Inscribed Books

First edition, one of 75 numbered copies on surfine colored paper.
Work illustrated with 3 aquatints by Mimi Parent.
One scratch with three light stains on the first cover.
Handsome copy.
Precious and surrealist autograph inscription signed by José Pierre to Marie Cermínová Toyen: "A Toyen, les violons monégasques fabriqués secrètement dans les presbytères en partant de l'anémone de mer, José." (To Toyen, the Monégasque violins secretly manufactured in presbyteries starting from the sea anemone, José.)
Signatures of José Pierre and Mimi Parent below the justification page.

Second edition, enlarged with the passages suppressed from the original edition of 1851.

Illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of the authors engraved by A. Descaves.

Contemporary red half shagreen, spine slightly faded, with five raised bands and black fillets, marbled-paper boards, upper board slightly and marginally faded along the left edge, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved and mounted.

Signed presentation copy from Edmond de Goncourt to the journalist and writer Louis Ulbach.

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued.

Richly illustrated. A fine copy.

Precious dated and signed presentation inscription from André Malraux: "Pour Fanny et D. Galanis leur vieil ami André Malraux dec.47."

First edition, one of the press copies.

Important signed autograph inscription from Marcel Jouhandeau to André Malraux: "Pour André Malraux avec mon souvenir affectueux. Marcel Jouhandeau."

First edition, in two volumes, of the series Commentaires sur la guerre des Boches. Copies numbered on Arches laid paper for both volumes, from the tirage de tête.

Printed wrappers lightly soiled, spine and margins of the front cover of the first volume sunned, slight tears to the spine ends, corner creases to the leaves, and an ink stain in the margin of the first volume. A few passages highlighted in pencil in the first volume. The second volume is untrimmed, with full margins throughout.

Autograph inscription, dated and signed "S." from André Suarès to Ventura García Calderón, on the front free endpaper of the first volume: "A Mr. V...

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued.

A vertical crease to the front wrapper.

Signed presentation inscription from Paul Ricoeur to Jean-Luc Drouin.

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued.

A fine copy, complete with the publisher's promotional wraparound band.

Signed presentation inscription by Virginie Despentes on the title page.

Edition illustrated with 36 watercolours by Pierre Laprade, one of 30 hors commerce copies printed on Arches laid paper and issued in special wrappers for the 30 private subscribers to all of Paul Valéry's works.

A fine copy.

Precious signed presentation copy from Paul Valéry to his friend, the bookseller, publisher and bibliophile Ronald Davis : "Exemplaire de Ronald Davis, the only man in the world who possesses all that has published. Paul Valéry."

New edition, one of 20 hors commerce copies printed on pur fil laid paper and issued in special grey Ingres wrappers, reserved for the 20 private subscribers to all of Paul Valéry's works.

Spine and covers very slightly yellowed, with no serious effect; internally in pleasing condition.

Precious signed presentation inscription from Paul Valéry to his friend, the bookseller, publisher and bibliophile Ronald Davis: "Exemplaire de Ronald Davis qui a déjà tant d'écriture de moi que ce n'est pas la peine d'en remplir encore cette belle page !  Paul Valéry."

First collected edition, one of the press copies.

A very good copy.

Signed presentation copy from Paul Claudel to Luc Estang.

First public edition, one of 238 numbered copies on Arches paper, the only issue after 6 copies on Japon and 6 on blue paper.

Spine and boards slightly and marginally faded, as usual.

Fine signed presentation inscription from Paul Valéry to his friend, the bookseller, publisher and bibliophile Ronald Davis: "Exemplaire de Ronald Davis offert par l'auteur Paul Valéry."

First edition, one of 280 numbered copies on mould-made wove paper, this copy one of 30 hors commerce copies in special wrappers reserved for the 30 private subscribers to all of Paul Valéry's works.

Fine copy.

Decorated with typographical ornaments by René Ben Sussan.*

Precious signed autograph presentation inscription from Paul Valéry to his friend, the bookseller, publisher and bibliophile Ronald Davis: "à Ronald Davis pour sa collection et avec les bons souvenirs de Paul Valéry."

