Inscribed Books

Very rare first edition.
Beige half calf binding, spine decorated and ruled in gilt, some rubbing to the joints, dark yellow paper boards, marbled endpapers, edges speckled. Missing top spine end, rubbed joints and some scratches.
Notes about the author in ink by a former owner on the page facing the half-title page: "condamné à mort le 24 mars 1794” (executed on 24 March 1794)

Extremely rare inscribed copy signed by Anacharsis Cloots to the revolutionary Nicolas Joseph Pâris, "Pour NJ Pâris de la part de l'auteur” (For NJ Pâris from the author) Friend of Danton and Cloots, court clerk of the Paris Revolutionary Tribunal, Pâris was well known under his pseudonym which he borrowed, like his friend Cloots, from the history of the ancient Republics.

First edition of this seminal work by Anacharsis Cloots, of which the “various other writings are only detached parts” (Léonard Gallois, Histoire des Journaux et des journalistes de la Révolution française, 1846), exceedingly rare. We have not been able to find any other inscribed copy.
Our copy is inscribed to another revolutionary, present during the great trials of the Reign of Terror. He became famous for warning Danton of Robespierre and Marat's plot against him, as told by Victor Hugo in Quatre-vingt-treize [Ninety-Three]: “It was at the time when the copying clerk, Fabricius Pâris, watched through the key-hole the proceedings of the Commitee of Public Safety; not an act of supererogation, be it observed, for it was this very Pâris who notified Danton on the night of the 31st of March 1794.”

Rare first edition.
Signed autograph inscription by Alexandre Dumas on the half-title, the only leaf left untrimmed by the binder so as to preserve the full dedication.
Several political texts are bound together with it: L'indépendance de la magistrature - Affaire Séguier; Articles publiés dans le journal La Presse et lettres diverses by Emile Ollivier; L'Empire parlementaire est-il possible by Gustave Chaudey; Les décrets du 22 janvier 1852 by M. Reverchon; Défense du droit de propriété by M. Degouve Denuncques; Qu'est-ce donc que la commune?
Half red shagreen binding, smooth spine tooled with gilt fillets, dotted lines, rolls and fleurons, broad black fillets, marbled paper boards, edges rubbed, contemporary binding.

First edition.

Black half morocco binding, spine with four raised bands adorned with gilt dotted fillets and double gilt compartments decorated at the corners, gilt date and the inscription "Ex. de J. Drouet" at the tail, marbled paper boards and endpapers, preserved covers and spine, top edge gilt, binding signed by René Aussourd.
Some minor foxing, mainly at the beginning and end of the volume.

Precious signed and inscribed copy by Victor Hugo to Juliette Drouet, the great love of his life: ‘To you, my lady. Humble homage. V.'

This copy comes from the library of Pierre Duché, who acquired Juliette Drouet's entire library and commissioned René Aussourd to bind the volumes uniformly, marking each with an identifying inscription at the foot of the spine.

Bookplates pasted on a pastedown and a flyleaf.
In late 1878, after more than forty years together, Victor Hugo and Juliette Drouet finally moved in together at Avenue d'Eylau, in the small town house where the poet would spend his final years. "From that moment on, Juliette's life became little more than an unbroken sorrow, a servitude of every hour. She herself suffered from stomach cancer, knowing she was condemned—to die of hunger!" (Louis Guimbaud, Victor Hugo et Juliette Drouet, Paris, 1927). Despite her illness and severe physical weakness, she remained devotedly at Hugo's side as his caregiver. It was during this time that Bastien Lepage painted a strikingly realistic portrait of her: "From her goddess-like face, once serene and noble, the relentless illness had made a frail human visage, drawn and hollowed, furrowed with wrinkles—each one telling a story of pain." (ibid.)

Religions et religions was published two years before Juliette's death; is was one of the last books Hugo dedicated to the unwavering love of his life. In a final tribute to her lifelong devotion, he later offered her a photograph inscribed: "Fifty years—that is the most beautiful marriage."

Copy from the most intimate source.

Edition published the same year as the first. Illustrated with a portrait of the author, three folding plates, a folding map of Longwood house and two folding maps.
Some foxing.

Full black calf bindings, smooth spines with gilt romantic motifs, boards with central motif in blind, boards ruled in gilt, a small restoration to the margin of the first volume's upper board, handmade endpapers and pastedowns, marbled edges, spine-ends ruled in gilt, contemporary romantic bindings.

Rare signed and inscribed copy to a veteran of the Napoleonic wars, on the title page of the first volume: "A Mr. Foucauld, ancien s. [sous] officier de la Grande Armée. Passy 19. 7bre 1840 par le Cte de Las Cases" [To Mr. Foucauld, former second officer of the French Imperial Army. Passy 19. September 1840 by Count de Las Cases]

This inscription by the famous memorialist dates from the year Napoleon's mortal remains were returned to France, a few days before the Belle Poule frigate arrived in St. Helena to collect the coffin. Las Cases inscribed this copy at a turning point in history, as the world was once again turning to the remote island where the Emperor was exiled and buried. A second resurrection was to occur with the triumphant return of the imperial coffin:

"Frozen sky, pure sun. - Oh! shines in history,
Of the mournful imperial triumph torch!
May the people forever keep you in their memory,
Beautiful day like glory,
Cold as the grave" (Le Retour de l'Empereur, Victor Hugo).
The famous compilation of memories and confidences of Napoleon in exile was considered from the beginning to be a true masterpiece which had a lasting effect on Napoleonic legacy. Inscriptions by Las Cases on his most famous work are extremely rare. Las Cases wrote these words to another faithful servant of the Empire, at a time when one of the most important events in Napoleonic history was unfolding: the long voyage of so-called “Mission des cendres”. Las Cases was to be part of this expedition and abandoned due to ill health. He was replaced by his son who had shared his captivity in St Helena and was to publish, like his father, an account of his journey with the Emperor's remains. Las Cases did, however, attend the lavish funeral ceremony at the Invalides, true to his words from the Mémorial: "The heavens blessed my efforts by allowing me to go all the way".

