First Editions on Japon

First edition, one of the scarce copies on Japon paper.
Work illustrated with 17 colour plates.
A fine copy with wide margins.

First edition, totaling 240 numbered copies, ours one of 10 copies on japon à la forme, the deluxe issue, complete at the end of the volume with its additional complete suite of illustrations in black as stated in the limitation.
Illustrated with 17 splendid pochoir plates in black, white, and gold by George Barbier.
A rare and handsome deluxe copy of this George Barbier masterpiece.

First French edition, illustrated by Arthur Rackham with 40 mounted color plates on thick brown paper, each protected by a captioned tissue guard, along with 30 black-and-white line drawings within the text, one of the extremely rare 30 copies printed on Japon, signed by Arthur Rackham on the limitation page; the deluxe issue.
Publisher's Bradel binding in full vellum-style boards, smooth gilt-titled spine, upper board gilt-stamped with title and a tree design, top edge gilt; the silk tie on the lower board is lacking.
A very handsome copy, one of the exceedingly scarce Japon copies.

Provenance: manuscript ex-libris on the half-title of Maurice Feuillet, renowned press illustrator, notably for major legal trials, as well as art critic and founder of the Figaro artistique. Feuillet is best remembered for his courtroom sketches during the trials of Émile Zola in 1898 and Alfred Dreyfus in 1899.

First edition of the French translation prepared by Michel Vaucaire, who would later write the lyrics to the famous song Non, je ne regrette rien, singed by Édith Piaf. One of the rare named copies printed on japon. 

Vertical creasing to spine, minor corner losses to spine and boards, traces of erasure to first two leaves, as issued.

Illustrated with 9 black-and-white photographs, including one on the cover.

Illustrated edition with 13 colour plates on brown paper by Arthur Rackham tipped in with captioned tissue guards, together with 14 black-and-white illustrations in the text by Rackham, including a frontispiece portrait of Alice, one of the very rare 20 copies on Japon, signed by Arthur Rackham on the limitation page, copy from the deluxe issue. A few name copies on the same paper were also issued.
Publisher’s full vellum binding, smooth spine lettered in gilt with a gilt illustration of the Cheshire Cat, upper cover stamped in gilt with the title and an illustration of two fantastic creatures, illustrated endpapers, top edge gilt. Occasional light foxing.
A handsome copy of the most sought-after of Rackham’s illustrated works, one of the exceedingly rare copies on Japon paper.

Provenance: manuscript ex-libris on the half-title of Maurice Feuillet, celebrated press illustrator, notably for major legal trials, as well as art critic and founder of the 'Figaro artistique'. Feuillet remains renowned for his courtroom sketches during the trials of Émile Zola in 1898 and Alfred Dreyfus in 1899.

Illustrated edition with 24 colour plates by Arthur Rackham tipped in with captioned tissue guards, 8 full-page black-and-white illustrations, together with numerous ornaments and vignettes in the text by Arthur Rackham, one of 300 copies printed on vélin à la forme, signed by Arthur Rackham on the limitation page.
Publisher’s Bradel binding in full bright white vellum, smooth spine lettered in gilt, upper cover gilt-stamped with the title and a design of fantastic animals within a vertical gilt rule, illustrated endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt, untrimmed edges preserved. 
A very well-preserved copy of Milton's baroque and Dionysian spectacle, superbly illustrated by Rackham.

Provenance: manuscript ex-libris on the half-title of Maurice Feuillet, a renowned press illustrator, particularly noted for major court cases, as well as an art critic and founder of the Figaro artistique. Feuillet is remembered for his courtroom sketches during the trials of Émile Zola in 1898 and Alfred Dreyfus in 1899.

First edition, one of 42 numbered copies on Japon paper, the leading copies after 8 hors commerce on Chine paper.
Elegant Bradel binding in half black calf over floral paper boards by P. Goy & C. Vilaine, covers preserved (lightly soiled at edges), top edge gilt.
With a frontispiece portrait of the author on Chine paper by Jean-Louis Forain.
One tiny foxing as well as a small, clear marginal dampstain touching frontispiece.
A very good copy nicely bound.

First edition, one of 42 numbered copies on Japan Barjon paper, one of the deluxe issue, with 8 additional copies on Japan reserved for the author.

Introduction by Francis Scarfe and preface by Jean-Jacques Mayoux.

Rare and attractive copy of Kenneth White’s first book, complete with two photographs by Marie-Claude White.

First edition, one of 10 numbered copies on imperial japon, ours one of 3 hors commerce lettered copies, a deluxe issue following 6 on chine.

Bound in full sienna morocco, flat spine, gilt date at foot, moiré-effect endpapers and pastedowns, gilt fillet border on pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved (spine restored and backed), gilt edges, chemise edged in sienna morocco, slipcase in wood-effect board with white felt lining, contemporary binding signed by Roger Arnoult.

