Love from Brutal to Sacred

First edition, illustrated with photographs by Lucien Clergue.

Publisher’s binding in full boards, smooth spine,

With a text by Jean-Marie Magnan.

Signed autograph inscription by Lucien Clergue to the writer Christiane Baroche: "Pour Christiane ces images de notre éternelle jeunesse ! et avec la bise de Lucien. 5.X.2002."

New edition.

Spine lightly toned.

Work illustrated with photomontages by Val Telberg.

Inscribed by Anaï Nin to her friend, the writer Christiane Baroche : "Christiane Baroche whose dreams are strong and have roots and bear fruit. Anaïs Nin."

Autograph letter signed by Georges de Peyrebrune to Jane Catulle-Mendès, 3 pages in violet ink on a double sheet, usual postal folds.

Rare and likely unpublished letter from the feminist novelist Georges de Peyrebrune addressed to her fellow writer, the poetess Jane Catulle Mendès. Peyrebrune, who struggled to make a living from her pen, had failed to publish one of her tales. Consoled by her correspondent, she wishes to offer her a bouquet of lilacs - symbols of seduction, nostalgia and femininity.

"New edition, with parts in first edition, incorporating an unpublished preface; the first edition had appeared in 1927 in Tokyo at the close of Claudel’s ambassadorship in Japan (1921–1927) and was issued in three fan-shaped quarto volumes. Work illustrated with Japanese characters calligraphed by Ikuma Arishima. Composed between June 1926 and January 1927, this essay (blending traditional calligraphy, haiku, and short Western-style verse) bears witness, among Claudel’s other creations, to the influence of the Far East on his poetic practice.

Moving and exceptional presentation inscription, signed and dated by Paul Claudel to his eldest daughter, Marie Claudel, known as...

First edition, printed on thick wove paper.
Bound in contemporary half brown shagreen, smooth spines decorated with black typographic motifs, marbled paper boards, hand-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, modern slipcase edged in brown morocco with matching marbled paper sides and olive-green felt lining. 
Some occasional foxing, the note "Henri Beyle" in black ink at the upper corner of the title page of the first volume, without the final catalogue leaf at the end of the second volume, small corner restorations to four leaves of the first volume.
"Very rare and extremely sought after. Usually quite simply bound at the time. Often foxed" (Clouzot). "This work is of great rarity in...

First edition in French, for which there were no large paper copies.

A good copy.
Autograph inscription dated and signed by Ernst Jünger to Madeleine Clouzot : "... après notre excellent déjeuner..."

Autograph letter signed from Georges Bataille to Denise Rollin, 40 lines in black ink, two pages on one leaf.

George Bataille and Denise Rollin's relationship lasted from the autumn of 1939 to the autumn of 1943 and left behind it a short but passionate correspondence. This letter dates from the early days of their connection, but already reveals Bataille's agonies: “Perhaps I was too happy with you for some months, even though suffering did not wait long to interrupt, at least for a time, a happiness that was almost a challenge.”
A passionate lover, Bataille moved from exultation to the deepest doubt and even offered his lover a potential way out of...

First appearance of the 18 poems by Charles Baudelaire published on pages 1079–1093 of the Revue des Deux Mondes, showing numerous variations from the text of the first edition issued in 1857 by Poulet-Malassis & De Broise.

Full black shagreen binding, smooth spine, double blind-ruled borders on covers, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, slightly later binding.

A rare and attractive copy.

Almost entirely unpublished handwritten letter from the painter Eugène Delacroix to the love of his youth, the mysterious “Julie”, now identified as being Madame de Pron, by her maiden name Louise du Bois des Cours de La Maisonfort, wife of Louis-Jules Baron Rossignol de Pron and daughter of the Marquis de La Maisonfort, Minister of France in Tuscany, patron of Lamartine and friend of Chateaubriand.

90 lines, 6 pages on two folded leaves. A few deletions and two bibliographical annotations in pencil on the upper part of the first page (“n^o114”).

This letter is one of the last to his lover in private ownership, all of Delacroix's correspondence to...

First edition, with an autograph letter signed by Louise Colet bound in, 3 pages on a bifolium mounted on a stub at the head of the volume. A few small foxing spots, a very pale marginal dampstain affecting the last leaves.
Half black morocco binding with corners, spine with five raised bands framed by blind double fillets, date at the foot, marbled paper sides, vat-made paper endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved and mounted on a stub (small corner losses restored), elegant binding signed Patrice Goy.
Rare presentation copy to the marquise de Boissy, Teresa Guiccioli who was the mistress of Louise Colet's husband (!) and...

