Gift Ideas – Inscribed Copies

First edition on ordinary paper.

Spine and boards slightly and marginally sunned.

Inscribed, dated and signed by Tony Duvert to Alain Veinstein.

A further compilation bringing together several successes of the troubadour from Sète, including "Le temps ne fait rien à l'affaire", "Dans l'eau de la claire fontaine", "La traîtresse", "La ballade des cimetières"; "La complainte des filles de joie", "Tonton Nestor - La noce de Jeannette", "Le temps passé" and "La fille à cent sous".

A pleasant copy despite very slight rubbing to the margins of the sleeve.

A name and an initial in blue ballpoint pen at the head of the second panel of the sleeve.

Manuscript signature of Georges Brassens in the left margin of the front panel of the sleeve.

Later edition.

Publisher's full green cloth binding, smooth spine, copy complete with its illustrated dust jacket which shows a few small tears and minor losses.

The verso of the front panel of the dust jacket shows an angular loss affecting the printed price.

Dated and signed autograph inscription from Richard Wright to Ganan Bocca.

New edition, one of 26 numbered copies on Montval paper, the head of the edition.

A pleasing copy.

Fine autograph inscription signed by Colette to Mr P.A. Crozier: "... en souvenir de maint envoi de beaux fruits ; n'est-ce pas dire que je gagne à l'échange ? Les fruits de mon jardin sont de sec papier... Colette."

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 100 hors commerce copies printed on deluxe paper, this copy specially printed for Louis Barthou.

A pleasant copy despite two sunning marks to the head and foot of the spine and to the margins of the rear board.

Henri Bergson's handwritten signature beneath the limitation statement.

First edition, for which no deluxe paper copies were issued.

A pleasant copy.

Valuable signed autograph inscription from Susan Sontag to her friend Sonia Rykiel: "pour Sonia avec mes amitiés Susan Sontag 26 septembre 1995 Paris."

Copy of the thirteenth printing of the first edition illustrated by the author.
Publisher's full bottle-green binding, smooth spine decorated in black with the title and author's name at the head and the publisher's name at the foot, upper board decorated in black with the title and author's name within a blind-stamped border, complete with its illustrated dust jacket. Author's inscription in blue ink on the first free endpaper, followed by a slightly faded ex-dono on the next: "I hope you will still feel like reading this. Love, Sisi."
Headcaps slightly bumped, losses, folds and tears to the dust jacket.

First edition, one of the press review copies.

Precious signed autograph inscription by Eugène Guillevic: "à Tristan Tzara, ces trente et un sonnets qu'il n'aime pas, avec espoir quand-même et affection. Guillevic."

First edition, illustrated with figures in the text (cf. Hage Chahine, 4405.)

Contemporary bradel binding in full beige percaline, smooth spine darkened, olive green shagreen lettering-piece, binding of the period.

Occasional foxing.

The sole edition of one of the earliest works by the numismatist Gustave-Léon Schlumberger (1844-1929), who specialised in the history of the Crusades and the Byzantine Empire.

Autograph inscription signed by Gustave-Léon Schlumberger to the archaeologist Alban-Emmanuel Guillaume-Rey (1837-1916), a specialist of medieval Syria.

Rare second edition, illustrated with 13 figures in the text.

Spine and boards slightly sunned at the edges, losses to the spine, which has been reinforced; front wrapper tending to detach; one gathering bound in reverse order (pages 89 to 91).

The obstetrician Charles Maygrier (1849-1926) was an obstetric physician at the Hôpital de la Charité and agrégé professor at the Paris Faculty of Medicine.

At the head of the front wrapper, autograph presentation inscription from Charles Maygrier to Dr Franck, a member of the Académie de médecine (Charles-Émile François-Franck, 1849-1921), a specialist in heart disease.

Rare illustrated first edition, with 4 plates at the end of the volume, including two folding maps.

Small tears neatly repaired to the spine, minor angular losses to the boards, heavy foxing.

Joseph Lartigue (1791-1876), a naval captain, distinguished himself through his work in nautical meteorology and cartography. 

Copy from the physicist Edmond Becquerel (1820-1891), member of the Académie des sciences, with an autograph signed presentation inscription from Joseph Lartigue at the head of the upper cover.

First edition, very scarce, of this important work.

Contemporary-style half speckled fawn calf binding, smooth spine decorated with triple gilt fillets, green shagreen title label, small vellum corners, marbled paper boards, bookplate pasted onto a pastedown, red edges, modern binding.

A restored loss to the left margin of the title page.

Hydrogéologie contains Lamarck’s geological observations gathered during his travels in Germany, Hungary, and France.