Our copy is enriched with a one-page signed autograph letter by Jean Cocteau, mounted on a guard, written from La Roche-Posay in Vienne, probably addressed to Pierre Benoit, in which he humorously evokes Charlie Chaplin, his fragile health, and his boredom: "... Me voilà dans ce film de Charlot : \"Charlot fait une cure\" - parmi les clowns et clowneries du mercurochrome... Le docteur H. arrive à éteindre mon fer de travail avec ses pelotes d'épingles aquatiques. Mon ventre gargouille. Si tu venais ce serait une très bonne cure. Que penses-tu de cette publicité pour La Roche : La Roche source d'ennuis."

A handsome copy, finely bound by Roger Arnoult, a graduate of the École Estienne, active until 1980, who collaborated with and worked for the foremost binders of his time such as René Aussourd, Anthoine-Legrain, Paul Bonet, Georges Cretté, Pierre-Lucien Martin...

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

Illustrated with 121 wood engravings and a folding coloured map.

Bound in modern half black oasis, flat spine decorated with double gilt fillets, brown oasis lettering-piece, marbled paper boards, endpapers and pastedowns of marbled paper, lower cover preserved and mounted on a tab.

First edition of this magnificent work, one of Gustave Le Bon’s (1841–1931) contributions to anthropology, in which he applied his pioneering theories to the Arab world. One of the few copies printed on japon paper, unrecorded in bibliographies.

Illustrated with 10 chromolithographs, 4 maps, and 366 engravings, including 70 large plates, after the author’s photographs or the most reliable documentary sources. Cf. Vicaire V, 134.

Contemporary half cherry-red shagreen, spine with five raised bands adorned with gilt fillets and double gilt compartments, double gilt fillet frame on marbled paper-covered boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt.

Minor superficial rubbing to spine ends.

A rare and attractive copy on japon paper, handsomely bound in contemporary period style.

First collected edition, one of 25 copies printed on Japan paper, the deluxe issue.

Contemporary brown half shagreen binding with corners, spine with five raised bands ruled with gilt dotted lines, adorned with double gilt compartments and decorative motifs, moiré paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt on witnesses.

A handsome copy in an attractive period binding.

First edition, one of 34 copies printed on Japan paper, this copy being one of 5 not-for-sale copies printed for presentation, a deluxe issue following the unique copy on Japan Imperial.

Illustrated with 9 original wood engravings by Maurice Savin.

Minor loss at foot of spine, occasional light spotting on some deckle edges, a handsome copy with full margins.

As stated in the colophon, our copy includes the additional suite of wood engravings printed on antique Japan paper.

Inscribed and signed by André Spire to Claude Aveline, for whom this copy was printed

First edition, one of 54 numbered copies on nacreous Japan paper, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

First edition, one of 5 numbered copies printed on Japan paper, the deluxe issue.

Bound in chocolate-brown half morocco, spine with five raised bands framed by black fillets, date gilt-stamped at foot; sides covered in cat's-eye paper, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers bound in, top edge gilt. A finely executed unsigned binding, slightly later.

A handsome copy in an appealing presentation.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Japan paper, ours not numbered but printed for the publisher, a copy from the deluxe issue.

Half black morocco binding, spine with five raised bands, date gilt-stamped at foot, moiré paper sides, endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, binding signed in blind by Ch. Septier.

Illustrated with 21 hors-texte engravings by Daniel Vierge, along with numerous in-text black-and-white engravings.

Our copy, as with all copies on Japan paper, includes the hors-texte engravings in two states.

A handsome and finely bound copy.

First edition, one of 15 numbered copies on tinted antique Japan paper, ours being one of 5 hors commerce lettered copies, comprising the deluxe issue.

Minor spotting to the half-title and following leaf, otherwise a fine copy with full margins.

First edition, this one the no. 1 of 25 numbered copies on Japon, most limited deluxe issue.

Bound in grey half morocco, smooth spine, marbled paper boards, mould-made endpapers, original wrappers preserved, pastedown bookplate, top edge gilt, contemporary binding signed by L. Pouillet.

A rare and handsome copy in an attractive contemporary binding.

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

Minor foxing to the edges of the covers, otherwise a desirable and uncommon copy with all edges uncut.

First edition of the French translation, illustrated with wood engravings, heliotypes, and vignettes.

Spine and covers slightly and marginally sunned.

Illustrated with 19 hors-texte plates reproducing works by Utagawa Hiroshige.

Our copy bears this signed autograph inscription from a member of the Japanese Embassy to an art lover: "Avec les vifs remerciements de l'Ambassade du Japon pour votre aimable concours. Soirée japonaise, le 11 février 1926, 2586e anniversaire de l'avènement de la dynastie impériale."

First edition of the French translation by Eugène Guillevic, printed in 35 copies numbered and signed in the colophon on japon ancien, ours one of the 10 hors commerce lettered copies.

Presentation copy, signed and inscribed by Hélène Iliazd to Claude Nardin in pencil in the colophon.

A rare copy complete with its folders and guards made of various papers, its folded parchment chemise with a large outward flap, and its blue cloth chemise and slipcase.

This first edition, conceived and produced by Hélène Iliazd and Ania Staritsky in memory of Iliazd, contains an unpublished poem by the Russian poet, with his autograph Russian manuscript in facsimile along with its French translation by Eugène Guillevic.