First edition, one of 210 numbered copies on Lafuma Madagascar paper, this copy unnumbered.

A fine copy.

Fine presentation copy, warmly inscribed and signed by Paul Valéry to his friend Ronald Davis, bookseller, publisher and bibliophile: "A Ronald Davis, échange, selon le Magicien d'Aladin, d'une vieille lampe contre une neuve ! Paul Valéry."

Autograph inscription signed by Joseph Kessel and addressed to the Geneva autograph collector Claude Arnaud, on a loose leaf.

Fold mark from having been enclosed in an envelope.

Illustrated edition with decorative initials and 16 original lithographs by Lucien Moretti, each signed in pencil; one of 173 numbered copies on Arches wove paper.

Preface by Georges Brassens.

A fine copy, issued in loose sheets in a folder and burgundy cloth slipcase.

Signed presentation inscription from René Fallet: Pour madame et monsieur Prigent 13 apostoliquement leur René Fallet, together with a signed presentation inscription from Raymond Moretti to the same recipients.

Our copy is further enhanced by the autograph signature of Georges Brassens on the facing page.

First edition, one of the numbered copies on bouffant alfa calypso paper.

Publisher's full blue cloth binding after the original design by Massin, smooth spine, complete with its original acetate dust jacket and wraparound band.

A fine copy.

Signed presentation inscription from Marguerite Yourcenar to Mr Steiner: "... ces temps troublés comme les nôtres..."

First edition, with no deluxe copies printed.

A pleasant copy.

Precious dated and signed presentation inscription from Jean Raspail: "A M. Marcel Jouhandeau de son ancien élève toujours fidèle. en respectueux hommage. Jean Raspail. 27 X 66".

First edition on ordinary paper.

A few small stains to the bottom edge, otherwise a pleasant copy.

Signed presentation inscription from Jean Raspail to Monsieur Patrier, dated 12 November 1973.

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued.

Pleasant copy, complete with its publisher's wraparound band.

Fine dated and signed autograph presentation inscription from Pierre Schoendoerffer to Jean-Claude Descoings : "Pour le bon docteur... qui fut médecin en Algérie, pendant cette guerre. (Docteur un des plus beau métier du monde ! L'aile du papillon... mon dernier "petit crabe" - sans tambour ! Amicalement."

First edition, illustrated with drawings by the author.

A very good copy.

Our copy is further enhanced with a dated original drawing by Georges Wolinski depicting two figures; the first confessing "J'avoue que ma femme me rend heureux", the second replying: "toi aussi ? "

New edition published in the same year as the first, one of 425 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only large-paper copies after 65 copies on pur fil.

Fine copy, with full margins.

Illustrated with a frontispiece drawing by Jean Oberlé.

Dated and signed presentation inscription from Pierre Bourdan to Monsieur Prin.

First edition, one of 15 numbered copies on hollande, the only large-paper copies.

Full vellum binding with fore-edge flaps, spine decorated with a foliate design painted in gold and black, date in black at foot, front cover illustrated with an original allegorical composition painted in gold and black, wrappers preserved, contemporary binding.

Boards and spine soiled, a few small tears to the margins of certain deckle edges.

Presentation copy to Philippe Gille.

A rare copy with all margins, superbly bound in a contemporary black and gilt vellum binding.

First edition, one of 450 numbered copies on Marais pur fil paper, the only deluxe issue announced.

Fine copy, with full margins.

Signed presentation copy from Pierre Bourdan to Monsieur Prin, conveying his best wishes for the year 1946.

First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on vat-made vellum reserved for the Société bibliophilique des XX, this copy being that of Georges Calmann-Lévy, from the hors-commerce deluxe issue.

Manuscript signature of the Comtesse de Noailles beneath the limitation statement.

Below, a signed autograph presentation inscription from the president of the Société bibliophilique des XX.

Rare and handsome copy, preserved in sheets under double wrappers and spine, housed in a chemise and slipcase of full mauve moiré silk.

As usual, some rubbing to the joints of the chemise and to the slipcase.

First collected edition, one of 110 numbered copies on Lafuma-Navarre laid paper, specially imposed in quarto tellière format, forming the deluxe issue.

