pencil by Germaine de Coster, following endpapers of red paper, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt; a very elegant contemporary binding signed by Hélène Dumas and Germaine de Coster.
This copy is further enriched with an original charcoal portrait of Jean Giono, signed by...
Actes et paroles - Avant l'exil, 1841-1851 [Words and Deeds - Before the Exile, 1841-1851]
Michel Lévy frères, Paris 1875, 19,5x25cm, bound.
First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on chine, most limited deluxe edition of this important collection of speeches, public declarations, and political texts intended for French parliament (Chamber of Peers, Constituent Assembly and Legislative Assembly), all written - as stated in the title - prior to his exile. These important texts address freedom of the press, theater and education, as well as the abolition of the death penalty.
Half red shagreen binding, smooth spine decorated in gilt lengthwise, marbled paper...
First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on China paper, the only deluxe copies with 50 on Japan.
Work decorated with illustrations by Abel Boyé.
Half brown morocco with corners binding, smooth spine decorated with a gilt cartouche decorated with floral decorative motifs with pieces of brown mosaic morocco, gilt date at foot, some slight rubbing to the headcaps, gilt fillets frame on the marbled paper covers, endpapers and pastedowns of pebbled paper, covers in duplicate state and spine preserved, top edge gilt, elegant binding signed Canape.
Handsome copy beautifully executed.
First edition, one of 110 numbered copies on China paper, the only printing along with 12 copies on Japon nacré paper and 1 on Chine, variously enriched.
Illustrated with 11 original color lithographs by Jean Fautrier.
Autograph inscription from Robert Ganzo to a couple of his acquaintance.
Manuscript signatures of the author and illustrator on the justification page.
This copy retains its original glassine wrapper showing spiders wandering in the webs they've woven
Occasional very light spotting, a good copy.