Its principal merit lies in demonstrating the considerable importance of plants and animals as agents of geological transformation.

It is in this work that the word biology appears for the first time, on...

Extremely rare first edition of this work comprising a course intended for students of Arabic at the University of Turin.

No copies recorded in the CCF or the CCI. The title refers to Thomas Van Erpe’s Grammatica arabica [= Erpennio in Italian], published in Leiden in 1613.

Contemporary-style half black cloth over marbled paper boards, smooth spine, unrestamped and restored, bookplate pasted to front pastedown, modern binding.

In 1861, Colonel Luigi Calligaris (1808-1870), who had served from 1833 as an instructor to the beylical army of Tunisia, was permanently recalled to Piedmont and, in recognition of his expertise in Oriental languages, was appointed professor of...

Rare first edition printed in a small number of copies.

Our copy is preserved in its original blue paper provisional wrappers.

Born at Annonay in 1811, Auguste Bravais entered the École Polytechnique in 1829.

Having become a hydrographic engineer, he undertook several expeditions before embarking, in 1835, aboard the Recherche, dispatched to the Arctic regions in an attempt to locate Blosseville's Lilloise. There he carried out numerous observations in meteorology, terrestrial magnetism, and astronomy.

Appointed Professor of Mathematics Applied to Astronomy at the Faculty of Sciences in Lyon in 1840, he gave up seafaring and devoted himself...

Offprint from this prestigious publication directed by François Albert-Buisson, President and Perpetual Secretary of the "Académie des Sciences Morales & Politiques", and Claude Pellegrin, editor-in-chief and attaché to the Academy. The text featured here, Le problème de l'éthique dans l'évolution de la pensée humaine (The Problem of Ethics in the Evolution of Human Thought), is the work of a newly elected member of the Academy, who had been a member for only a few months when this offprint was published, having taken the seat previously held by Marshal Pétain; namely...

First French edition.

Profusely illustrated.

Text by Edgar Morin, Georges Lois, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Eric Troncy, Jérôme Sans.

Valuable signed autograph inscription from Jean-Paul Goude to Sonia (Rykiel) in capital letters: "POUR SONIA QUE J'AIME."

Illustrated edition with colour drawings by Chas Laborde, one of the numbered copies printed on wove paper.

A pleasing copy.

On the half-title page, a signed autograph inscription from Colette: "A monsieur F. Porlier. Colette.", Colette having added after Claudine s'en va :  bon vent !

Illustrated edition with colour drawings by Chas Laborde, one of the numbered copies printed on wove paper.

A pleasing copy, notwithstanding a crease mark to the lower right corner of the upper cover.

Fine signed presentation inscription by Colette: "A monsieur F. Porlier ce vieux péché littéraire que je n'aime plus beaucoup. Colette."

Illustrated edition with colour drawings by Chas Laborde, one of the numbered copies printed on wove paper.

A pleasing copy, despite a small tear to the upper right margin of the front free endpaper.

On the page following the title, a fine signed autograph inscription by Colette: "A monsieur F. Porlier. Nantes, février 1933. Colette. J'aime beaucoup "et autres" ! Colette.", Colette having ironically circled the words "et autres" appearing in a paragraph outlining her alleged collaboration with her former husband Willy in the writing of the work.

Illustrated edition with colour drawings by Chas Laborde, one of the numbered copies on wove paper.

A pleasing copy.

Autograph signed inscription by Colette: "A monsieur F. Porlier en souvenir d'une passante. Colette."

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.

Fourth edition.

A pleasing copy.

Introduction by Harry T. Moore.

Presentation inscription signed by Anaïs Nin to the writer Christiane Baroche: "my friend love, Lawrence and i was the first woman i write abour him. Anaïs Nin."

New edition.

Illustrated with engravings by Jean Hugo.

A pleasing copy.

Fine signed autograph inscription from Anaïs Nin to the woman of letters Christiane Baroche: "Your poems should be in a book one can keep nearly and read now and then for substance. Anaïs Nin."

First edition on ordinary paper.

Contemporary Bradel binding in red half morocco with corners, smooth spine, date gilt at foot, covers of marbled paper framed with blind fillets, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt; an attractive period binding signed Bernasconi.

Occasional foxing, chiefly affecting the opening leaves.

Signed autograph inscription from Claude Farrère to M. Briquet.

Facing the limitation page, this copy is enriched with an original watercolour signed by Henri Leclerc depicting the heroine of the work leaning against a ship’s bulwark, her suitor standing slightly...

First edition, one of 70 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

Bound in blue-grey half morocco, spine in five raised bands, date gilt at foot, marbled paper boards, blue-grey endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and sun-faded spine preserved, top edge gilt, an elegant binding signed Boichot.