Newspaper clipping laid in, causing slight overall offsetting to the first free endpaper; occasional foxing.

Signed autograph inscription by Léon-Paul Fargue: " à Willy Michel que je pensais bien rencontrer un jour ou l'autre. avec amitié..."

First edition, one of the copies from the first issue numbered at the press, with the spurious statement of second edition.
Modern Bradel-style binding in ochre half cloth, smooth spine decorated with a central gilt fleuron and double gilt rule at foot, navy morocco lettering-piece, marbled paper boards.
Signed autograph presentation inscription from Louis Pergaud to Louis Chaffurin.

First edition.
Contemporary Bradel binding in full Empire-green cloth, smooth spine decorated with a gilt fleurion, date and double gilt fillet at foot, black morocco lettering-piece with a small marginal loss, original wrappers preserved, corners very slightly rubbed, without consequence, contemporary binding signed Durvand.

Precious signed presentation copy from Alphonse Daudet to the distinguished historian of the Napoleonic era and fellow member of the Académie française, Frédéric Masson.

Provenance: from the library of Émile Henriot, with his manuscript ex-libris beside the binder's name at the head of an endpaper ; on the facing page appears...

New edition, front and rear pastedowns and free endpapers signed by Gérard Grée.

Publisher's binding with pictorial boards, smooth spine, light rubbing to spine-ends, illustrated endpapers and boards.

Superb original blue pencil portrait of Martine by Marcel Marlier, drawn within the tondo on the first free endpaper, surrounded by his presentation inscription: "For Andrée Alcaraz with all my sympathy. August 86 M. Marlier"

"This eternally well-behaved little girl, forever aged around ten, invented for Éditions Casterman in 1954 by the author Gilbert Delahaye and the illustrator Marcel Marlier, whose pencil stroke has been so...

First edition on ordinary paper.

A very good copy.

Signed presentation copy from Jorge Semprun to Sylvie Genevoix.

First edition.

Half brown-red chagrin binding, brown marbled paper sides, spine with four raised bands, blind-tooled panels between the bands, gilt author and title, green marbled paper doublures. Binding rubbed, with surface losses and abrasions, headcap torn away, spine sunned, leaves browned at the margins, occasional foxing.

Valuable autograph inscription signed by Maxime Du Camp to Charles de La Rounat on the half-title: "à Charles de la Rounat son tout dévoué Maxime Du Camp".

Long, rancorous manuscript note, dated October 1871 and signed C. de la Rounat, on a front free endpaper.

First edition, one of 105 numbered copies on wove paper, the only large-paper copies after 35 on Holland paper.

Press clippings laid in, having left a slight offset on the colophon page at the end of the volume.

A pleasing copy.

Signed presentation inscription from Louis Aragon to Jean-Pierre Lecointre, further enhanced by Elsa Triolet's autograph signature.

New edition.

A very good copy.

Signed presentation copy, inscribed by Louis Aragon to his friends Marie-Noëlle and Jean-Pierre (Lecointre).

First edition on ordinary paper.

A pleasant copy despite two small areas of sunning at the head and foot of the spine.

Signed presentation copy inscribed by Louis Aragon to Jean-Pierre Lecointre.

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued; one of the review copies.

Spine and covers lightly and marginally sunned, a crease mark to the lower right corner of the rear cover, complete with the publisher's review slip.

Signed presentation copy from Jehan Laurent Gheerbrandt to the writer Jean Henri Guillaumet.

First edition, one of 200 numbered copies on Lafuma pur fil paper, the only deluxe issue after 125 copies on alfa paper and 25 on Hollande.

A few minor rubs to the slightly sunned spine.

Important signed presentation inscription from Lise Lamarre to the eminent Resistance figure Jacques Debû-Bridel: "Puisse ce livre vous aider à conserver le souvenir de Lise Lamarre, française de bonne souche, dont le coeur et l'esprit surent dans la pire adversité dominer les évènements..."

This presentation inscription alludes to the ordeal endured by Lise Lamarre and her husband, who were accused of collaboration and imprisoned despite having themselves...

First edition, no deluxe copies issued.

A few minor black specks to the boards, one stain to the lower edge, otherwise a pleasing copy.

