Proche est la mer
First edition, one of 24 numbered copies on Lana laid paper, the only deluxe paper issue.
A pleasing copy.

The elegant laid paper (vergé de Hollande), with its wire and chain lines, is the illustrious descendant of the vergés invented in France by Protestant craftsmen who took refuge in the Netherlands after Louis XIV ordered the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Although this fine paper is not very sensitive to foxing and ageing, it is rarely used for the very limited issues reserved for the author or a few bibliophiles. Laid paper is nevertheless the preferred special paper for limited issues of most novels of the late 19th and 20th centuries. This thick, supple paper, with a smooth ivory color, soaks up light and delightfully blends it with ink. It's the ideal medium for rereading your favorite texts.
First edition, one of 24 numbered copies on Lana laid paper, the only deluxe paper issue.
A pleasing copy.
First edition, one of 52 numbered copies on Holland paper, the deluxe issue.
A handsome copy.
First edition, one of 35 numbered copies on hollande paper, top-of-edition issue.
A very fine copy.
First edition, one of 45 numbered copies on Holland paper, the deluxe issue.
Full chocolate-brown morocco binding, spine with five raised bands framed with black fillets, date gilt at foot, gilt rolls on the caps, marbled paper endpapers and doublures, gilt double fillet borders on the doublures, gilt fillets along the edges, original wrappers and spine preserved, all edges gilt, slipcase edged with matching chocolate morocco, sides in marbled paper, interior lined with grey felt. A splendid binding signed by Semet & Plumelle.
A very handsome copy, perfectly bound in full morocco by Semet & Plumelle.
First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on Holland paper, the deluxe issue.
Bound in full ebony morocco, smooth spine decorated with small inlays of garnet morocco and pearl-grey box calf, the latter framing the author’s initials and the title; the first numeral of the date, given in Roman numerals, appears within a square of pearl-grey box calf. Morocco boards framed with wide panels of chocolate suede, the upper cover with a large granulated paper panel lettered with the title and date of the edition set in garnet morocco, the initials framed by a rectangle of paper taken from a map of Haute-Savoie; bluish paper...
First edition, one of 160 hors commerce copies on Lana vellum, ours being one of 60 hors commerce copies, the only deluxe issue.
Half long-grain black morocco binding, smooth spine lettered with the author’s name, title, date, and the palladium inscription “EX. JOSEPH KESSEL 1958”, wood-patterned paper boards, grey endpapers and pastedowns, wrappers and spine preserved, binding signed by Thomas Boichot.
Some foxing, mainly affecting the wrappers and the first and last leaves.
Exceptional and moving signed autograph presentation from Maurice Druon to Joseph Kessel: "A toi mon grand Jef, cet Alexandre le grand né lui aussi sous le signe du...
First edition, one of 10 lettered copies on Holland paper, the only deluxe copies.
Illustrated on the cover with a portrait of Max Jacob by Pablo Picasso.
A rare and handsome copy.
First edition, one of the rare copies printed on laid paper.
This issue consists of 4 pages and includes a comic strip by Achille Lemot alias Uzès : "L'honneur est satisfait".
Literary contributions by Albert Samain ("Une"), Rodolphe Darzens with the poem "Crainte d'aimer", George Auriol ("La mort du démon d'oubli"), Paul Cary ("Les deux sorties de ma tante"), Rodolphe Salis...
A handsome copy despite a few faint marginal dampstains.
Le Chat noir was a weekly magazine founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897, intended to promote the famous cabaret of the same name, of which it served as a record. It featured texts performed during the...
First edition dedicated to Louis Jouvet, one of 108 numbered copies on Lafuma Navarre laid paper, reimposed in quarto tellière format, deluxe issue.
Half red morocco-backed marbled boards, spine with five raised bands framed with blind fillets, date gilt at foot, marbled paper sides, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, binding signed by D.H. Mercher.
Premiered by Louis Jouvet at the Comédie des Champs-Élysées on 14 December 1923. The actor also oversaw the staging and set design; in 1933, the play was later adapted for the screen by Roger Goupillières, again starring Louis Jouvet in the leading role.
First edition, one of 10 numbered copies on Holland paper, deluxe issue.
Some minor foxing mostly at the beginning and end of the volume.
Inscribed and signed by Maurice Genevoix to Jacques Gommy: "... en pensant aux forêts qu'il aime, avec les hommages et les amitiés de Maurice Genevoix."
First edition, one of 55 numbered copies on pure wove paper, the only deluxe paper issue.
Bound in half brown morocco, spines with five raised bands, gilt dates at foot, boards covered with abstract patterned paper, endleaves and doublures of brown paper, original wrappers and backstrips preserved, gilt edges, bindings signed by Thomas Boichot.
A precious copy of this foundational text of modern feminism.