Valuable autograph inscription signed by Joseph Kessel, in violet pencil, on the front free endpaper: "A Charles Maurras cet exemplaire plus digne de lui" enhanced with the manuscript signature of Georges Suarez.

A fine copy, attractively bound

First edition on standard paper.

Spine very slightly sunned, without significance.

Rare signed autograph inscription from Fereydoun Hoveyda to Henri Brunet.

New edition, issued two months after the first.

Attractive copy, complete with its illustrated dust jacket.

Some signs of use (dog-eared pages) and pencil annotations by the dedicatee.

Signed autograph inscription from François Cheng to a couple of friends named Claudine and Noël, enhanced with a Chinese ideogram.

New edition, limited to 2,000 numbered copies on Lafuma vellum.

Signed autograph presentation inscription by Henri Barbusse beneath the limitation statement: "A Marcel Granoux fraternellement. Henri Barbusse."

Included are an original photograph of Henri Barbusse (8.9 × 13.8 cm, from the G.L. Manuel Frères studio), showing him full face, together with two typed letters dated 28 April and 2 July 1930, signed by Henri Barbusse, concerning an article he was late in sending and a copy of Le Feu that he promises to inscribe and forward to his correspondent.

The first typed letter also bears two manuscript corrections by Henri...

Illustrated edition with a frontispiece and 19 black vignette illustrations in the text by Marianne Clouzot, one of 675 numbered copies printed on vélin de lana.

Full caramel box binding, smooth spine, the illustrator’s name gilt at the foot, moiré-effect paper endleaves and doublures, cold-ruled fillet frames to the doublures, original covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, slipcase with inner flaps in caramel box with bands, moiré-effect paper sides, the slipcase edged in caramel box with moiré-effect paper panels; binding slightly later, signed Gavallet.

Like the 50 numbered copies printed on Arches paper, our copy exceptionally includes, at the end of the volume, a...

New illustrated edition with plates hors-texte.

Bindings in half red shagreen with corners, spines with four raised bands gilt with dotted tooling and decorated with double gilt compartments; some rubbing to the spines; two water stains, to the left margin of the upper board of the first volume and to the right margin of the lower board of the second volume; a few marks to the corners; boards of cat’s-eye paper framed with double gilt fillets; marbled endpapers and pastedowns.

At the head of the first volume, a signed autograph presentation inscription by Lazare-Hippolyte-Sadi Carnot to General Henri Joseph Brugère.

First edition, one of 605 numbered copies on pur fil d'arches, this copy being one of the 20 hors commerce lettered name copies, including an additional suite on papier à la main du moulin Richard de Bas.

A few minor foxing spots to the front wrapper; slipcase and chemises split at several joints.

17 woodcuts engraved with a knife by Lucien Jacques.

Our copy is complete with its additional suite of the 17 illustrations on papier à la main du moulin Richard de Bas.

Signed and dated 1968 by Jean Giono to Monsieur Lachaud.

First edition, for which no deluxe paper issue is recorded.

Brittle paper to the margins of some leaves, resulting in a few small losses.

Signed autograph inscription by Oscar Venceslas de L. Milosz to the poet Pierre André-May : "à mon ami monsieur Pierre André-May avec ma pensée la plus fraternelle et mes sentiments les meilleurs."

First edition, limited to 500 copies, this being one of only 8 numbered, signed and justified by Jean Lurçat in the colophon, constituting the deluxe issue.

As is often the case, this copy lacks the original drawing by Jean Lurçat that accompanied each of the eight deluxe copies.

Bookplate pasted to the upper left corner of the inside of the front cover, a scarce and pleasing copy.

New edition of the French translation.

Spines slightly sunned, with minor tears at the foot.

Signed in manuscript by Thomas Mann on the endpapers of both volumes.

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...

First edition, one of the publisher’s press copies.

Spine slightly creased, minor unobtrusive spotting to the edges.

Signed presentation inscription by Françoise Sagan to Claude Bourdet.

First edition on standard paper.

A fine copy, complete with its promotional band.

Signed autograph inscription by Pascal Quignard to a friend named Nicolas: "A Nicolas en t'embrassant, Pascal."

First edition, printed in a limited run of 70 copies numbered on Montval paper and signed by Georges Hugnet.

Illustrated with a frontispiece etching by Stanley William Hayter.

Two poignant autograph inscriptions signed by Georges Hugnet—one to his father and one to his son—in blue and red pencil: "à Georges Hugnet mon père en souvenir des romans noirs dont il enchanta et peupla mon enfance. Georges Hugnet."; "Et maintenant vingt-ans après, à mon très cher fils Nicolas de la part de son grand-père qui l'aurait bien aimé de tout cœur son papa. G."

