Lifes of Boris Vian

First edition on ordinary paper.
Half havana morocco binding, smooth spine, decorative paper boards, brown paper doublure to endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, signed binding by Goy & Vilaine.
Contributions by Louis Calaferte, René Fallet, Yves Gibeau...
Very precious autograph inscription signed by Raymond Queneau to his great friend Boris Vian: "A Ursula, à Boris leur ami. Queneau." ["To Ursula, to Boris their friend. Queneau."]

First edition one of the 144 numbered copies on pur chiffon d'oreiller, deluxe copies ("tirage de tête").
Nice copy.

First edition, one of the 25 numbered copies on Alfa paper, the only deluxe copies ("grand papier").
Very nice copy.

First edition of which there were no deluxe copies.
Nice copy.
Cover illustrated by Piem.
Signed handwritten inscription by Boris Vian to Christine Gouze-Raynal : "... avec toute mon amitié et mes respectueux hommages..."

First edition, one of 120 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe copies.
Half brown morocco with corners, spine with five raised bands, date at foot, endpapers and pastedowns of combed paper, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt on deckled edges, binding signed Alix.
Rare.

First edition, an advance (service de presse) copy.
Spine slightly sunned, otherwise nice copy.
Foreword by Raymond Queneau.
Retaining its advertising band : "Par l'auteur de "J'irai cracher on vos tombes".
Rare and handsome autograph inscription signed by Boris Vian to Jean-Louis Barrault and Madeleine Renaud : "Pour Madeleine, for Jean-Louis with mon amitié."

First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on alfa, the only large paper copies.
A fine copy.

Second edition, first for some parts as reviewed and expanded, on ordinary paper.
Rare autograph inscription from Boris Vian to two friends.
Spine lightly sunned, marginal worming to covers.

First separate edition of which no deluxe copies were issued.
Illustrated front cover.
Two slight angular fold marks on the back cover.

First edition, another edition appeared on the same date published by Besongné. A relatively rare but celebrated book.
Contemporary full calf binding, spine with raised bands decorated. Overall rubbed. The head cap is missing by 2/3, one corner lacks leather, part of the edges are without leather, some lacks at the raised bands.
Gabriel Naudé (1600-1653) was born in Paris. He was a physician but more of a philosopher as he had also studied literature and philosophy; of all his books, the apology is the only one that remains to us. He was successively attached to Cardinal Barberini, to Cardinal Mazarin (he was responsible for collecting the works for Mazarin's library), to Cardinal Richelieu then to Queen Christina, also as librarian, apart from the famous 'Advis pour dresser une bibliothèque'. He is an heir to humanism who advocates a return to strict rationalism; this work is its application, establishing that one must exercise judgment and study causes and effects before condemning. One finds much precious information on the accusations and practices of numerous men, Galen, Raymond Lull, Albertus Magnus, Saint Thomas Aquinas, along with a defense of the accusations that were brought against these men. Naudé dismantles beliefs about demons, the philosopher's stone and what they encompass.

First edition, one of 1035 numbered copies on Arches laid paper, the only printing with 25 Japan copies.
With a frontispiece portrait of the author lithographed by L.A. Moreau.
Handsome copy.

First edition printed in a small number of copies on laid paper.
Autograph inscription by the author.
With a frontispiece portrait of P. Adam by Jacques Blanche.
Work decorated with tailpieces by Orazi.
Illustrated biography with portraits, caricatures and autograph facsimiles, handsome copy.