An exceptional copy with a rare meaningful signed autograph inscription, on the iconic work at the origin of Napoleonic mythology, handsomely set in a contemporary binding with Romantic gilt motifs.

First edition printed in 130 copies, all nominative and numbered, on Rives vellum.
Full chocolate-brown morocco binding, spine with four double raised bands framed by black fillets extending onto the covers, gilt date at foot, gilt rolls on the caps, endpapers and pastedowns of hand-made paper, quintuple gilt fillet borders on the pastedowns, double gilt fillets on the board edges, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.
Illustrated with a frontispiece, 15 plates and 6 vignettes by Georges Leroux engraved on copper by Raoul Serres.
This copy is supplemented, at the end of the volume, with a suite of the 22 illustrations together with the printed menu for the dinner of 30 June 1930 of the Société bibliophilique des "Cent centraux bibliophiles".
In addition, the work includes, mounted on a tab, four original preparatory sketches in black pencil and, following them, an original drawing by Georges Leroux, dated, signed, and executed for the representation of the menu of the dinner of 30 June 1930 held by the "Cent centraux bibliophiles".
Manuscript signatures of Rosny aîné and Raoul Serres on the verso of the original menu drawing.
A very handsome copy accompanied by five original drawings by Georges Leroux, finely bound in full morocco.

First edition, printed in very small numbers, of this offprint from the Bulletins de l'Académie royale de Belgique, 3rd series, vol. IV, no. 12.

No copy in the CCF. A single copy in Worldcat.

Traces of a label and of a distribution stamp in the left margin of the upper cover, a few small spots of foxing.

The physicist Charles Montigny (1819-1890) was director of the science section of the Académie royale des Sciences et Belles-Lettres de Bruxelles, of which he had been a member since 1867.

Inscribed by Charles Montigny to Admiral Ernest Mouchez (1821-1892), a specialist in hydrological and astronomical observations, director of the Paris Observatory from 1878.

First edition, no copies printed on deluxe paper.
Illustrated, a pleasant copy

Precious and very fine autograph inscription, dated and signed by Samuel Mbajum: "Paris, 30 June 2014, au ministre Bernard Kouchner, avec ma sympathie pour votre combat humanitaire, en espérant que vous m'aiderez à plaider le plus largement possible la cause de ces oubliés de l'histoire franco-africaine, et aussi des débats sur la commémoration de la Grande Guerre."

First edition, printed on vellum paper in 260 numbered copies.

Bradel binding in half vellum-style boards, smooth spine, gilt title running lengthwise, gilt fillet framing the marbled paper covers, top edge gilt.

A long orange offset to the margin of the lower cover on the vellum-style board, light orange offsets to the margins of the white endpapers.

Illustrated with 68 plates reproducing drawings by Max Liebermann in facsimile.

This copy retains the two original etchings by Max Liebermann, each signed by him in pencil.

First edition on ordinary paper.

Work illustrated with wood engravings by Henri Jadoux.

A pleasing copy.

Autograph inscription signed by Sacha Guitry in pencil to Henry Sorensen.

First edition, one of 40 numbered copies, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

A handsome and scarce copy.

Illustrated with full-page color drawings by André François.

Pencil signature by Vincent Pachès at the colophon.

Very rare collection comprising offprints of original editions of articles and reviews first published in the Journal des savants or the Bulletin de l'École française d'Extrême-Orient.

Bradel binding in green bottle cloth-backed boards, flat spine decorated with a central gilt ornament and double gilt fillet at foot, red morocco title label, marbled paper boards, some original wrappers preserved, modern binding signed Boichot.

Most of the fascicles are by the Indologist Auguste Barth (1834–1916), one of the founders of the École française d'Extrême-Orient, and the originator of Indochinese epigraphy through his studies of Sanskrit inscriptions in Cambodia. He was also a specialist in Indian religions.

The collection includes the following items:

I. Die Religion des Veda, von Hermann Oldenberg. Berlin, Wilhelm Hertz, 1894 (September 1896, 55 pp.).

II. Le pèlerin chinois I-Tsing. Edouard Chavannes: Voyages des pèlerins bouddhistes (...). Paris, Ernest Leroux, 1894 (November 1898, 52 pp.).

III. Le Mahavastu, Sanskrit text published for the first time with introductions and commentary, by E. Senart. 1882–1897 (October 1899, 41 pp.).

IV. Grundriss der indo-arischen Philologie und Altertumskunde, edited by Georg Bühler. Strasbourg, Karl-J. Trübner, 12 fascicles published from 1896 to 1899 (September 1900, 82 pp.).

V. Le Cambodge. Le Royaume actuel, by Etienne Aymonier, Paris, Ernest Leroux, 1900 (August 1901, 17 pp.).

VI. Kaccayana's Pali Grammar, by Satis Chandra Acharya Vidyabhusana, London and Calcutta, 1901 (October 1902, 16 pp.).

VII. Lunet de Lajonquière, Inventaire descriptif des monuments du Cambodge, Paris, Imprimerie nationale, E. Leroux éditeur, 1902 (July 1903, 4 pp.).