First edition on ordinary paper.

Bradel binding in chocolate-brown half shagreen, smooth spine, date gilt at the tail, contemporary leather boards japonisants, embossed and polychrome, decorated with gilded and colorful floral motifs, marbled paper endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and restored spine preserved, later binding.

Exceptional presentation copy signed by Emile Zola: "à Edmond de Goncourt son ami Emile Zola."

Below the presentation inscription, a manuscript gift inscription by Edmond de Goncourt: "Edmond de Goncourt à Pauline Zeller."

First edition, one of the press copies.

A pleasing copy.

Fine signed autograph inscription from René Char: "A Georges Hugnet affectueusement. René Char."

First edition of the French translation prepared by Alexandre Vialatte, one of the complimentary copies.

A manuscript ex-dono erased in the upper right corner of the half-title page, resulting in a small loss of paper.

Signed autograph inscription by Alexandre Vialatte to Albert Thibaudet.

First edition; one of the press copies.

A pleasing copy.

Signed autograph presentation inscription from Pierre Drieu la Rochelle to Germaine Fiévé.

First edition, for which no copies were issued on deluxe paper, this being one of the publisher’s review copies.

A small tear at the head of the upper cover, a crease at the foot of the lower.

A pleasing copy, complete with its promotional band.

Dated and signed autograph inscription by René Depestre to the writer Christiane Baroche.

First illustrated edition with 19 original lithographs by Miklos Bokor, printed in 175 numbered copies on Arches vellum, this copy being one of the 15 artist’s proofs signed and justified by the artist.

Autograph signatures of Yves Bonnefoy and Miklos Bokor at the colophon.

Signed autograph inscription by Yves Bonnefoy to a couple of close friends.

A fine copy, complete with its chemise and slipcase.

First collected edition of Paul Celan’s German translation of the poems of Ossip Mandelstam, whom he deeply admired.

Publisher’s original full white cloth, smooth spine, a copy complete with its dust jacket, which shows a few small tears at the head of the spine.

Valuable dated and signed autograph inscription from Paul Celan to his friend, the poet and translator of his works Lydia Kerr: "Für Lydia Kerr, herzlich, 12.2.1963. Paul Celan."

First edition entirely hand-painted by Jacques Capdeville and printed in 30 numbered copies on vellum, with a small number of hors-commerce copies also issued.

Rare and fine copy, complete with its full flexible paperboard slipcase and with the musical setting of the poem by John Supko, on tracing paper.

Handwritten signatures of Philippe Denis and Jacques Capdeville in the colophon.

New compilation of the celebrated songs by the troubadour from Sète, including "La mauvaise réputation", "Le parapluie", "Le petit cheval", "Le fossoyeur", "Le gorille", "Corne d'auroch", "La chasse aux papillons" and "Hécatombe".
Inevitable creasing and light rubbing along the margins of the record sleeve.

A small ballpoint pen doodle in blue ink on the lower cover.
Autograph signature of Georges Brassens in the lower right margin of the upper cover.

First edition, with no copies printed on deluxe paper.

A very good copy.

Inscribed by Maurice Druon to a friend named Henri: "... pour les souvenirs d'une année de travail qui devint une année d'amitié."

New edition.

A handsome copy.

Fine inscribed copy, signed by Anaïs Nin to the writer Christiane Baroche: "Christiane Baroche my last novel before I began to edit the diaries and be drowned in them. Perharps because I had arrived at humor and could bear to make the journey backwards. Anaïs Nin."

First edition printed on regular stock.

Small tears to the head and foot of the spine.

Fine presentation inscription, signed by Henri de Montherlant to Georges Bataille.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Holland paper, being the only large paper issue.

Bradel binding with decorative paper featuring red and gold motifs, flat spine, small restorations to spine-ends and joints, brown shagreen title label with a corner skilfully restored, endpapers and pastedowns of blue paper with gilt motifs, soiled soiled covers and spine preserved, gilt top edge on deckle, contemporary binding.

Exceptional and precious presentation copy signed by Claude Farrère: "Pour Max-Anély que j'admire et pour mon ami Segalen. Claude Farrère." [For Max-Anély I admire and for my friend Segalen. Claude Farrère]

Later edition (the first was published three years earlier in 1906).

Bradel binding with marbled paper boards, smooth spine with some parts lacking paper, brown morocco lettering piece with some loss to margis, one joint split, handmade paper endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, contemporary binding.

Exceptional copy signed and inscribed on a mounted stub by Auguste Gilbert de Voisins to his celebrated writer friend and traveling companion on Chinese roads and rivers: "to Victor Segalen in thanks for speaking to me of the Orient. AGilbert de Voisins." 