First edition, one of 25 copies on handmade laid paper, numbered and justified by the publisher, the only deluxe issue.
Bradel binding in half chocolate-brown morocco with corners, smooth spine, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, illustrated wrappers by Manuel Orazi and backstrip preserved.
Work illustrated with 136 black and colour drawings, in- and out-of-text, by Georges Bottini.
Bookplate mounted.
Our copy is enriched with a full-page original drawing, signed by Georges Bottini and heightened in black ink, depicting Jacques Beaudarmon wearing a bowler hat and conversing with the « môme...
First edition, one of 20 deluxe copies on Holland paper, the only large-paper issue, reimposed in octavo format (the ordinary edition being in duodecimo).
Cf. Vicaire III, 305-306. Carteret I, 222.
Contemporary full stiff ivory vellum, smooth spine, marbled endpapers and pastedowns.
Fine copy.
Bibliographers mention 25 copies, which seems difficult to account for, as the limitation is clearly stated on the verso of the half-title. This procedure was customary for the author (Les Six aventures, 1857, was issued in the same dual printing).
Precious presentation copy inscribed and signed by Maxime Du Camp to the celebrated critic Jules Janin...
First edition of the author's second work, one of 10 numbered copies on Holland paper, the only deluxe paper issue.
Bound in yellow half morocco with corners, spine with five raised bands, gilt date at foot, a small black spot at head of spine, floral and moiré patterned paper boards, pale green paper endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, gilt edges, bookplate of Gérard Pesme Baron de Saint-Genies pasted on a pastedown, binding signed by Thomas Boichot.
Half-title entirely toned.
A fine copy, handsomely bound.
First edition, one of the rare copies printed on laid paper.
This issue comprises 4 pages and features an illustration by Steinlen: "Le plus vexé des trois".
With literary contributions by Alphonse Allais ("Absinthes", dedicated to Adolphe Willette), Rodolphe Darzens with the poem "Le conseil de la chair", Camille de Sainte-Croix ("Paul Margueritte"), Louis Marsolleau ("Villon"), among others.
A handsome copy, despite a small paper flaw at the head of the first page due to a printing defect.
Le Chat noir was a weekly magazine founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897, intended to promote the famous cabaret of the same name, which it...
First edition, one of the rare copies printed on laid paper.
This four-page issue is illustrated with drawings by Jean-François Raffaëlli.
Contains literary contributions by Alphonse Allais ("Episode"), Georges d'Esparbès ("Délila"), George Auriol ("Chroniques de province"), Rodolphe Darzens ("Pour celle qui boude")...
A handsome copy despite a faint dampstain to the center of the issue.
Le Chat noir was a weekly review founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897 with the aim of promoting the famous cabaret of the same name, of which it served as the living memory. It featured texts recited during performances. The review also stands as an...
First edition, one of the rare copies printed on laid paper.
This issue comprises 4 pages and features an illustration by Steinlen: "Coqs et poule".
Literary contributions by Alphonse Allais with "Le pauvre bougre et le bon génie" dedicated to Henry Somm, François Villon with the poem "Rondel", George Auriol with "Au diable vert" dedicated to Steinlen, Rodolphe Salis...
A handsome copy.
Le Chat noir was a weekly review founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897, created to promote the famous cabaret of the same name and to serve as its memory. It published the texts performed during the shows. More broadly, it constitutes a major literary...
First edition, one of the rare copies printed on laid paper.
This issue comprises 4 pages and includes a comic strip by Albert Robida: "Vient de paraître !"
Literary contributions by Alphonse Allais ("La bonne fille"), George Auriol ("La statue de César Dupeauprez"), and Gaston Méry ("Au parc Monceau"), dedicated to Albert Tinchant...
A pleasant copy, with only a few faint marginal spots.
Le Chat noir was a weekly magazine founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897, intended to promote the famous cabaret of the same name, of which it served as a lasting record. It published texts recited during the performances. The magazine stands as a...
First edition, one of the rare copies printed on laid paper.
The issue comprises 4 pages and features a comic strip by Godefroy: "Question de cabinet".
Literary contributions by Victor Meusy ("Les prunes de monsieur"), Alphonse Allais ("Le médecin (monologue pour Cadet)"), Rolla ("Tombes de fleurs")...
A faint dampstain along the left margin of the journal, otherwise a pleasing copy.
Le Chat noir was a weekly magazine founded by Rodolphe Salis and Émile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897 to promote the famous cabaret of the same name, acting as its living archive. It published the texts performed during the shows and stands as a major literary and artistic testimony...
First edition, one of the rare copies printed on laid paper.
This four-page issue features a comic strip by Louis-Christian, known as Döes: "La bonne galette".