First edition, one of 500 numbered copies on pure wove paper.

Bound in full sienna morocco, flat spine with a slight snag at head, date gilt at foot, moiré endpapers and pastedowns, single gilt fillet framing the pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, gilt edges, chemise edged in sienna morocco, slipcase of wood-grained boards lined with white felt, contemporary binding signed by Roger Arnoult.

Our copy is enriched with a signed autograph letter, one page, by Jean Cocteau mounted on a tab, dated April 1959, probably addressed to Pierre Benoit: "Nôtre Pierre fantôme... c'est autour de votre souvenir qu'on se réunit. C'est une chaîne bien étonnante que celle...

First edition.

Full red morocco binding, round spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt fleurons, slight rubbing on the caps, double frame of blind-stamped gilt fillets on the covers, with fleurons at the corners of the inner frame, edges slightly blunt, marbled paper endpapers and back covers, gilt edges and heads, very elegant 19th-century binding ‘a la Du Seuil’ signed Quinet on the first endpaper. 

Rare first edition of Chamblain de Marivaux's first theatrical success, The Surprise of Love, published four years before The Second Surprise of Love. This play, performed in the spring of 1722 before being published the...

Multi-coloured autograph letter from Pablo Picasso to Max Pellequer, signed and dated by the author on June 13, 1957. The document includes the autograph address of his villa ‘La Californie’. 2 pages on one sheet, 22 lines in green, blue and red pencils on a watermarked sheet.
Minor folds. 

An exceptional account of Pablo Picasso's passion for bullfighting, a recurring theme in his art since his very first works painted at the age of eight ("The Little Yellow Picador", 1899). 

Pablo Picasso gives Max Pellequer and his wife details regarding a trip to...

First edition, one of 25 copies on handmade laid paper, numbered and justified by the publisher, the only deluxe issue.
 
Bradel binding in half chocolate-brown morocco with corners, smooth spine, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, illustrated wrappers by Manuel Orazi and backstrip preserved.
Work illustrated with 136 black and colour drawings, in- and out-of-text, by Georges Bottini.
 
Bookplate mounted.
 
Our copy is enriched with a full-page original drawing, signed by Georges Bottini and heightened in black ink, depicting Jacques Beaudarmon wearing a bowler hat and conversing with the « môme...

First edition following the unobtainable mimeographed version produced by the author.
Inevitable minor wear along the edges of the covers and spine, restoration to the upper left corner of the front cover, newspaper clipping laid in. Barnes & Noble price sticker affixed to the front cover.
Commentary by Paul Krassner.
 
This incendiary pamphlet, issued by the marginal and modest Olympia Press, newly re-established in New York, was printed in only a small number of copies.
Gender discrimination, hate speech and incitement to genocide, a violent and unrepentant attempted murder of one of the most celebrated artists of the twentieth century, the advocacy of...

Edition illustrated with 16 original watercolours by Auguste Leroux, engraved on copper by Delzers and Feltesse, one of 90 numbered copies on Imperial Japan paper.
Bound in navy blue half morocco with corners, spine with four raised bands decorated with gilt pointillé and triple gilt panels with typographic motifs, gilt date at foot, gilt fillet borders on marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, gilt edges, contemporary binding signed by Bernasconi. 
As stated in the justification of the print run for the copies on Imperial Japan paper, our copy is complete with its two suites: one in colour with remarques and the other in...

First edition of the author's second work, one of 10 numbered copies on Holland paper, the only deluxe paper issue.
Bound in yellow half morocco with corners, spine with five raised bands, gilt date at foot, a small black spot at head of spine, floral and moiré patterned paper boards, pale green paper endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, gilt edges, bookplate of Gérard Pesme Baron de Saint-Genies pasted on a pastedown, binding signed by Thomas Boichot.
Half-title entirely toned.
A fine copy, handsomely bound.

Autograph letter signed by Paul Verlaine to Anatole Baju, one page in ink on a watermarked leaf. Two small discreet adhesive reinforcements to verso. Published in Correspondance Verlaine, vol. III, CDLIII, p. 26–27.

An important letter by Verlaine, the most Decadent of poets, to the editor-in-chief of the journal Le Décadent, which published many of his poems. The poet announces the forthcoming release of a collection entitled Amis, a provocative allusion to the scandalous sapphic poems he had privately printed in 1867 under the title Amies.