VIII. On the Origin and Diffusion of Fables. Francesco Ribezzo: Nuovi studi sulla origine e la propagazione delle favole indo-elleniche comunemente dette esopiche. Napoli, Francesco Giannini, 1901 (January 1904, 29 pp.).

IX. L'École française d'Extrême-Orient (Hanoi, Imprimerie F.-H. Schneider, n.d. [1900], 11 pp.).

X. Stele of Vat Phou, near Bassac (Laos) (1902, 2 unnumbered ff., 6 pp., one folding plate).

XI. The Doublets of the Stele of Say-Fong. Letter to the Director of the École française d'Extrême-Orient (1903, 7 pp.).

XII. FOUCHER (Alfred): Report to the Governor-General of Indochina on the work of the École française d'Extrême-Orient during the year 1901 (1902, 10 pp.). – XIII. LEVI (Sylvain): Chinese Notes on India (1902, 2 unnumbered ff., 10 pp.).

XIV and XV. FINOT (Louis): Notes on Epigraphy (n.d. [1902], and 1903, 36 pp., one unnumbered leaf of errata and 4 photogravure plates).

XVI. SPECHT (Edouard): On the Deciphering of Sindo-Ephthalite Coins (Paris, Imprimerie Nationale, 1901, 43 pp.).

Most of the pamphlets bear a signed presentation inscription from the authors to Father Boyer.

First edition describing 1,271 objects, illustrated with 3 full-page line-engraved plates.

Inscribed on the upper cover with a signed autograph presentation from François Lenormant to the eighth Duke of Luynes (1802–1867).

Minor foxing, light creasing to the upper cover.

Very rare first edition of the author's very first work, in which he clearly sought to draw attention during this period of revival of the national stud farms, abolished during the Revolution and officially reinstated in 1806 (see Mennessier de La Lance II, 138).

Contemporary full marbled fawn calf, flat spine richly gilt with garlands, Greek keys, floral tools and geometric motifs, green morocco title labels, gilt rolls on the almost faded caps, gilt ornamental borders on covers, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt fillet on edges, worn corners, sprinkled edges.

Facing the title page, signed autograph inscription by Louis de Maleden to "Messieurs Talendier et Laforest," in which he mentions the publication of his Plan organique, which appeared in 1805 followed this first work.

Ex-libris label of Waldemar Schwalbe, dated 1937, pasted on the front pastedown.

First edition, one of 300 numbered copies signed and justified by Frans de Geetere, reserved for the friends of La Marie-Jeanne, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.
As stated in the limitation, our copy is complete with a manuscript leaf from the work and an original drawing by the author depicting two reclining nude women, signed by him.
A desirable copy, complete with its rare promotional wraparound band: "le livre qu'aucun éditeur n'a osé publier".

The first edition, first printing, numbered in the press, with only 23 large paper copies on Hollande paper.
With a frontispiece portrait of Apollinaire by Picasso.
Discreet restorations to spine.

With a chemise of half red morocco over paper boards by Boichot, spine in six compartments, date to foot of spine, identical paper slipcase with red morocco edging.

 
Rare autograph inscription signed by Guillaume Apollinaire: “for Henri Ghéon whose poetry I am fond of, Guillaume Apollinaire”.
This copy also with five manuscript corrections by Apollinaire on pages 71, 77, 92, 110 and 189.
A good copy with a rare autograph inscription by the poet.

An autograph quatrain in black ink has been mounted on the verso of the frontispiece.

Very rare first edition (see Ryckebusch 6726).

Only two copies listed in the CCFr: Paris (BnF) and Poitiers.

Unbound copy presented in original grey paper wrappers, handwritten title on the spine (partly missing), some foxing mostly at the beginning and end of the volume.

A staunch advocate for the abolition of slavery, the author structures his study as follows: I. On Slavery. – II. On Emancipation. – III. Essay on the History of the Colonies. – IV. On the Colonial System. – V. Note on Algeria.

This well-documented text is supplemented with statistics and numerous historical observations: "La servitude est un crime et un malheur ; il faut donc l'abolir, et j'ajoute qu'il importe qu'on ne tarde pas à le faire" (chap. II, p. 58).

French economist Michel Gustave Pastoureau Du Puynode was born in 1817 in Les Forges de Verrières (Vienne). Appointed to the Ministry of Justice in 1845, he resigned his post during the Revolution of 1848 and declined the position of Secretary General at the Ministry of the Navy offered to him by Schoelcher. He was one of the principal contributors to the Journal des économistes and a member of the Société d'économie politique until around 1898, the probable year of his death.

A precious copy bearing, at the head of the half-title, a signed autograph inscription by Gustave de Puynode: "A Monsieur le Cte Victor du H[amel], hommage de l'auteur".

Writer and politician Victor Du Hamel (1810–1870) was the author of several novels and was appointed prefect of the Lot in 1849.

A very rare work, offered as is.

First edition with all first printing  features, one of the press copies.

Exceptional presentation copy inscribed by the author to the famous singer Yvette Guilbert, to whom Céline himself sang and offered one of his scandalous compositions, “Katika la putain,” [Katika the Whore] later renamed “À Nœud coulant” [With a Slipknot"] "A madame Yvette Guilbert en témoignage de ma profonde admiration. LFCéline.” 

Beneath Céline's inscription, the actor Fabrice Luchini added: “A Yvette Guilbert in memoriam. FLuchini” ; and on the half-title, actor Jean-François Balmer wrote in turn: “Merci en bon voyage. JFBalmer.”

With pasted-in entry tickets to their respective performances of Voyage au bout de la nuit at the Comédie des Champs-Élysées for Luchini, and at the Théâtre de l’Œuvre for Balmer.