First edition, for which no copies were issued on deluxe paper.

Spine lightly wrinkled, a small loss at the foot of the lower board; otherwise a pleasing copy.

Signed autograph inscription by Maurice Genevoix.

First edition, one of 100 copies printed on antique Montval wove paper, the only issue following 1 copy on old Japan paper, 10 on imperial Japan, and 20 hors commerce.

Work illustrated with 9 original drypoints by Jean Lurçat.

A rare and handsome copy.

Inscribed and signed by Jean Lurçat to Jean Bourgoin.

First edition, one of 200 numbered copies on “light green paper,” the only deluxe paper issue announced.

Turquoise half morocco binding, smooth spine, date in gilt at foot, marbled paper boards, endpapers, and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt; an elegant contemporary binding signed by G. Gauché.

A very handsome copy, finely bound by Georges Gauché and complete with its publisher's prospectus. 

Signed presentation inscription by René Crevel: "My dear Georges, here, in its finest form: Diderot’s Harpsichord, if you can help him play his music? With all my affection. René" (our own...

Edition partly original, one of 90 numbered copies on hollande paper, the only issue following 10 on japon, 2 on Chapelle and 2 hors-commerce copies. Volume illustrated with 8 woodcuts by Manolo, four of which are full-page.

Manuscript signatures of Manolo and Pierre Reverdy on the colophon.

A...

First edition, for which no large-paper copies were printed; one of the review copies.

A pleasing copy.

Laconic but significant autograph inscription, dated and signed by Annie Ernaux, to Gallimard's esteemed reader, the writer Christiane Baroche: « merci. »

First edition illustrated with 59 engravings. 

A repaired tear at the head of one joint; covers marginally darkened; the interior remains in pleasing condition.

This work belongs to the first phase of the highly controversial research conducted by the French surgeon of Russian origin, Sergueï Abramovitch Voronoff (1866–1951).

Between 1917 and 1926, Voronoff carried out more than five hundred transplantations on sheep, goats, and even a bull, grafting the testicles of younger animals onto older ones.

His observations appeared to suggest that such transplantations restored vitality to ageing animals. From this, he went on to regard the transplantation of monkey...

First edition, printed in a small number of copies, of this offprint from the Annales d'Hygiène publique et de médecine Légale, 1849, vol. XLII.

Modern Bradel binding in marbled-paper-covered boards, smooth spine without lettering.

Only three copies recorded in the CCF.

This memoir offers a detailed study of the physical characteristics associated with various occupations: laundresses, hairdressers, writers, prostitutes, bookbinders, dyers, etc.

Son of the draughtsman and cartographer Ambroise Tardieu, Auguste-Ambroise Tardieu (1818-1879) was one of the founders of forensic medicine; he published numerous monographs on medical questions relating to...

First edition of the French translation by Edouard Chavannes of an extract from the Journal of the Peking oriental society. 

Contemporary Bradel-style binding in full grey percaline, smooth spine decorated with a gilt fleur-de-lis, double gilt fillet at the foot, cherry shagreen lettering-piece with surface scuffing, partially toned endpapers.

This was the translator’s first scholarly publication devoted to this treatise, which forms the twenty-eighth chapter of the celebrated Shiji (Historical Records) by the first true Chinese historian, Sima Qian (145–86 BCE).

These records constitute the first systematic synthesis of...

Second edition (the dedication to Pierre Laffitte is dated 1879).

A study of madness from a positivist perspective, based on the work of Auguste Comte.

The dedicatee, Pierre Laffitte, was the editor of the review "Le Positivisme".

Spine cracked with small losses, occasional foxing, and a horizontal crease at the foot of the upper cover, small marginal tears on the cover, firts cover reattached.

With a fine signed presentation inscription from Emile François Eugène Sémérie to Émile Zola on the half-title: "A Mr. Émile Zola. Sémérie, d'Aix" (the final word underlined).

The close connections between positivism and naturalism, the literary...

First edition of the French translation prepared by J. de Rey-Pailhade and Henry-Joseph Sauvaire, issued in a small printing as an offprint from the Journal asiatique.

A few small spots of foxing; a pleasing and uncommon copy.

Half green cloth, smooth spine with red morocco title-label, ‘œil-de-chat’ patterned paper over boards, sprinkled edges.

Illustrated with two double-page plates outside the text.

Born in Marseille, Henri Sauvaire (1831–1896) began his career in the consular service before turning to Near-Eastern archaeology.

On the half-title, a presentation inscription in the hand of Henri-Joseph Sauvaire to the archaeologist...

First edition (only three copies recorded in the CCFr: BnF, Lyon and Montpellier).

