Illustrations in First Edition

Exceptional album comprising 54 original caricatures, some captioned, executed in India ink, pencil, and watercolour (including three small pencil sketches on loose leaves), together with several blank leaves.

This entertaining and highly personal album, evidently compiled by an amateur artist, appears to chronicle the various adventures and misadventures of a small cast of recurring characters, all seemingly connected in one way or another with the French Embassy to the Ottoman Porte, as suggested by a piece of official letterhead inserted between two leaves.

Contemporary full ivory vellum with yapped edges, smooth spine ruled in red, a restored split at the head of the spine, red fillets framing the boards, some marking to the covers, comb-marbled endpapers, red edges.

The album also includes one autograph letter signed in black ink, embellished with marginal caricatures, addressed to Mr H. Fournier and opening with "Cher Washington n°2".

The recipient of this satirical, illustrated letter appears to be the diplomat Hugues Marie Henri Fournier (1821–1898), appointed ambassador to Constantinople in 1877.

The adventures of the small group, identified by captions in black pencil, seem to begin in Florence in September 1872 and continue on to Rome.

The album includes, among other scenes, a watercolour depicting the Temple of Vesta.

In December 1872, according to an ink caption, the group—comprising the Vicomtes Bresson, de Mareuil, d'Hauterive, and d'Hérisson—is caricatured in Rome: at the theatre, on the Capitoline Hill, on horseback, and so forth.

A panoramic watercolour likewise satirises the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and its protagonists.

Also portrayed in pencil alongside Fournier are General de Castelbajac and the Baron de Talleyrand.

The album further contains a fine pencil portrait of Khalil Bey.

The renowned Ottoman diplomat and collector, born in Cairo in 1831 and deceased in Istanbul in 1879, had indeed returned to Constantinople in 1872, after his ambassadorship in Vienna (1868), to marry the Egyptian princess Nazli Fazl. In addition to his role in the Crimean War, he is remembered for his celebrated art collection which, sold at auction in 1868, included works by Courbet (among them L'Origine du monde), Ingres, Delacroix, and others.

The Comte d'Osmond and Alfred de Courtois are likewise caricatured.

The album also features a view titled Pointe imaginaire du sérail and a watercolour depicting a game of lawn tennis.

A unique ensemble.

With 8 original etchings to text and hors-texte by Oscar Dominguez, one of 70 numbered copies on B.F.K. de Rives paper, the only printing with 4 on old Japon paper, variously enriched.
Autograph inscription from Robert Ganzo to a couple of his acquaintance on half title.
This copy is additionally enhanced with a manuscript quatrain signed by the author on the page opposite half-title.
Autograph signatures of the author and illustrator on the justification page.
Some slight small foxing mostly affecting the first leaves, a joint of the chemise cracked, with a tear almost all over it.
A rare copy in a chemise and flexible slipcase with wood-effect paper boards.

First edition, one of 15 numbered copies on Hollande paper, the leading copies.
This copy with the original frontispiece lithograph by André Masson.
Hors-texte illustrations by André Masson.
A very good and rare copy.

Album comprising 44 plates of Breton costumes, the first two drawn in pencil, the others delicately watercoloured, mounted on heavy paper, some with captions, unsigned.

Bound in contemporary half green sheep, spine decorated with gilt and black fillets, gilt garlands and fleurons, some rubbing to the spine, embossed cherry-red cloth boards, bumped corners, a few scuffs along the edges.

A handsome album of Breton costumes in the manner of Hippolyte Lalaisse and his Galerie armoricaine of 1848.

Particularly focused on the Breton-speaking departments (Western Morbihan and Finistère): 1. [Seated bagpipe player]. – 2. [Peasant dance]. – 3. Woman from the Auray area (Morbihan). – 4. Young shepherd from Morbihan. – 5. Woman from Plouay (Morbihan). – 6. Man from Faouët (Morbihan). – 7. Women from Josselin (Morbihan). – 8. Woman from Pluméliau (Morbihan). – 9. Women from Ploemeur (Morbihan). – 10. Woman from Ploërmel and nearby farmer (Morbihan). – 11. Woman from Auray (Morbihan). – 12. Woman from Lanzac (Morbihan). – 13. Man from Lanzac. – 14. Woman from Guémené near Pontivy (Morbihan). – 15. Woman from Elven (Morbihan). – 16. Milkmaid from St-Paterne in Vannes (Morbihan). – 17. Woman from Douarnenez (Finistère). – 18. Man from Pont-l’Abbé (Finistère). – 19. Woman from Pont-l’Abbé. – 20. Fisherman from Douarnenez (Finistère). – 21. Milkmaid from Douarnenez. – 22. Bride from Kerfeunteun (Finistère). – 23. Man from Châteauneuf-du-Faou (Finistère). – 24. Women from Plougastel, near Brest (Finistère). – 25. Man from Plougastel. – 26. Woman from Locmaria, near Quimper, and farmer from Elliant (Finistère). – 27. Peasant from Riec (Finistère). – 28. Young girl from Bannalec (Finistère). – 29. Man from Saint-Thégonnec (Finistère). – 30. Women from the area of Pont-Lannay (Finistère). – 31. Bride and groom from Kerlouan (Finistère). – 32. Men and women from the area of Pontcroix (Finistère). – 33. Farmer from Saint-Évarzec (Finistère). – 34. [Woman and two children]. – 35. [Presentation of a newborn at a calvary]. – 36. Woman from Ploëne near Moncontour (Côtes-du-Nord). – 37. Woman from Antrain (Ille-et-Vilaine). – 38. Man and woman from Cancale (Ille-et-Vilaine). – 39. Woman from Saint-Servan and Dinan, near Saint-Malo (Ille-et-Vilaine). – 40. Young ladies from Pornic (Loire-Inférieure). – 41. Man from Bourg-de-Batz in festive costume (Loire-Inférieure). – 42. Woman from Bourg-de-Batz in festive costume. – 43. Bride and groom from Bourg-de-Batz. – 44. Young salt-workers in working attire.

Copy from the library of Léon Noël, with his ex-libris label pasted on the front endpaper.

First edition of the French translation by Dominique Aubier, printed in 150 numbered copies on Rives wove paper, ours being one of 30 copies including the original print, numbered and signed by Louis Chavignier.

Our copy is one of only 10 exceptionally enriched with an additional suite on chine appliqué of the etching by Alberto Giacometti and the 14 burin engravings by Louis Chavignier.

The work is illustrated with an original etching as frontispiece by Alberto Giacometti, and 14 full-page original burin engravings by sculptor Louis Chavignier.

A handsome and rare copy.

Enclosed is the printed report, on Rives paper, of the general meeting held on 16 May 1962 by the bibliophile society Les Impénitents.

Also included is the promotional leaflet illustrated with an original burin engraving by Louis Chavignier, justified and signed by the artist, announcing the forthcoming publication of the book.

Minor, insignificant foxing affecting one leaf of the final gathering.

A rare and desirable copy.

First edition of only 100 copies, numbered by Pierre-Eugène Clairin on pur fil de Lana paper, plus a few hors commerce copies.
Text by Albert Camus.
With 7 etchings, 2 drypoints and three original lithographs (one in colors) by Pierre-Eugène Clairin, who has signed eight of the illustrations in pencil.
A little light marginal worming, a good copy complete with its chemise and slipcase (with flaps).
Rare.

First edition, one of 32 numbered copies on Japon nacré, the tirage de tête.
Illustrated covers with an original lithograph by Alberto Giacometti.
Slight worming to spine.
A good, well-margined copy.