Paris, Auguste Eudes, 1880. Four stout octavo volumes.

A handsome bibliophile edition of the Heptaméron, reproducing the critical text established from the manuscripts by Le Roux de Lincy for the Société des Bibliophiles françois in 1853-1854, revised and augmented for the present edition by Anatole de Montaiglon.

The deluxe issue was limited to 395 copies on special papers. This copy, no. 301, is one of 40 on Whatman paper with the engravings in three states: one in black on Japan paper, one in bistre and one in sanguine on Whatman. This was among the most desirable issues of...

First edition, one of 50 copies on deluxe paper, the only copies printed on large paper.
Fine copy.

First edition, one of 80 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

A handsome and rare copy.

Autograph letter signed by Jean Cocteau, marked with his famous star, addressed to his great love, the actor Jean Marais. One page penned in black ink on a single sheet.
Traces of folds, horizontal creases inherent to mailing, two ink spots on the blank verso not affecting the text.
A magnificent love letter from Cocteau to Marais, who together formed one of the most iconic artistic couples of the 20th century. Set against the backdrop of turmoil and the German Occupation, their unbreakable bond is embodied in this letter of the writer, filled with desperate tones.

First edition, one of 74 numbered copies on Rives vellum, deluxe edition.

Beautiful copy.

First edition, one of 105 numbered copies on vélin neige, the only deluxe copies issued after 12 on pur fil.
Handsome copy.

"On June 28, 1970, I attended the first New York Gay Pride March. The date marks the first anniversary of the Stonewall riots, which launched the LGBTQ+ liberation movement in the U.S. We left from Christopher Street, a gay cultural mecca in Greenwich Village, and walked up 6th Avenue to Central Park. To end the day, a kissing contest was held in the middle of the park! It was a great moment of joy, love and freedom. This couple, who kissed for hours under an umbrella, obviously didn't care about photographers" (Interview with Clément Thierry, 2021)

Rare critical edition of this medieval chivalric romance. Includes a preface on the origins of chivalry and early tournaments, along with a foreword to aid the understanding of the narrative. This edition also features two tales: Histoire de messire Floridan et de la belle Ellinde, et Addicion extraites des cronicques de Flandres, qui est très belle chose.
Contemporary full polished red morocco. Smooth spine with decorative gilt tooling, red morocco label for title and volume number. Triple gilt fillet border on covers. Gilt edges. Gilt inner dentelles. A few small spots of foxing. Title-page of the first volume reinforced at lower margin, an old restoration. Tail of volume I...

Autograph letter, dated and signed, sent from Toulon to his friend Pierre Louÿs, four pages penned in violet ink on a bifolium.

Folding crease from mailing, manuscript envelope included.

Through this correspondence, Claude Farrère reproaches his friend for deepening his sadness and distress: "Votre petite lettre de l'autre jour m'a très bien fait comprendre que vous avez dix mille ennuis en ce moment. Et vous en ajoutez un de plus, pour m'envoyer plus vite cette bêtise à laquelle je ne songeais pas du tout , Pourquoi, encore ! Je suis votre ami, enfin ! Et je vous jure que cela m'a fait de la peine, de songer que j'avais involontairement augmenté cette...

First edition, untrimmed with wide margins, very rare and highly sought-after (see Clouzot). Some occasional foxing.

Illustrated on the title pages of both volumes with two engraved vignettes by Porrêt. This copy contains the publisher’s notice leaf in the first volume and the author’s note leaf in the second volume.

Contemporary red half calf over marbled boards, calf corners, spines ruled in gilt with...

Autograph letter signed by Jacques Mesrine, dated Wednesday 29 December 1976,  addressed to Jeanne Schneider, his love interest of the time. She smuggled out of prison the manuscript of his famous autobiography L'Instinct de mort. 66 lines in blue ink on two pages of a leaf. In the top left-hand corner of the letter, Jacques Mesrine has drawn a bouquet of flowers in multicoloured felt-tip pens. Usual horizontal fold, small tear to the fold in the right-hand margin.
Jacques Mesrine, who was in Fleury-Mérogis prison at the time, was delighted to receive so much proof of love and friendship in the many letters he received from his friends and family.
He, in...