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, no deluxe copies on fine paper were issued.

Spine and rear cover slightly soiled; a clean and attractive copy internally.

Illustrations.

Valuable signed presentation copy from General Gambiez: "A monsieur J. Debu-Bridel en bien cordial hommage cet envoi de synthèse sur la libération de la Corse cette île qui nous est si chère. Château de Vincennes 26 septembre 1974."

A moving relic of the Resistance and Gaullist legacy.

First edition, no grands papiers (deluxe) copies printed.
Half brown sheepskin, spine with four raised bands framed in blind and dec­orated with gilt floral motifs, some rubbing to the spine, marbled paper boards, marbled paper endpapers and flyleaves, modest contemporary bind­ing.

Rare signed and inscribed copy by Guy de Maupassant to the Baron de Vaux who inspired the character of Bel-Ami: “To Baron de Vaux / his friend / Guy de Maupassant”.

First edition, with no deluxe copies printed.

Publisher's full blue cloth binding, smooth spine, copy complete with its photographic dust jacket, showing minor tears at the head and tail of the spine without loss.

Text by Françoise Dolto, photographs by Alecio de Andrade.

Inscribed and signed by Françoise Dolto and Alecio de Andrade on the front free endpaper.

First edition, illustrated with a folding map bound at the end (cf. Quérard I 529).

Copy preserved in its original plain green wrappers,

uncut, some foxing to the map.

"Tableau des stations géodésiques et astronomiques choisies pour déterminer la mesure de l'arc du parallèle terrestre compris entre les tours de Cordouan et de Fiume, et qui doit s'étendre jusqu'à Orsowa en Transilvanie".

Inscribed and signed by Joseph-François Nicollet on the title-page, addressed to a Monsieur Pouillet.

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.

Rare first edition, privately printed in small numbers, of this offprint from the Recueil des notices et mémoires de la Société archéologique de Constantine, vol. XXIV.

Only two copies recorded in the French collective catalogue (BnF and Lyon).

Vertical crease visible throughout the booklet.

Preserved in its original grey paper wrappers, without lettering, with the title and author's name handwritten in pencil.

A member of the Congregation of the White Fathers, particularly active in North Africa, Alfred-Louis Delattre (1850–1932) was first sent as a missionary to Algeria, later becoming chaplain of the Saint-Louis Church in Carthage, and eventually curator of the archaeological museum in Algiers.

Based on the Byrsa Hill in Carthage, he devoted over fifty years of his life to the exploration of the Carthaginian archaeological site, focusing especially on necropolises and early Christian basilicas. Inscribed, dated and signed by Alfred-Louis Delattre at the head of the first page of text.

First edition of the French translation, illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of Iwakura Tomomi.

Contemporary binding in navy blue long-grain half morocco, flat spine decorated with gilt fillets and blind-stamped fleurons, red morocco lettering-piece running lengthwise, green cloth boards, minor fading and rubbing to covers, original blank wrappers preserved; modern binding.

Iwakura Tomomi (1825–1883) was a prominent figure of the Meiji era, whose influence played a key role in Japan's transformation.

Some handwritten annotations in ink and pencil on a pastedown, and an inscription in ink reading "Trautz (?) Kyoto. Jan 1935" on the endpaper.

Inscribed and signed by Leonardus Johannes Antonius van de Polder to Doctor Kniper, dated December 1922.

Bookplate of R.A. Scoales pasted on a pastedown.

First edition, printed in very limited numbers, of this offprint from the Revue archéologique, illustrated with 12 textual figures and 3 plates; only two copies listed in the CCF (Quai d'Orsay and Strasbourg).

Contemporary Bradel binding in olive green cloth-backed marbled boards, smooth spine with red morocco title label, original wrappers bound in.

Christophe-Edouard Mauss (1829–1914), architect to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was entrusted with several archaeological missions in the East (Thessaloniki, Smyrna, Alexandria), and was later sent by the French government to Jerusalem (1862–1874) to oversee the restoration of the Church of Saint Anne. He also developed a keen interest in ancient metrology, to which he devoted several monographs.

Bound at the end, three additional works by the same author:

• I. Note pour faire suite au tracé du plan de la Mosquée d'Omar, published June–July 1888. Paris, Ernest Leroux, 1889, 6 pp.
• II. Note sur une ancienne chapelle contiguë à la grand'salle des Patriarches et à la rotonde du Saint-Sépulcre à Jérusalem. Paris, Ernest Leroux, 1890, 23 pp., 12 textual illustrations.
• III. L'Église de Saint-Jérémie à Abou-Gosch (Emmaüs of Saint Luke and Castellum of Vespasian), with a study on the stadium in the time of Saint Luke and Flavius Josephus. Paris, Ernest Leroux, 1892, 54 pp., then pp. 55–106, 25 textual figures.
• The first two works bear signed autograph inscriptions from Christophe-Edouard Mauss to the archaeologist Alban-Emmanuel Guillaume-Rey (1837–1916, also known as Guillaume Rey or Emmanuel Rey, though the correct surname is Guillaume-Rey).
• His many travels in Syria made him a most suitable interlocutor for such scholarly exchanges.

First UK edition.

Publisher’s binding in full grey cloth, smooth spine, a fine copy complete with the illustrated dust jacket featuring a photographic portrait of the author by Yousuf Karsh.

Illustrated with maps on the endpapers and pastedowns, and 37 photographs.

Extremely rare inscribed copy signed by the last leader of the Soviet Union to a USSR émigré, the journalist Sam Yossman.

First edition, one of the review copies.