The work is illustrated with 6 original copper plates by Staritsky, including 2 double-page plates; the artist also designed the book.

We include the invitation card for the opening presentation of the book by Hélène Iliazd at the Alexandre Loewy bookshop on Tuesday 1 February 1983.

Our copy exceptionally contains a signed autograph letter from Hélène Iliazd to Claude Nardin (two pages with its envelope), concerning the distribution of the work and an invitation to the gallery opening.

Two parts in one volume, printed on hōsho paper and folded in the Japanese style

Two colour-illustrated covers, and 28 superb Japanese colour prints by Kano Motonobu, Kadjita Hanko. All text pages are illustrated with drawings in black.

A very fine artistic publication printed on pure Japanese rag paper with special Japanese folding. The Tokyo publisher is Kané-Mitsou Masao, the printer Shueisha, under the direction of Yamamoto Yeijiro.

Original publisher's binding in half black embossed leather with japanese motifs, illustrated boards depicting figures and animals in colours, long-grain red morocco lettering-piece on the upper board gilt-stamped and framed within a foliate border, patterned embossed paper endpapers and pastedowns.

The preface recalls the publisher's first publication, “Les Fables de La Fontaine,” and provides some details on the artists: Motonobu, is a representative of the Kanō school, founded by his celebrated ancestor, and Hanko, one of the leading figures of the realist school of Yosaï. “These illustrations actually represent scenes of Japanese life as well as if the author of these fables were Japanese himself". 

A superb copy in its original publisher's binding, in perfect condition.

First edition, one of 13 numbered copies on imperial Japan paper, deluxe issue.

Spine and boards very lightly and marginally sun-toned, without significance.

Rare and pleasing copy, with full margins and uncut.

First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on Japan paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

Bound in full burgundy morocco, spine with five raised bands ruled in black, gilt rolls to the headcaps, moiré-effect paper endleaves and doublures, inner boards framed with gilt fillets, dotted tools and corner fleurons, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt on witnesses, double gilt fillets to the turn-ins, slipcase edged in burgundy morocco with sides covered in moiré-effect paper, contemporary signed binding by Vauthrin-Pezet.

A fine, beautifully executed copy.

First edition, one of the 10 numbered and justified copies on japon paper, the only large-paper issue announced.

Contemporary half brown morocco binding in the Bradel style, smooth spine, marbled paper boards, handmade endpapers, bookplate affixed to the front pastedown, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, period binding.

Signed and dated autograph inscription from Jean Puget to his publisher Pierre Briquet: "... en souvenir des jours héroïques..."

Provenance: from the personal library of publisher Pierre Briquet, with his bookplate affixed to the front pastedown.

Exceptionally rare copy featuring the censored passages restored in black ink, likely by the publisher, on pages 92 and 118.

First edition, one of 200 numbered copies on Japanese vellum, the deluxe issue.

Illustrated with 3 engravings and 1 map.

Brown half shagreen morocco binding with corner pieces; spine with five raised bands ruled in black, gilt date at foot; minor rubbing to the spine; marbled paper sides; marbled endpapers and pastedowns; original wrappers and spine preserved; corners slightly bumped; gilt top edge.

A pleasing copy.

First edition, one of 13 numbered copies on Imperial Japan paper, from the deluxe issue.

A rare and fine copy.

Rare first edition of the French translation by Judith Gautier, printed on japon-style paper.
Slight restoration work to spine and a corner of the lower cover, wrappers slightly and marginally soiled as usual.
Illustrated throughout with full-page colour woodcuts by Yamamoto.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies printed on Edogawa Japan paper, the deluxe issue.

A handsome copy, complete—as with all copies on Japan paper—with the author’s portrait frontispiece by Armand Rassenfosse.

First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on Japan paper, the smallest issue of the deluxe edition, along with 20 on Arches.

Spine and covers marginally faded and sunned as usual, with minor paper losses at the flaps.

Illustrated with 8 original lithographs by Georges Annenkoff.

As with all copies from the deluxe issue, this copy includes the complete double suite of illustrations on vellum and on China paper.

First edition in French, one of 8 numbered copies on Imperial Japan paper, ours being one of 3 hors commerce copies, deluxe printing.
Some foxing to boards and certain deckled edges.
A rare full-margined copy.

Second edition with some parts in first edition (with 5 added tales), Félix Vallotton's illustrations in first issue, one of 20 numbered copies on japon, only deluxe issue.
Bradel binding, brown 3/4 cloth, smooth spine with floral motif stamped in gilt at center, twice ruled in gilt at foot, slightly chafed morocco title-label, marbled paper boards, original covers and spine preserved, contemporary binding signed Carayon.
Small clear stains to the top edge of first board, one corner slightly rubbed, a spot of foxing at foot of the first few pages. 
Illustrated with 50 drawings by Félix Vallotton.

Rare and handsome copy housed in a contemporary binding by Carayon.  

First edition, one of 100 copies on Japon, the only deluxe issue.

Navy blue half shagreen with slight color restoration, spine with five raised bands abundantly framed in gilt, blue watered silk flyleaves, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, gilt top edge, binding signed J. Querelle.