Includes literary contributions by Francisque Sarcey on "La Terre" by Emile Zola, Charles Cros "Psaume CCCCXXXIV", Alfred Béjot "Épitre à Allais", Georges Auriol "Malabar", among others.
One tear with loss and some light staining to the margins of the covers.
Le Chat Noir was a weekly review founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897, intended to promote the famous cabaret of the same name and to serve as its chronicle. It featured the texts recited during performances and...
First edition, one of the rare copies printed on laid paper.
This issue comprises 4 pages and features a comic strip by Steinlen, "Du dernier bien avec le général", as well as drawings by Henry Somm on the facing page.
Literary contributions by Alphonse Allais, "La forêt enchantée" dedicated to George Auriol, Raoul Gineste "Les vieux chats", and José Rolla "A l'église"...
A well-preserved copy, despite a few faint marginal stains.
Le Chat noir was a weekly review founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897 to promote the famous cabaret of the same name, of which it served as a record. It featured texts performed during the shows and stands...
First edition, one of the rare copies printed on laid paper.
This four-page issue features a large double-page illustration by Steinlen.
Literary contributions by Alphonse Allais (“Bébert”), Pimpinelli (“Pose de lapin”, dedicated to Albert Tinchant), and Narcisse Lebeau (“Paravent”)...
Some marginal tears and stains.
Le Chat noir was a weekly magazine founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897, intended to promote the famous cabaret of the same name, which it sought to commemorate. It published the texts recited during the performances and stands as a major literary and artistic document of late 19th-century bohemian life and the...
New collected edition of the works of this German-born Neo-Latin poet, one of a few copies printed on deluxe Dutch paper (see Brunet III, 1180–1181. Cf. G. Oberlé, "Poètes néo-latins", pp. 134–137; Van Tieghem, p. 91 ff.).
The first volume includes a portrait of the author.
Full ivory vellum bindings, spines with five raised bands richly decorated with gilt floral and ornamental rolls, red morocco title labels, gilt dentelle frame to covers, gilt plaques with the legend "Minerva Dordracena" at the center of each board, sprinkled edges, red silk ties (mostly missing), contemporary bindings.
A fine edition according to Brunet, who notes: “There are copies on...
First edition, one of the 200 numbered copies on Hollande paper, the only large paper edition.
A stain on the front cover near the title, fading on the half-title page, shaded endpapers.
Rare copy with full margins.
First edition, one of 1,000 copies on Hollande paper, the only printing along with 50 on Japan paper.
Frontispiece portrait of Paul Verlaine by Philippe Zilcken.
Spine slightly sunned, upper cover with minor marginal toning, otherwise a well-preserved copy.
First edition, printed in a small number of copies on laid paper, extracted from the Journal asiatique; a single copy recorded in the CCF (Strasbourg).
Rare copy preserved in its original blue paper wrappers, as issued.
Traces of a label on the left margin of the front cover, a pleasing copy overall.
Inscribed by Giovanni Antonio Arri on the upper cover to archaeologist Désiré Raoul-Rochette (1789–1854), then a member of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres.
First edition, one of the rare copies on Holland paper, not mentioned in the printed justification.
Contemporary Bradel binding in half black morocco, smooth spine with gilt date at foot, cat's-eye paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, binding signed Champs.
Inscribed and signed by Eugène Manuel to Madame Michel Lévy.
Our copy is enriched with two dated and signed autograph letters by Eugène Manuel, mounted on tabs at the beginning of the volume, most likely addressed to one of his literary mentors regarding the first performance of his play "Les ouvriers".
In the first letter, written with delicate...
First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on Holland paper, the deluxe issue.
Spine and covers very slightly and marginally faded, not affecting the overall appearance. A handsome copy.
First edition, one of 45 copies on Vergé de Voiron, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.
Very handsome copy.
First edition clandestinely printed in 175 copies on laid paper, each individually numbered.
Bound in full mint green morocco, spine with five raised bands framed by black fillets, subtle restoration to spine colour, date gilt at foot, endpapers and pastedowns of combed paper, gilt fillet border on pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, all edges gilt, chemise edged in mint green morocco, covers of cat's eye paper, white felt interior, an elegant binding signed by Alix.
A very rare and handsome copy bound by one of the most distinguished binders of the second half of the twentieth century.
First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on hollande, the only deluxe issue (grand papier) after 10 copies on japon.
Bound in gray half morocco in panels, smooth spine, gilt date at foot, abstract decorative paper boards, black onionskin pastedowns and flyleaves, original wrappers preserved, pastedown bookplate, top deckled edge gilt, binding signed Boichot.
Small tears with small lacks of paper to the margin of an endpaper and on the front cover.
The work is dedicated to Paul Verlaine who wrote the preface "which was a way of advertising to gay readers" (Graham Robb, Homosexual Love in the Nineteenth Century, p. 210).
Precious signed and inscribed...