Autograph letter most probably unpublished signed addressed by Juliette Drouet to her lover Victor Hugo, four pages written in black ink on a bifolium. 
Transverse folds inherent to mailing, fold joining the two leaves reinforced with a fine strip of pasted paper barely perceptible.
Absent from the very complete online edition of Juliette Drouet's letters to Hugo by the Centre d'Études et de Recherche Éditer/Interpréter (University of Rouen-Normandy).
Very beautiful declaration of love and admiration by Juliette Drouet, the day after Hugo's plea defending his son. Charles Hugo had been brought before the assizes, and condemned despite his father's...

Autograph letter in German signed by Rainer Maria Rilke to actress Else Hotop, to whom he writes under her stage name, Elya Maria Nevar. 2 1/2 pages written on a bifolium watermarked “Sackleinen”. Autograph envelope enclosed, addressed to ‘Else Hotop’ bearing postmarks dated November 3, 1918.Published in Freundschaft mit Rainer Maria Rilke, 1946, p. 35.

A precious piece of Rilke’s correspondence, reflecting the delights of an enchanted afternoon spent during WW1 with the actress Elya Nevar, one of his most fervent admirers.

Autograph letter signed by Honoré de Balzac, addressed to his friend, the writer Charles de Bernard. One page written in black ink on a bifolium. On the verso of the second leaf appears the address of the recipient [Charles de Bernard du Grail], written in Balzac’s hand, along with postal stamps and the seal bearing the arms of the Balzac d’Entraigues family, which the author had appropriated.

A few minor holes not affecting the text; fold marks as usual from mailing.

First edition, one of 20 numbered cop­ies on hollande, the only deluxe issue (grand papier) after 10 copies on japon.

Bound in gray half morocco in panels, smooth spine, gilt date at foot, abstract decorative paper boards, black onion­skin pastedowns and flyleaves, original wrappers preserved, pastedown book­plate, top deckled edge gilt, binding signed Boichot.
Small tears with small lacks of paper to the margin of an endpaper and on the front cover.
The work is dedicated to Paul Verlaine who wrote the preface "which was a way of advertising to gay readers" (Gra­ham Robb, Homosexual Love in the Nineteenth Century, p. 210).

Precious signed and inscribed...

First edition, a Service de Presse (advance) copy.
A discreet restoration using a small adhesive piece on the verso of the first cover extending onto the first endpaper.

Autograph inscription signed by André Breton: "A Claude Aveline, hommage d'André Breton".
Nicknamed at 21 "the world's youngest publisher," Claude Aveline would publish from 1922 onwards, thanks to André Gide and Georges Duhamel, some fifty works. In 1934, he would engage in politics, alongside Henri Barbusse and Romain Rolland, in the anti-fascist movement then, from August 1940, in the Resistance first in Paris then in the free zone where he would miraculously escape arrest by the Gestapo in...

First illustrated edition with twelve full-page plates by Gérard Vulliamy, one of a thousand numbered copies on cream laid paper.

Original wrappers with flaps. Wrapper very slightly creased, otherwise a fine copy. Ex-dono inscription on the half-title.

New edition of this ancient pastoral romance, illustrated with a frontispiece and eight full-page engravings. With several headpieces, decorated initials and tailpieces.

Dark yellow morocco, spine with five raised bands, author, title and date lettered in gilt, gilt fillets to board edges and headcaps, gilt inner dentelle, all edges gilt; tan morocco case by Riviere & Son, spine with five raised bands, author, title and date lettered in gilt, blind-tooled fillets. Raised bands lightly rubbed, with a few scuffs to the slipcase, otherwise a handsome copy.

Mortimer L. Schiff's guilt red morocco bookplate on the front pastedown.

First edition, with all the first issue features, including the misprint "Sénart" on the dedication leaf.
Elegant half hazel morocco bindings with corners by Blanchetière, spines with five raised bands, very slightly faded, dates gilt at foot, marbled paper sides, combed paper endleaves and pastedowns, original wrappers bound in, with the original spine preserved for the first volume, top edges gilt.
Complete with the publisher's catalogue at the end of the first volume.

Occasional light foxing.
A handsome and desirable copy, retaining its rare original wrappers and finely bound by Henri Blanchetière.

New Elzevirian edition of these two works brought together in a single volume.

Two title-pages printed in red and black with the printer’s mark, five headpieces, five initials and three ornamental tailpieces.

Contemporary full vellum binding with small flaps, flat spine with manuscript author, titles and year of publication, traces of ties.

Binding slightly warped and soiled, the second title on the spine rubbed away, occasional very light spotting to the leaves.