Blank spine split with small losses, a few instances of foxing.

The sole edition of this small, learned and appealing dissertation.

Paul Saint-Olive (1799–1879), engraver and contributor to the Revue du Lyonnais, was a tireless seeker of curiosities (cf. Vingtrinier (Aimé): Paul Saint-Olive, archéologue lyonnais, Lyon, 1877).

Signed autograph inscription by Paul Saint-Olive to Doctor Girard on the inside of the upper cover.

First edition, printed in a small number, of this scarce offprint from the Revue archéologique, illustrated with 11 figures in the text and 3 folding plates.

Only two copies recorded in the CCF (Quai d'Orsay and Strasbourg).

The architect of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Christophe-Edouard Mauss (1829-1914), had been entrusted with several archaeological missions in the Levant (Salonica, Smyrna, Alexandria), before being appointed by the French government to Jerusalem (1862-1874) to restore the Church of Saint Anne.

He also developed a keen interest in ancient metrology, on which he published several monographs.

A pleasing copy.

Autograph...

First edition.

Small losses to the head and tail of the spine, tears to one joint and to the spine neatly restored, a stain at the foot of the upper cover, slight corner losses to the boards; a clean and attractive copy internally.

At the head of the upper cover, an autograph presentation inscription by Édouard Maurel to a colleague.

Rare first edition of the doctoral thesis by Alexandre Marié (only two copies recorded in the CCFr: Montpellier and the BIUM).

A small nick to the left margin of the upper wrapper, which also bears a small stain; slight marginal tears to the wrappers without seriousness; occasional light foxing.

Presentation inscription signed by Alexandre Marié to Louis Alfred Becquerel at the head of the upper wrapper.

Provenance: copy of Louis Alfred Becquerel (1814–1862), eldest son of Antoine Becquerel and a physician, with the author’s signed presentation inscription. He published in 1853 Des applications de l'électricité à la thérapeutique médicale.

Manuscript drawing consisting of a coloured sketch of one of the fort’s bastions, with scale in toises.

Construction of the Fort de Lamalgue, situated on the hill of the same name and intended to secure the landward approaches to Toulon while also protecting Fort Saint-Louis (Mourillon), which had been bombarded and abandoned during the siege of 1707, began in 1764 under the direction of Milet de Monville.

Works continued until 1792.

Traces of folding to the sheet.

First edition of this rare offprint from the "Revue médicale et journal de clinique"

A single copy recorded in the CCFr (BnF).

Bradel binding in full boards covered with dark blue marbled paper, red shagreen spine label, pasted ex-libris on the inside board; modern binding signed Lobstein-Laurenchet.

Jean-Louis Lassaigne (1800–1859) taught chemistry at the Veterinary School of Alfort until 1854 and devoted particular attention to the medical applications of chemistry.

Bound at the end, by the same author: "Mémoire sur la possibilité de reconnaître, par les moyens chimiques, la présence de l'acétate de morphine chez les animaux empoisonnés par cette...

Rare first edition (cf. Playfair 1406; Fiori 245; Tailliart 2970).

Spine split with some loss, upper wrapper slightly soiled at the margins, internally in pleasant condition. 

Rare, though in the condition described.

The central argument is that the indigenous population should be governed not according to French ideas, but in accordance with their own customs and expectations.

At the head of the upper wrapper, signed autograph presentation inscription from Ferdinand-Auguste Lapasset to M. Frédéric Lacroix, former Prefect of Algiers,

First edition printed on laid paper and illustrated with numerous tables embellished with Chinese ideograms.
Contemporary full brown Russia morocco binding, spine slightly faded, with five raised bands decorated with triple black panels, a few rubs to the spine, gilt initials W. H. W. to the centre of the upper cover, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, triple gilt fillet border to the pastedowns, all edges gilt, double gilt fillets to the turn-ins, corners slightly bumped, unsigned period binding attributable to R. Petit.
Born in Poland, Michel-Alexandre Kleczkowski (1818–1886) served as Consul General of France, Minister Plenipotentiary in China, and Professor...

Rare first edition of this fervent—indeed visionary—appeal to bring the Orient under the sway of the combined powers of the State and the Christian religion, informed by such an overtly Eurocentric outlook that the work is almost unreadable today, yet remains an eloquent record of the illusions prevailing in the West in the mid-nineteenth century.

Corners restored at the outer tips of the boards, some scattered foxing, and a stain to the right margin of the upper cover.

In an admirably prophetic vein, the author exclaims: "La civilisation chrétienne, qui ne cesse d'agrandir son cercle, ne s'arrêtera pas devant le Coran, et ce n'est pas la loi de Mahomet qui présidera au...

