They are called deluxe papers, limited editions, tirages de têtes or simply first editions. They were printed in small numbers on special paper and carefully preserved, from the very beginning, by the first readers and admirers of these literary geniuses. These copies are the origin of the work and its legacy.
First edition and first printing of Lucien Laforge’s pacifist illustrations, one of 400 deluxe copies on special matte red paper from the Barthélémy paper mills, the only deluxe issue announced.
Some light wear, otherwise a very good copy of this fierce anti-militarist pamphlet in which runs "comme le grésillement du fer rouge marquant à vif la chair pâle et grasse du Bourgeois repu de morts" (Paul Vaillant-Couturier in L'Humanité).
Very rare and highly sought-after first edition according to Clouzot, for which no copies on large paper were issued.
Full red morocco binding, spine with five raised bands, gilt rolls on headcaps, inner dentelle border on off-white morocco pastedowns enhanced with a red morocco mosaic fillet and quintuple gilt fillets, the fillet and quintuple gilt fillets interlacing at corners, gilt fillet border on turn-ins, ivory watered silk endpapers, iron-grey wrappers and spine preserved (Clouzot notes two states of wrappers: iron-grey - the rarer - and bluish-grey), all edges gilt, double gilt fillets on board edges, half red morocco slipcase with bands, spine with five raised bands...
First edition, one of 350 numbered copies on deckle-edged paper, ours specially printed for General Koenig.
Bradel binding in full white cardboard simulating vellum, spine with four compartments decorated with panels outlined in red, red fillet frame on boards, front cover preserved, top edge red.
Precious autograph inscription from Marcel Bleustein, who took the pseudonym Blanchet during the Resistance, to General Koenig, the great victor of the battle of Bir Hakeim: "Pour monsieur le général Koenig, en témoignage de ma grande admiration et de mon respectueux attachement. Son ancien officier de presse Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet le 24 Nov. 1948" [For General Koenig, as a...
First edition strictly hors-commerce, one of 200 copies printed on glassine vellum or European paper, only print after 81 imperial Korean paper.
Our copy is complete with its overlay cover (the colour and decorative motifs often vary) and the white glassine paper label bearing the title Stèles printed in Chinese on the first part of the cover, the latter being folded into three parts.
Our copy is presented in a blueish paper chemise and slipcase, navy blue morocco spine, name of the author, title and date in palladium, slipcase in blueish paper, all signed Devauchelle in palladium.
New edition, following the original published in 1766 in Berlin.
It is illustrated with a large folding plate containing 22 Masonic emblems. The first edition includes a frontispiece; it is possible that it is lacking in this later edition.
Contemporary half red shagreen binding, circa 1860, spine with flat false raised bands decorated with gilt fillets, red shagreen title label, some rubbing, particularly at the head.
Title page browned. Some foxing.
The work opens with a history of Freemasonry, followed by a detailed study of the seven following Scottish high degrees: Perfect Elected Mason, Elected of P., Elected of the Fifteen, Little Architect, Grand Architect...
First edition, one of 115 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe copies aside from 35 on pure thread.
Two small spots of foxing on the front cover, a discreet crease, a handsome copy as issued.
Rare and highly sought after in deluxe paper.
First edition first issue for which no grand papier (deluxe copies) were printed, one of the rare service de presse (advance copies).
Some very discreet restorations to spine, paper browned, some discreet traces folds at the bottom of some leaves.
A handsome copy, as issued. The book is housed in a slipcase signed by Julie Nadot, reproducing the original design of the cover and spine.
This first edition of L'Étranger was printed on 21 April, 1942 with a run of 4,400 copies: 400 advance copies (service de presse), 500 copies without statement and 3,500 copies with false statements from the second to eighth...
First edition, a Service de Presse (advance) copy.
Iconography at rear.
Precious autograph inscription signed by André Malraux to the diplomat and great resistance fighter, faithful among the faithful of General De Gaulle, Gaston Palewski to whom this work is dedicated below the printed dedication: "C'est pour vous distraire. Vous recevrez vos exemplaires convenables la semaine prochaine" ["This is to entertain you. You will receive your proper copies next week"].