First edition on ordinary paper.

Publisher's full black cloth, smooth spine, black endpapers and pastedowns.

Illustrated with 100 photographs by Pierre Molinier, with text by Pierre Bourgeade.

A very good copy.

First edition of the French translation, for which no deluxe paper copies were issued, with the correct "achevé d’imprimer" dated February 1939.

A fine copy, complete with its illustrated dust-jacket, as usual showing only slight rubbing and minor marginal tears, not affecting its overall appearance.

The work is illustrated, facing the title-page, with a map of the south-eastern United States during the Civil War.

First edition, at one time attributed to Bernard Le Bouyer de Fontenelle, on the loves of a shepherd of illustrious lineage: Mirtil, son of Venus and Adonis. Complete copy with its engraved title page by Louis Legrand and its six plates drawn by Hubert François Gravelot and engraved by Louis Legrand.

Half marbled calf binding, spine with five raised bands decorated with dotted gilt fillets, five compartments richly gilt with fillets and fleurons, pebble-pattern marbled paper boards, red edges, pastedowns and...

First edition of a work by an Illuminist author, also a barrister at the Parlement, known for his licentious and libertine writings, including L'Histoire de Dom Bougre, portier des Chartreux. This work was also at one time attributed to Pierre Lambert de Saumery, who published under the pseudonym "de Mirone."

Midnight blue half morocco with corners, spine with five gilt raised bands decorated with compartments richly gilt with arabesques, fillets and small stars, marbled paper boards framed with gilt...

Illustrated edition with a frontispiece and 19 black vignette illustrations in the text by Marianne Clouzot, one of 675 numbered copies printed on vélin de lana.

Full caramel box binding, smooth spine, the illustrator’s name gilt at the foot, moiré-effect paper endleaves and doublures, cold-ruled fillet frames to the doublures, original covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, slipcase with inner flaps in caramel box with bands, moiré-effect paper sides, the slipcase edged in caramel box with moiré-effect paper panels; binding slightly later, signed Gavallet.

Like the 50 numbered copies printed on Arches paper, our copy exceptionally includes, at the end of the volume, a...

Edition illustrated with 12 original colour watercolours by Gerda Wegener, printed hors texte, one of 400 numbered copies on Arches laid paper.

Spine and boards faintly sunned at the margins, otherwise a pleasing copy.

First public edition of this text by Elsa Triolet, written under the pseudonym Laurent Daniel, one of 58 numbered copies on Madagascar paper, the deluxe issue.

Fine copy.

Published in the year of the first edition, one of 950 numbered copies on wove paper.
Publisher’s binding after the original design by Paul Bonet.
Attractive copy, complete with its original flexible cardboard slipcase.

First edition, one of 170 numbered copies on vélin teinté de rives, the only issue following 40 copies on vélin blanc d'Arches, with an additional suite of the illustrations.

A fine copy.

Illustrated with three etchings by Alberto Giacometti.

Autograph letter dated and signed by Jacques de Lacretelle, 14 lines in blue ink on letterhead of the Académie française, addressed to the noted autograph collector Claude Armand.

Folds from mailing. Original handwritten envelope included.

Jacques de Lacretelle reflects on his love of books: "Je dois tout aux livres et au goût de l'analyse que j'en ai retiré."

First edition, with all the features of first issue copies, including the misprint “Sénart” on the dedication leaf.

Contemporary plum-coloured 3/4 morocco binding signed by Georges Huser, spines with five raised bands, numerously ruled in blind, with a gilt floral tool at centres, dates in gilt at foot, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, top edges gilt, bookplates on each front pastedown. Complete with the publisher’s catalogue at the end of the first volume.

A very handsome copy, elegantly bound by Georges Huser, with the...

First edition, a Service de Presse (advance) copy.
Foreword by Raymond Queneau.
Light dampstains to spine, some staining to board margins.
Rare autograph inscription signed by Boris Vian to the actress Jacqueline Pierreux, mother of Jean-Pierre Léaud, and to her husband the novelist and screenwriter Pierre Léaud: "Pour monsieur Léaud et mame Pierreux avec une bise (pas pour lui). Boris Vian." (For Mr. Léaud and Mrs. Pierreux with a kiss (not for him). Boris Vian.)
In April 1948, Jacqueline Pierreux created the role of Judy in the theatrical adaptation of "J'irai cracher sur vos tombes" at the Verlaine theatre, directed by Alfred Pasquali.