First edition (cf. Wellcome, II, 340).

Our copy is preserved in its original sewn state, in provisional cream paper wrappers.

Signed presentation inscription from Charles-Irénée Jacquin to his colleague Dr Long, physician at Die.

Accompanied by a dated autograph letter signed by Charles-Irénée Jacquin, one page written on both sides, discussing his work and thanking his correspondent for the advice he had given him in the preparation of the present volume.

First edition.

Minor losses at head and foot of the spine, which is slightly sunned; a few small spots of foxing.

Alongside a distinguished career in the colonial troops, in Senegal and Indochina, General Henri Frey (1847–1932) also cultivated literary and scholarly ambitions. This unusual thesis was, of course, neither substantiated nor taken up subsequently …

On the upper margin of the half-title, an autograph inscription by Henri Frey to Commandant Étienne Lunet de Lajonquières [here spelled Jonquières] (1861–1933), of the Marine Infantry, archaeologist and ethnographer, and also a key figure in the organisation of the preservation of Historical Monuments in...

Fourth separate issue of this memoir. The text first appeared in the Description de l’Égypte, before being reissued in several offprints (cf. Meulenaere p. 80.)

Our copy is preserved in its original wrappers, under temporary green paper covers, spine restored, minor marginal losses and a few tears to the covers, internally in pleasing condition.

At the head of the front free endpaper, autograph inscription by Du Bois-Aymé “à son honorable collège et ami Monsieur Etienne”.

Du Bois-Aymé (1779-1846), who embarked on the Tonnant, travelled to Egypt as a student of the École Polytechnique. He sat his examinations there, at the same time as...

First edition, printed in a very small number of copies, of this offprint from the "Gazette médicale de Paris" for 1854.

Modern bradel-style binding in full boards covered with blue paper, smooth spine, brown shagreen title label laid down lengthwise with a small abrasion, signed Honnelaître.

On the half-title, a signed autograph presentation inscription by Camille Desjardins: "Offert à M. le professeur Moreau, membre de l'Académie impériale de Médecine, hommage respectueux de l'auteur".

This refers to the celebrated physician François Joseph Moreau (1789–1862), a specialist in gynaecology and close to the Orléans family, for whom he served...

First edition illustrated with a colour plate and five folding tables at the end of the volume.

Heavy foxing throughout.

Modern half black shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands, marbled paper sides, original front cover mounted and preserved in poor condition.

Signed autograph inscription by Prosper-Ferdinand Burot to Dr Auguste-Ernest Breucq of Bayonne (born 1856).

First edition (cf. Playfair, 533; Tailliart, 2295).

Spine cracked with small tears, some foxing. 

General considerations on the colonisation of Algiers, its aims and its results. On the Arabs. The various systems of occupation, etc.

At the head of the front wrapper, an autograph presentation inscription from Amédée Hippolyte de Brossard to Marshal Clausel.

Illustrated edition with 6 plates hors texte, including one folding map; French text with an English translation.

Only the introduction is in English, the remainder of the volume being devoted to a sound scholarly publication of the accounts of Cartier’s three voyages.

Repaired tears at head and tail of the spine; spine and boards lightly sunned.

Henry Percival Biggar (1872–1938) was an archivist at the Public Archives of Canada and a leading authority on the history of New France.

Copy from the library of the archivist Charles Bourel de La Roncière (1870–1941), a specialist in maritime and colonial history, with, on the front free endpaper, an autograph...

First separate edition, printed in a small number of copies, taken from the Annales des sciences naturelles; the work was later republished by Baillière in 1876 (cf. O'Reilly, Nouvelle-Calédonie, 608, which records only the periodical publication).

Bradel case-binding in full green paper-covered boards, brown morocco lettering-piece lettered vertically; the original provisional upper wrapper preserved; modern binding.

The issue is illustrated at the end of the volume with an engraved plate.

A clear waterstain in the outer margins of the leaves.

Émile Bescherelle (1828–1903), president of the Société botanique de France, was a leading specialist in...

First edition printed in a small number of copies of this offprint from the Journal asiatique.

Unlettered spine with restorations; scattered foxing.

Abel Bergaigne (1838–1888), one of the leading Indologists of his time, was Professor of Sanskrit and Comparative Linguistics at the Sorbonne.

His interpretation of the Rig-Veda remains authoritative.

On the upper wrapper of the first cover, a signed autograph inscription by Abel Bergaigne to the academic and statesman Charles Lenient (1826–1908).

Illustrated first edition, featuring at the end of the volume two plates of inscriptions printed on tinted grounds.

Some tears and small losses to the corners of the spine and boards; the interior remains in pleasing condition.