Illustrated.

Presentation copy inscribed by Martin Gray: "A Astoria la vie sans amour n'est rien..." [In Astoria life without love amounts to nothing...]

First edition, no deluxe copies were issued.

A handsome copy.

Signed presentation copy, inscribed by Mohammed Khaïr-Eddine to the political scientist and essayist Evelyne Pisier: "... en remerciement de son aide..."

In 1989, she was appointed Director of Books and Reading at the French Ministry of Culture by Jack Lang.

First edition, with no deluxe-paper copies issued, one of the review copies.

A pleasant copy.

Precious signed presentation copy inscribed by Claude Simonnet to Jean Giono.

First edition of the French translation; no deluxe-paper copies were issued.

A very good copy.

Signed presentation inscription from Jim Harrison to a woman named Gabrielle.

First edition of the French translation, one of the review copies.

Complete with its illustrated dust jacket, which has a few small marginal tears and is partially faded on the rear panel.

Rare dated and signed presentation inscription, in French, from Iris Murdoch to the writer, publisher and literary critic Christian Giudicelli.

First edition on ordinary paper.
Spine slightly sunned, with a few small nicks.
Signed presentation copy from Léo Ferré to a woman named Véronique.

 

First edition of the French translation, printed in an edition of 90 copies numbered on wove paper and signed by John Crombie and Sheila Bourne.

Illustrated throughout by Sheila Bourne.

A rare and fine copy of this artist's book created by Sheila Bourne and her husband, John Crombie.

First edition, false statement of ninth edition, no deluxe issue printed.

Small marginal tears without significance to the soiled boards.

Presentation copy signed by feminist activist Yvonne Netter of her important essay on the emancipation of women and their right to vote.

Later edition published only a few months after the first edition.
An attractive copy of this work, which won the 2001 Prix Goncourt and was adapted for television a few years later.
Dated and signed presentation inscription from Jean-Christophe Rufin to a woman named Muriel, to whom he also wishes a merry Christmas.

New edition, partly original.
Publisher's full grey cloth, smooth spine, a pleasant copy complete with its illustrated dust jacket.
Richly illustrated.
Signed presentation inscription from Yves Bonnefoy to Jacques Hartmann and his wife Nancy.
 

First edition, printed in a small number of copies, of these extracts from the Cahiers de la Pléiade.

A few stains to the boards, with small red ink stains on the first page of Michel Tapié's text.

Signed presentation inscription from Henri Michaux to his friend, the painter and draughtsman Bernard Saby: "Les hommes qui ne donnent pas leur adresse ne craignent pas les exorcismes. Mais tout de même où est-il ce Saby? H.M."

Inspired both by his investigations into serial music and by his use of mescaline and hashish, Bernard Saby's painting aroused keen interest among his contemporaries. In 1956, his friend Henri Michaux gave him space in...

First edition, extensively illustrated with reproductions of works by Speedy Graphito.

Text by Jean Seisser.

On the final free endpaper, a signed presentation inscription from Speedy Graphito to a man named François, surrounded by an original drawing.

First edition, privately printed in a small number of copies as an offprint from issue No. 6 of the review Hermès, devoted to the theme of emptiness, of which Henri Michaux was the first editor-in-chief.

A few stains to the upper wrapper.

Signed autograph inscription by Henri Michaux to his friend, the painter and draughtsman Bernard Saby: "Quelques mots encore amicalement à Bernard Saby. Henri Michaux."

Inspired both by his investigations into serial music and by his experiments with mescaline and hashish, Bernard Saby's painting aroused keen interest among his contemporaries. In 1956, his friend Henri Michaux welcomed him into the pages of...

First edition, one of the review copies.

Signed presentation inscription from Violette Leduc to Claude Couffon, a specialist in and translator of the leading Spanish-language writers of the second half of the twentieth century: "... après un chaleureux entretien et mon souvenir intact de son article pour ce livre..."

First edition, printed in Russian by the London-based Stenvalley Press.

Publisher's red cloth binding, author, title and publisher lettered in gilt on the spine, complete with its two-colour printed dust jacket showing light wear.