First edition, one of 100 numbered copies on alfa, the only grands papiers (deluxe copies) after 5 pur-fil paper.
Bound in half green morocco, paste paper boards, marbled paper endpapers, wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, contemporary binding signed Lucie Weill.
Skilful and discreet repair to the top of a joint.
Illustrated with 6 vignettes by André Derain.
Handsome inscription signed by Antonin Artaud: “à Alice & à Carlo Rim que j'aime beaucoup parce que j'aime dans la vie tout ce qui est nature, franc et sans fard et la vie d'Héliogabale aussi est franche et sans fard et dans la ligne de la grande Nature. Antonin Artaud...
First edition, a first impression copy numbered in the press.
Binding in half brown morocco, spine in five compartments, gilt date at the foot, geometric pattern paper boards and endpapers in the same paper, top edge gilt, wrappers and spine preserved in perfect condition, binding signed by T. Boichot.
Apollinaire's second major poetic work with bold graphic innovations and a portrait of Guillaume Apollinaire by Pablo Picasso as frontispiece.
“Some of the best war poems, all languages combined, are brought together in this collection, alongside experimental works such as Les Fenêtres (close to Cubism) and La Jolie Rousse, which were far ahead of their...
First roneo edition of the prospectus for the exhibition organized by the A.R.C. (Animation Recherche Confrontation) cinema section at the instigation of Christian Boltanski.
Signs of folding due to having been placed in an envelope.
The event was attended by Edmund Alleyn, Gianni Bertini, Christian Boltanski, Guðmundur Guðmundsson said Erró, Gérard Fromanger, Ipousteguy, Jean Le Gac, Tamas Zanko, Bruce Nauman, Pesce, Martial Raysse, Peter Stämpfli.
A rare document.
Original photographic portrait of Sigmund Freud, in silver print made later by Engelman from the original negative.
After the Night of Broken Glass, the young Jewish photographer Edmund Engelman (1907-2000) fled to the United States leaving behind his precious but compromising negatives of his clandestine photography. He did not recover them until after the Second World War, in 1952, from the psychoanalyst's daughter Anna Freud.
Handwritten inscription signed by photographer Edmund Engelman in the lower margin of the photograph: “à Nadine Nimier Cordialement Edmund Engelman” (“To Nadine Nimier Sincerely Edmund Engelman”).
Nadine Nimier was...
De luxe edition illustrated with a hundred drawings by Pierre Bonnard scattered in the margins of the leaves, one of 200 numbered copies on Arches vellum, one print after 25 Japan.
A beautiful copy.
Binding in half brown calf, spine decorated with double black fillets, gilt date at the foot, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt on the rough.
Handwritten presentation signed by Pierre Bonnard to Xavier Roux: “... à son compatriote dauphinois et ami...” “...to his Dauphiné compatriot and friend...” enriched with a handwritten presentation signed by Octave Mirbeau to the same.
First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on japon paper, the only deluxe issue.
Tawny half sheep binding with corners, spine in three compartments with gilt fillets, typographical motif stamped in blind at the centre of the spine (faded), author’s label and title label in red Russian morocco, minor repair at head of spine along one joint, marble-covered paper boards, combed-paper endpapers, original wrappers and spine preserved, one upper corner slightly rubbed, contemporary binding.
Illustrated with 18 plates, here in double state as in the other japon paper copies; text illustrations also present.
First edition illustrated with 48 color lithographs by the author, one of a few named copies on japon reserved for the principal collaborators of the publication, ours specially printed for the celebrated bibliophile Colonel Sickles, deluxe issue.
This copy is complete, as stipulated in the justification, with the duplicate set of lithographs in black and in color.
The work is also illustrated with 40 decorated initials designed by the prestigious bookbinder Paul Bonet.
This is Maurice de Vlaminck's most important...
Extremely important edition, comprising a large number of works appearing here in their first edition. The complete set of these 27 volumes is rare (Clouzot). The titles present in first edition are: Mattea, Lettres d’un Voyageur, La Dernière Aldini, Les Maîtres mosaïstes, L’Uscoque, Spiridion, Les Sept Cordes de la lyre, Gabriel,