Abbé Bargès (1810–1896), a native of Auriol, pursued an unconventional career marked by his exceptional command of Eastern languages (Hebrew, Arabic), and devoted himself in particular to epigraphy, while also engaging with other fields of study.

The Phoenician world held a special fascination for him, as he long defended the Punic origins of Marseille, and published six monographs on Phoenician-language inscriptions between 1847 and 1888; the...

First edition of this monograph devoted to Punic inscriptions discovered in Tunis and its surrounding area.

Small marginal tears to the spine and boards, which also show some light spotting.

Abbé Bargès (1810–1896), a native of Auriol, pursued an unusual career grounded in his exceptional command of Oriental languages (Hebrew, Arabic), and specialised in epigraphy while also engaging with a wider range of disciplines.

The Phoenician world was of particular interest to him, as he long upheld the Punic origin of Marseilles, and he published six monographs on inscriptions in the Phoenician language between 1847 and 1888; the present work forms part of this...

Very scarce first edition, issued in a small printing, of this offprint from the Annales des Sciences naturelles for September 1828 (cf. Engelmann I, 315).

This paper is preceded by "Extrait du rapport fait à l’Académie royale des sciences sur le mémoire présenté par MM. Audouin et Milne-Edwards, par MM. Cuvier et Duméril".

The CCF records only two copies, in Paris (Muséum) and Montpellier.

The author of several entomological papers published from 1821 onwards, Victor Audouin also took an interest in marine biology: in 1826, 1828 and 1829 he undertook, together with Henri Milne-Edwards, three field trips to Brittany and Normandy.

The present...

First edition, printed in a very small number of copies, of this offprint from the "Recueil industriel, Manufacturier (…) et des Beaux-Arts", published by M. de Moléon.

Our copy is preserved in its original state, in plain yellow wrappers, and housed in a modern green-paper chemise and slipcase with black morocco spine.

Jean-Pierre-Joseph d'Arcet (1777-1844), a chemist and the son of a chemist, was appointed Inspector-General of Assays at the Mint in 1807, examined the alloys used for the Vendôme Column in 1811, and installed the baths and fumigation apparatus at the Hôpital Saint-Louis. He devoted himself with particular zeal to research into public health and hygiene...

First edition, printed in a very small run as a separate issue.

No copies recorded in the CCFr or WorldCat.

Our copy is presented in its original wrappers, preserved under the original cream paper dust wrapper.

Oxford antiquary and numismatist, William Sandys Wright Vaux (1818–1885) was also closely associated with the Oxford Movement.

On the front cover, autograph inscription from William Sandys Wright Vaux to Count Melchior de Vogüé (1829–1916), the renowned French archaeologist.

Rare first edition constituting a denunciation of bullfighting by René-Marie-Alexandre de Sémallé (1822-1894), geographer chiefly known for his contributions to the "Bulletin de la Société de géographie" between 1868 and 1883.

Contemporary aubergine half sheep, smooth spine ruled in gilt with double fillets, a few rubs to the spine, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, trace of a removed bookplate to one pastedown, wrappers preserved, contemporary binding.

A few light foxing spots.

Signed autograph inscription by René de Sémallé at the head of the upper wrapper.

First edition of this advance extract from "Annam – Numismatic Studies", an ouvrage not due to appear until 1905.

A rare and pleasing copy, despite 

Autograph presentation inscription from Albert Schroeder to Jean-Calixte-Alexis Auvergne, Resident-Superior in Annam from 1897 to 1898, and again from 1901 to 1904.

First edition, privately printed in a small number of copies as an offprint from La Patrie of 16 and 18 November 1883.

The CCFr records copies only at the BnF, the Bibliothèque Thiers and Compiègne.

Contemporary navy-blue half morocco over marbled-paper boards, with corners, spine with five raised bands, boards framed with blind fillets, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original front wrapper bound in, corners rubbed, top edge gilt.

Some foxing.

The text is a funeral tribute to Odilon Barrot’s last surviving brother, who, like him, was both a lawyer and a politician, though as staunchly Bonapartist as his elder brother was a leading figure of left-wing...

First edition, printed in a small number of copies, of this offprint from the Journal asiatique.

Alongside his diplomatic career, Paul-Pascal-Henri Pognon (1853-1921) devoted himself to Mesopotamian archaeology in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.

Combining field discoveries, acquisitions from local antiquities dealers and official survey missions, he assembled Semitic inscriptions whose meaning he deciphered through painstaking translation work. A specialist in Assyrian, Syriac and Aramaic, he produced numerous scholarly publications that became important works of reference.

In 1883, he attracted considerable attention with the discovery of two important inscriptions on...