A few ballpoint pen annotations on some pages, presumably by the recipient.

Autograph presentation inscription, signed and dated by the author, to Michel Garder: "Дорогому Мишелю Гарде - с глубокой признательностью. На добрую память. 29.I.1975." [To dear Michel Garder - with profound gratitude. In fond remembrance. 29.I.1975.]

First edition, one of the review copies.

Spine sunned, small losses to the spine and covers, paper brittle in the margins of the leaves.

A fine and rare signed autograph inscription by Roger Nimier, in the purest Hussard manner: "Pour Henry Grave et le Colonel Monier avec les claquements de talons et un arrière goût de rhum blanc du Cavalier Nimier".

Second edition, with a thousand-copy statement.

Spine warped and faded, small tears without consequence to the margins of the covers, a pale dampstain at the foot of the final leaves, occasional foxing.

Rare signed and dated autograph inscription from Joseph Zobel to Madame de Bruycker: "... ce premier reflet de ma province antillaise..."

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

A rare and fine copy.

Signed autograph inscription from Eric Jourdan to a friend named Guy: "... ce livre qui vient de loin presque à des années lumières, mais que j'accepte tel qu'il est. En signe d'amitié de toujours. éric 19 février 1996."

First edition.

Illustrated; a very good copy.

Publisher's full blue cloth, smooth spine, complete with its illustrated dust jacket, with tiny tears and, in places, minor losses, of no consequence.

Manuscript signature of Jackie Stewart, three-time Formula One World Champion, on a free endpaper.

First editions of eight plays bound in one volume.

Arioste gouverneur ou Le Triomphe du génie, written by Jean-François Roger in collaboration with Jean-Louis Brousse-Desfaucheret, is accompanied by a musical score.

The last three plays in the collection, signed under the pseudonym MM ***, were the result of Jean-François Roger’s collaboration with Auguste Creuzé de Lesser.

Half fawn basane binding, smooth spine richly gilt-decorated, fawn long-grain morocco spine label, speckled paper boards, marbled edges.

Boards rubbed, some scuffing to the leather, corners bumped, minor soiling to the leaves, a marginal tear with no loss of text on page 43 of the...

First edition, one of the press copies.

Work illustrated with 57 reproductions of collages by Jacques Prévert.

A precious copy belonging to the actor Pierre Brasseur, Prévert's friend and collaborator, containing: 

• an autograph inscription signed by Jacques Prévert on the half-title page: "Pour Pierre Jacques", embellished with two small charms,
• an original collage depicting a bat dressed as a nun with outstretched wings below the justification of the print run, 
• facing the justification page, an autograph inscription signed by Jacques Prévert to Pierre Brasseur and Catherine Sauvage...

Rare first edition for which no large-paper copies were printed, one of the press copies.
Spine and boards lightly sunned as usual, a few light dampstains to the spine.
Illustrated with 32 photographic plates.
Precious autograph inscription signed by Michel Leiris to Gabrielle Gras, a discreet yet prolific critic for the Revue Europe, close to Surrealist circles and to numerous writers and artists.

First edition, one of 250 numbered copies on alfa paper reserved for presentation and review.

A pleasing copy.

Signed presentation inscription from Jean Giraudoux to Maurice Martin du Gard, additionally signed by Jean-Louis Barrault and Madeleine Renaud, who created the roles of the imperial prosecutor Blanchard and Lucile Blanchard.

First edition in French, one of the ordinary paper copies.

A pleasant copy despite three small stains to the edges.

Signed presentation copy inscribed by Milan Kundera to Jacques Brenner, conveying his best wishes for 1990.

First edition on ordinary paper.

Spine very lightly sunned, a trivial defect.

Signed autograph inscription from Marcel Pagnol to Mr. R. Bouchard on the printed dedication page.

First edition, printed in 400 copies and dedicated in particular to the memory of the Armenians who were massacred because their industrious people stood in the way of German ambitions.

Spine and covers lightly and marginally sunned, small tears to the inside flaps of the wrappers, two small holes at the foot of the lower cover, unlettered spine.

Inscribed presentation copy, dated and signed by Antoine Poidebard to Vice Admiral Lejay, Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour.