Les précurseurs de la bande dessinée

Original drawing in graphite and blue and pink colored pencils signed by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, on a sheet of watermarked paper "Navarre". Horizontal fold.

One of Saint-Exupéry's quirky characters in a suit and bow tie, spawn from the baroque and overflowing imagination of the Little Prince's author. The writer-aviator-artist very rarely signed his graphic works.




 
 
 

Original drawing with graphite, blue and pink colored pencils signed by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, on a sheet of watermarked paper “Navarre”. Hor­izontal fold, pencil annotation in the upper left margin, very small loss of paper in the lower right margin.

A remarkable caricature signed by Saint-Exupéry, akin to a cartoon character. The writer-aviator-artist very rarely signed his graphic works.

Album of lithographed plates in third state, first cover printed in 3 tones, black, bistre with gradients and white highlights, followed by 24 lithographs in black on 12 double-sided pages.

Gray half calf binding, smooth spine, some foxing, original soft cover preserved, binding signed by Charles Septier.

Created in 1851, this youthful work influenced by Rodolphe Töppfer's style, is now considered an incunabulum of comic strips.

20 full-page lithographs in black by Gustave Doré, in second state.
Red half oblong Bradel-style cloth binding, smooth spine, black morocco title label, marbled paper boards, beige paper endpapers and flyleaves, corners slightly dulled.

Autograph letter dated and signed (25 lines in black ink) from the illustrator and caricaturist Sennep, addressed to his friend the Provençal writer, caricaturist and filmmaker Carlo Rim, thanking him while teasing him after having been decorated with the Legion of Honor: "Merci, gros jaloux ! mais, d'abord, je n'ai pas les cheveux aussi blancs ! ensuite, ma cravate est d'un bleu de ciel, qui évoque le ruban des "Enfants de Marie", beaucoup plus que l'ordre du Saint-Esprit..." ["Thank you, big jealous one! but, first, I don't have hair that white! then, my tie is sky blue, which evokes the ribbon of the "Children of Mary", much more than the order of the Holy...

Rare first edition of the catalogue of the first exhibition of Benjamin Rabier's watercolors, showing 41 works at the Galerie d'art Deplanche from 8 June to 4 July 1910.
A very good copy despite slight staining to edge of upper cover.
An important and amusing preface by Guillaume Apollinaire who awards Rabier the prize for the "most spiritual of our animal painters."
The catalogue is illustrated with a reproduction of one original watercolor by Benjamin Rabier on the cover.

Produced between February 1802 and 1830 on the orders of Naopleon Bonaparte and published between 1809 and 1828, 1,000 copies were printed and distributed to institutions, on vergé paper with an 'Égypte ancienne et moderne' watermark, visible when held up to the light.

Produced between February 1802 and 1830 on the orders of Naopleon Bonaparte and published between 1809 and 1828, 1,000 copies were printed and distributed to institutions, on vergé paper with an 'Égypte ancienne et moderne' watermark, visible when held up to the light.

First and second series of La Fontaine's Fables illustrated by Benjamin Rabier, containing 140 fables. Numerous compositions and illustrations framing the text in color or monochrome (red, black, blue).

Publisher's binding, smooth spine with black title, color illustration pastedown on first board, black ornament stamped on second board, red edges.
Slightly sunned spine, small lack of paper to front cover illustration, corners rubbed.

One of Benjamin Rabier's masterpieces, a colorful and whimsical interpretation of La Fontaine's timeless fables.

First printing of this abundantly illustrated edition of Perrault's tales, by Lucien Laforge with numerous vignettes in black, and 8 full-page color compositions, all framed in large medallions.

Contemporary Bradel binding with floral motifs enhanced in gilt, smooth spine, red morocco title label, pink endpapers and flyleaves with spots of silver, gilt and green paint, original wrappers preserved, bookplate "Après moi le sommeil" drawn by Max Ernst from the library of Paul Eluard on pastedown.

This collection includes: "La Belle au bois dormant" (Sleeping Beauty), "Le Petit Chaperon Rouge" (Little Red Riding Hood),  "Barbe Bleue" (Bluebeard), "Le Chat botté" (Puss in...

First edition illustrated with 2 frontispiece portraits and 100 hors-texte plates by Gustave Doré engraved by Bellanger, Pannemaker, Pisan...

Publisher's binding in full vermillion percaline cloth signed Magnier. Smooth spine decorated with 6 richly ornamented compartments. Large plate on the upper cover with a cross with pointed ends at center, 4 swords, 4 blazoned shields and 4 crescents in the corners. The second cover repeats the central part of the decoration of the first cover. Spine slightly sunned. Minor cuts at head and tail. Some foxing on otherwise white paper. Corners slightly turned.
Fine copy of this capital text, the fruit of 30 years of research...

First illustrated edition by Gustave Doré. 142 vignettes and 12 plates.
Includes: Autograph inscription by the author on a card with his red seal on the left side of the card, for an appointment.

Contemporary half brown shagreen binding. Spine with raised bands decorated with 4 fleurons and fillets. Spine slightly faded. Some foxing. Handsome copy.
One of the first books illustrated by Gustave Doré after Balzac's Contes drolatiques. A popular novel that enjoyed great success in its time and remains one of the classics of adventure novels for young people.