Spine faded with noticeable waterstaining at foot, a few small spots in the margins of the covers.

Illustrated with 53 photographs by Brassaï.

On a card mounted to the front endpaper, a moving presentation inscription, dated and signed in blue ballpoint pen by Brassaï: "Pour Francis Ponge amical hommage de Brassaï Eze-Village le 29 octobre 1964."

First edition, one of the review copies.

Spine and covers faded, small chips to the corners of the covers and margins of some leaves, brittle and yellowed paper, front free endpaper detached, a delicate copy.

Exceptional and moving signed autograph inscription by Raymond Guérin: "Pour vous mon cher Calet ces Poulpes où vous savez tout ce que j'ai mis de foi et de désespoir. avec l'admiration et l'amitié du grand Dab. R. Guérin 11.5.53. P.S. Nous sommes au Madison jusqu'au 15 mai, puis, du 29 mai au 5 juin. R.G."

First edition of the English translation by Michael Glenny, who first came to prominence with his translation of Bulgakov’s Master and Margarita in 1967. No deluxe paper copies issued.

Publisher’s binding in full black cloth, flat spine which shows some inherent creasing due to the laminated covering.

A handsome copy, with illustrations.

Very rare inscribed copy dated 27 April 1990 and signed by Boris Yeltsin.

From the library of Sam Yossman (Sam Jones) of the BBC Russian Service.

First collected edition. No deluxe paper copies issued.
Publisher’s binding in full green cloth, smooth spines, with their dust jackets designed by Adam Rusak, showing only minor and insignificant marginal tears.

Rare presentation copy dated May 1, 1992 and signed by Solzhenitsyn to USSR émigré journalist and writer Sam Yossman, on the title page of the first volume.

First edition, numbered copies on vélin pur fil, most limited deluxe issue.

A handsome copy complete with the publisher’s announcement slip.

Rare and important presentation copy inscribed by Irène Némirovsky: "A Benjamin Crémieux hommage de l'auteur. Irène Némirovsky". Némirovsky died in Auschwitz in 1942, and Crémieux in Buchenwald in 1944.

Crémieux had published a glowing review of Némirovsky’s first novel, David Golder. Its film adaptation by Julien Duvivier was among the earliest French talkies. On this short stories collection fittingly titled Films parlés (Talking Films) Némirovsky, the émigré writer, paid homage  to Crémieux, a descendant of a long-assimilated Jewish family from southern France. Two years after the publication of this collection, Irène Némirovsky’s name would appear alongside Crémieux’s in an anonymous antisemitic pamphlet entitled Voici les vrais maîtres de la France [Here are the true masters of Frabce] listing over 800 names of writers (Mémorial de la Shoah, Olivier Philipponnat).

Neither would return from the death camps: “In Geneva, in February 1945, Olga Jungelson, an envoy from the Ministry of Refugees to the Red Cross, was unable to obtain any information about her, nor about the other deported writers she had been tasked with tracing: Benjamin Crémieux, Robert Desnos, Jean Cavaillès, Maurice Halbwachs” (La vie d'Irène Némirovsky, Patrick Lienhardt, Olivier Philipponnat). 

Uncommon first edition containing highly interesting observations on life aboard the Newfoundland fishing vessels (cf. Sabin 11020).

The chapters on whaling and seal hunting were overlooked by Thiébaut, Jenkins, and Vaucaire.

The author, Constant-Jean-Antoine Carpon (1803–1872), was a medical officer and surgeon in the merchant navy. He began his career in 1826 and continued until 1865, taking part in numerous fishing expeditions to Newfoundland.

Contemporary quarter maroon paper binding, flat spine slightly faded and decorated with blind-stamped fillets, brown paper boards with minor rubbing.

Some light foxing.

Inscribed by Constant-Jean-Antoine Carpon to Monsieur Lefevre-Deumier on the half-title page.

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 modesty and dated the day before the premiere on 17 January 1870, Eugène Manuel expresses his hope and longing for the distinguished recipient to attend the opening of "Les ouvriers": "Vous prendrez peut-être plus d'intérêt à l'auteur, lorsque vous saurez que je suis le neveu d'un de vos amis d'autrefois, Jules Lévy, qui avait pour vous une bien vive et bien sincère affection... [...] J'espère, monsieur, que rien ne vous empêchera d'assister à cette représentation, peu importante peut-être pour vous, puisqu'il s'agit que d'un acte, mais qui est sérieux pour moi..."

In the second, the author warmly thanks his correspondent for the attention paid to the play: "J'apprends aujourd'hui seulement que vous m'avez fait l'insigne honneur d'entretenir de ma petite pièce des Ouvriers, l'auditoire d'élite qui se presse à vos leçons du Collège de France... [...] le jugement d'un critique aussi considérable est une de ces bonnes fortunes que l'on ose ambitionner..."

First edition on regular paper.

Spine with some faint dampstains, marginal foxing to the covers, paper toned as usual.

Inscribed and signed by Marguerite Yourcenar: "A madame Joly-Segalen hommage de l'auteur, Marguerite Yourcenar. Les vivants vont vite."

First edition, illustrated with 31 plates outside the text, including a map, some folding or double-page. (cf Hague Chahine 1505).

A few insignificant spots of foxing, a pleasing copy overall.

Contemporary Bradel binding in green cloth-backed boards, smooth spine with gilt date at foot, red shagreen title label with a small angular defect, boards covered with 'cat’s eye' marbled paper. Contemporary binding.

The volume is also decorated with numerous illustrations in the text and is an offprint from the Nouvelles Archives des Missions scientifiques, vol. X, documenting the archaeological expedition in the Harra region, conducted alongside Frédéric Macler.

Inscribed by René Dussaud to Baron Rey on the half-title page.

An archaeologist and orientalist, Emmanuel Guillaume Rey (1837–1916) made three journeys to the Near East between 1857 and 1865, during which he explored Palestine, Syria, and southern Turkey. He published numerous works, notably on the Hauran (south of Damascus), the Ansarieh mountains (north of Mount Lebanon), the history and topography of the tribe of Judah, the military architecture of the Crusaders in Syria, and Latin rule in the East.

Rare first edition illustrated with three folding plates outside the text.

Spine repaired along the right margin with adhesive strip, minor tears to spine, internally clean and appealing.

In the manner of departmental compendia of customary law published in mainland France, the author records the unofficial legal “usages” adopted in practice within the colony, though lacking legal force. Born in Saint-Denis, Réunion, Georges Garros (1860 – after 1919) moved to Cochinchina in 1892 to open a law practice in Saigon, primarily serving the commercial interests of his Vietnamese merchant friends. He was also the father of the famed aviator Roland Garros (1888–1918).

Inscribed by Georges Garros: "Monsieur Foulé, greffier en chef de la Cour d'appel hommage de cordiale sympathie. G. Garros"

First edition, one of 125 numbered copies on B.F.K. de Rives, including an additional suite of the illustrations on pure rag paper.

A few minor spots on the covers, a pleasant copy overall.

Two light marginal dampstains on the slipcase, slightly rubbed at the corners.

Signed by Sacha Guitry at the beginning of the first volume.

First edition of the French translation.
Illustrated with photographs by Erica Anderson, with text and captions by Eugène Exman.

Preface by Daniel Halévy.
Pleasing copy complete with its illustrated dust jacket, showing minor losses and angular tears to the spine, along with some marginal scuffing to the panels.

Bookplate affixed to the inside front cover.

Rare dated and signed presentation inscription by Albert Schweitzer on a blank flyleaf: "A monsieur Bernard Tessier en souvenir de son passage à Lambaréné le 1.9.1956, Albert Schweitzer."

First edition, one of 45 numbered copies on Arches wove paper, the deluxe issue.

A handsome copy, untrimmed, despite two pale vertical sunspots on the upper cover.

Inscribed and signed by Michel de Saint-Pierre to Maurice Gorrée, dated: "... ce roman qui est devenu champ-clos, alors que je voulais unir... Amicalement Michel de Saint-Pierre."

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on laid paper, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

A handsome and rare copy.

Illustrations.

Signed autograph inscription by Jean de La Varende to Maurice Gorrée.

First edition, one of 18 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe copies.

Bound in navy blue half shagreen with corners, spine with four raised bands, gilt-effect paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.

A handsome copy in an elegant binding.

Inscribed and signed by Benoîte and Flora Groult to Maurice Gorrée (Benoîte signing on Flora’s behalf).

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies printed on Corvol l'orgueilleux, the only copies on deluxe paper along with a few hors commerce copies on the same paper.

A handsome copy.

Inscribed and signed by Armand Lanoux to Maurice Gorrée: "voici le commandant Watrin histoire d'hommes de bonne volonté," with an original drawing of a flower.

First edition, one of the review copies.

Half shagreen binding with corners in burgundy, spine with four raised bands ruled in black, date gilt at foot, slight but harmless fading to the spine and margins of the boards, gilt-embossed paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine (restored) preserved, top edge gilt.

Rare dated inscription by Georges Duhamel signed with his real surname: "A Paul Souday hommage dévoué. GDuhamel avril 1918."

Our copy is further enriched with an autograph letter dated 16 December 1918, mounted on a stub, addressed to Paul Souday—though not mentioned by name—in which Duhamel expresses the joy and honour he felt at having recently been awarded the Prix Goncourt (Civilisation 1914–1918 was awarded the prize on 11 December 1918) for this work: "... le prix Goncourt me fait plaisir, mais moins encore que les quelques cordiales poignées de mains que je reçois à cette occasion."

Georges Duhamel expresses his high regard for his correspondent: "Vous m'avez déjà et très énergiquement témoigné votre sympathie. Soyez sûr que cette sympathie m'est chère. Et comme, en outre, elle m'est un guide précieux, je ferai tout ce que je pourrai pour la conserver et la mériter."

First edition, one of 285 numbered copies on Arches wove paper, deluxe issue.

A handsome copy.

Inscribed, dated and signed by Roger Peyrefitte to Maurice Gorrée.

First edition, one of 175 numbered copies on Arches wove paper, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

Signed autograph inscription from Roger Peyrefitte to Maurice Gorrée.

First edition, one of 65 numbered copies on Madagascar paper, this copy being one of 20 hors commerce reserved for the Henri Lefebvre bookshop, a deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

Inscribed and signed by Jean de La Varende to Monsieur Gorrée: "... ce livre où revivent plusieurs jeunesses éteintes..."

First edition, one of 55 numbered copies on pur fil d'Arches, the deluxe issue.

A handsome copy.

Inscribed and signed by Roger Peyrefitte to Monsieur Gorrée, with a dated autograph dedication.

First edition, one of 100 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe issue.

A rare and handsome copy.

Inscribed and signed by Jean de La Varende to Monsieur Gorrée.

First edition, one of 130 numbered copies on Arches wove paper, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

Inscribed, dated and signed by Roger Peyrefitte to Monsieur Gorrée.

First edition of the French translation, of which no deluxe copies were issued.

A horizontal crease to the front cover, otherwise a well-preserved copy.

Rare signed presentation inscription from Tom Wolfe to the journalist and literary critic Bernard Pivot: "To Bernard Pivot with a deep bow and profound thanks for such a marvelous evening. Tom Wolfe September, 9, 1988."

Tom Wolfe's masterpiece was splendidly adapted for the screen by Brian De Palma, starring Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, Melanie Griffith, and Morgan Freeman.

First edition, with no deluxe copies printed.
Pleasant copy, which is uncommon given the fragility of this book, often handled without care.
Inscribed and signed by Serge Gainsbourg to a recipient named Georges.
 

First edition, one of 135 numbered copies on pure wove paper, the only deluxe copies.
A handsome copy.
Signed autograph note by José Cabanis on the half-title.

First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on Johannot pure rag paper, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

Inscribed and signed by Roger Vailland to the publisher Jean Chastel.

New edition, partly original as it has been revised and expanded, one of the advance review copies.
Handsome copy complete with the wrap-around band bearing the quote: "L'adolescence le bonheur et le suicide."
Signed autograph inscription by Gabriel Matzneff to his friend, the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme: "Pour Pol Vandromme, ce livre stoïcien et chrétien, en amical hommage. Gabriel Matzneff."
 

First edition, one of 110 copies printed on Arches wove paper, deluxe issue.
Handsome copy, untrimmed, illustrated with photographs.
Fine autograph inscription signed by Pierre Clostermann: "... en cordial hommage d'un \"chasseur\" des FADL qui maniait plus facilement son avion que la dédicace. Pierre Clostermann."

First edition, one of the review copies.
A very good copy.
Inscribed by Gabriel Matzneff to his friend, the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme: "Pour Pol Vandromme, avec l'espoir de le revoir prochainement en Belgique ou à Paris, amitiés fidèles. Gabriel Matzneff."
 

First edition on ordinary paper, with the printed dedication to Marshal Pétain.

Discreet restorations to the spine.

Our copy is housed in a chemise and slipcase of navy blue half morocco, smooth spine lettered with author, title, and date in palladium, decorated paper boards, grey paper pastedowns, slipcase trimmed with matching navy morocco and decorated paper sides; binding signed by Boichot.

An exceptional copy inscribed by General de Gaulle to Colonel Émile Mayer, his “great friend [...] without whom this book could not have been conceived,” as stated in the author’s own inscription, which continues: “Receive, my Colonel, my deepest gratitude and my profound respect.”

A visionary soldier and theorist whom de Gaulle would later acknowledge as his strategic mentor, Émile Mayer corrected the very proofs of this work, which is here presented to him in these warm lines. Fifteen years before the First World War, Mayer had predicted the trench warfare to come. From the 1920s, de Gaulle frequented the salon of this great thinker of military art, whose Jewish origins and Dreyfusard sympathies had subjected him to calumnious antisemitic attacks and suspension from the army between 1899 and 1907. Both Mayer and de Gaulle opposed the immobile dogma of the French General Staff. Their military prophecies proved extraordinarily accurate concerning the mechanisation of the modern army: “For fifteen years, they confronted the same themes, not without disagreements, and each evolved while enriching the other” (Milo Lévy-Bruhl). At their weekly lunches they exchanged perspectives on the future of corps and tactics, both convinced of the futility of the Maginot Line. Mayer favoured a strategy of aerial and chemical warfare, while de Gaulle advocated the use of armoured divisions. Despite their differences, Mayer actively promoted the ideas of his protégé, and assisted in revising France and Her Army—having been won over, after the shock of the reoccupation of the Rhineland, to de Gaulle’s ambition of creating a professional armoured army. De Gaulle addressed these remarkable words of gratitude to his mentor just two weeks before Mayer’s death on November 28, 1938, which grieved him deeply.

An exceptional presentation copy from General de Gaulle of his essential and visionary work on military strategy—a significant testimonial linking two independent spirits who revolutionised the theoretical understanding of national defence.

New edition bearing a false statement of 128th edition.

Half heather red morocco binding, spine with five raised bands set with black fillets, gilt fillet frame on boards of Africanist-patterned paper, almond green paper endpapers and boards, original wrappers preserved, restorations to boards, top edge gilt, binding signed by Boichot.
Autograph inscription signed by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry on the half-title page: "Pour madame Capietto. En souvenir de quelques passages à Alger et, cette fois ci, d'une semaine bien mélancolique. Et avec toute mon amitié.
Antoine de Saint Exupéry." (For Madame Capietto. In memory of some visits to Algiers and, this time, of a very melancholy week. And with all my friendship. Antoine de Saint Exupéry.)







 

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued.
A pleasant copy.
Inscribed by Gabriel Matzneff to his friend, the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme: "Pour Pol Vandromme, en amical hommage. Gabriel Matzneff."
 

First edition on ordinary paper.
A well-preserved copy.
Concise yet striking presentation copy, inscribed and signed by Gabriel Matzneff to his friend, the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme: "Pour Pol Vandromme, torero de première classe, amicalement. Gabriel Matzneff."
 

First edition, with no copies printed on deluxe paper.

A pleasing copy.

Signed autograph inscription from Yves Coppens to Emile Noël.

First edition of the French translation, for which no deluxe paper was printed.
A pleasant copy.
We include the second volume, covering the period 1979-1994, published in 2005.
Rare handwritten signature of Alexandre Solzhenitsyn on the title page.

New edition, partly original as revised, of this study first published in 1858 in the Revue des Deux Mondes (Sabin 40127. Ryckebusch 5041).

Minor chips to the corners of the covers, some occasional foxing.

A member of one of the oldest families in Martinique, Romuald Le Pelletier de Saint-Rémy (1809–1882) served as president of the Central Agency of Colonial Banks; he wrote extensively on West Indian issues and colonial ventures in South America.

Inscribed by the author Romuald Le Pelletier de Saint-Rémy on the front free endpaper.

First edition of the vocal and piano score of the opera Déjanire by Camille Saint-Saëns.

A few pencil annotations in the margins of certain staves.

Our copy is presented in a 3/4 shagreen clamshell box, spine with five raised bands framed by gilt garlands and decorated with gilt fleurons, gilt lettering at foot of spine: "Inscribed by composer". Boards, endpapers and pastedowns in marbled paper. Spine of the box slightly faded.

Inscribed, dated and signed by Camille Saint-Saëns to music critic Edouard Beaudu.

Rare first edition illustrated with an original frontispiece etching by Raoul Cordier, depicting an authentic portrait of Nasser-ed-Din.

Minor losses and tears to the soiled cover margins, with a larger marginal loss to the rear cover; clean and attractive internal condition.

The only edition of this biography written on the occasion of Nasser-ed-Din Shah Qajar's (1831–1896) second European tour. He ruled Persia from 1848 until his death and was the first Persian monarch to visit the West. The reforms he introduced to the country ultimately led to his assassination by a fanatic.

Inscribed and signed by Edmond Dutemple to Monsieur Brunet, with date.

New edition, with mention of the print run.
Illustrated.
Two losses to the spine; complete with its illustrated dust jacket, which shows small chips and angular tears. One gathering poorly opened with minor marginal losses not affecting the text.

Bookplate affixed to the verso of the front cover.

Rare signed presentation inscription by Albert Schweitzer: "A monsieur et madame André Fontan en souvenir de leur passage à Lambarené le 2.6.1963, avec mes bonnes pensées. Albert Schweitzer."

First edition on regular paper.
Pleasant copy.
Inscribed and signed by Jean d'Ormesson to Jacqueline Rendoing.




 

First edition, with no copies printed on deluxe paper.
Minor creases to the front cover, without consequence.
Amusing signed inscription by François Cavanna to a friend named Paul: "Pour Paul, ces galopardes, ces galipettes dans les coins noirs de l'histoire. Cavanna."
 

First edition, with no copies printed on deluxe paper.

A pleasant copy despite two small creases at the foot of the front cover.

Inscribed and signed by Jean Favier to the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme.

New edition, one of the review copies.
A handsome copy.
Lengthy signed autograph inscription from Gabriel Matzneff to his friend, the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme: "Pour Pol Vandromme que j'aimerais beaucoup revoir à Paris ou lors d'un de mes prochains séjours en Belgique, ce roman qui s'est, en onze ans, bonifié, comme le vin, avec mon très amical et fidèle souvenir. Gabriel Matzneff."
 

First edition on ordinary paper.
Pleasant copy despite some minor foxing to the edges, publisher's wraparound band preserved.
Inscribed by Jean d'Ormesson to the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme: "Bon noël ! cher Pol Vandromme, Bonne année ! et beaucoup d'amitiés de Jean d'Ormesson"



 

First edition, one of the review copies.

A handsome copy, complete with the wraparound band: "Les rois mages racontés par Michel Tournier".

Inscribed and signed by Michel Tournier to the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme: "Pour Pol Vandromme en toute amitié."

First edition on ordinary paper.
A handsome copy despite a few tiny spots on the front cover, with the promotional band preserved.
Inscribed by Jean d'Ormesson to the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme : "... les baisers les plus affectueux de Casimir et l'amitié reconnaissante de J.O."



 

The first edition, an advance [service de presse] copy.
A fine inscription from Jean Cocteau to Jean-Paul Sartre: “son ami de tout cœur [your true friend].”
Despite not being of the same generation, and despite everything that could have separated them, Jean Cocteau and Jean-Paul Sartre were friendly in the late 40s and early 50s. When Sartre died, Jean Marais evoked their regular telephone calls and dinners with endless, wonderful discussions.
The two also worked together for recognition for Jean Genet and in July 1948 published an open letter together in Combat, addressed to the President of France, Vincent Auriol, urging the release from prison of the poet-thug. A few years later, Cocteau would help Sartre set up a committee of support for Henri Martin, a Communist protesting against the war in Indochina, sentenced to five years in prison for distributing pamphlets. Cocteau also took part in the staging of Sartre's Dirty Hands at the Théâtre Antoine in 1948.
In giving the high priest of Existentialism an inscribed copy of The Difficulty of Being, the indefatigable dandy was giving him one of his most intimate pieces. In this work, Sartre's political engagement is evoked in poetic terms: “but why does he insist on visible engagement? The invisible engages so much more…Poets engage themselves without any goal other than to lose themselves.”
Rare testimony of the links between two major figures of the 20th century intellectual and literary world.

Second French edition, published one month after the first, with no copies printed on deluxe paper.

A handsome copy.

Inscribed, dated and signed by Elia Kazan to Jean-Pierre Damase.

First edition, no deluxe copies printed.
Handsome copy.
Important presentation copy inscribed by Claude Lévi-Strauss to Jean-François Revel.
 

First edition, one of 1,500 copies printed on vellum paper, this one unnumbered.

A handsome copy.

Illustrated with a frontispiece by Jean Berque.

Exceptional full-page signed presentation inscription from Abel Bonnard to Hubert Lyautey, the first Resident-General of the French Protectorate in Morocco: "A monsieur le maréchal Lyautey, qui, marmi tant d'autres illustres, a aussi sauvé la beauté du Maroc. En respectueux hommage. Abel Bonnard."