Music Calling

Autograph manuscript signed of Victor Hugo’s “Ballade du fou,” sung by the jester Elespuru in his play Cromwell (IV, 1). Two pages on a folded leaf backed with green glazed paper.

Exceptional autograph manuscript of Victor Hugo’s most celebrated poetic song, performed by the jester Elespuru in his resounding drama Cromwell.

Both grotesque and exalted, this piece embodies the freedom of Romantic drama championed by Hugo in the play’s famous preface: as noted by the Bibliothèque nationale de France, this song “is the only passage in the play as equally famous as its...

First edition of the third series of Andersen’s tales. Two parts in one volume, published respectively on 30 March and 23 November 1872, each bearing an inscription by Andersen. He mentions the first in his diary (H. C. Andersens dagbøger, vol. IX, p. 247) and the second is recorded by Henry Tuxen (Anderseniana, vol. 4, 1958-59, p. 155).

Red cloth half binding, flat spine faded with gilt title and ruled in black, black cloth boards. First board with a slight lenghtwise crack, spine-ends and corners rubbed, small lack of material at the margin of the first board.

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on Ingres d'Arches paper, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

First edition printed in 2,000 numbered copies, ours preserved in its original wrappers with Gallimard's resale label.

Fine autograph inscription signed by Jules Roy: "A Jean-Paul Bonnafous ces vieux chants d'un temps de misère, cordialement, Jules Roy."

First edition, one of the press copies.
Half brown shagreen binding, smooth spine with gilt floral panels, gilt initials C.T. at foot, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers, covers preserved, gilt edges, one upper corner slightly rubbed, binding dating from some years later.
Inscribed by Charles Terrasse (son of Claude) in ink at the head of a flyleaf.

Discreet restorations to the joints.
Precious presentation copy signed and inscribed by Alfred Jarry: "A Claude Terrasse son admirateur et son ami. Alf. Jarry" [his admirer and friend]

 

First edition, for which there was not printed any grand papier (deluxe) copies.
Publisher's binding in full grey cloth.
Illustrations.

Copy complete of its dust jacket illustrated by Jimmy Ernst, the dust jacket being in a poor state with several tears and corners missing.

Very precious handwritten dedication signed by Harriet Janis to Boris Vian: “To Boris Vian with Paris greetings for Rudi Blesh & myself, Harriet Janis. May 1953.”

Three original childhood photographs of Maurice Béjart, and his birth announcement 
[after 1927] | 12.2 x 17.2 cm| three photographs and a card
Three original photographs of Maurice Béjart as a child beside his mother, taken in Mougins.
We attach the birth announcement, dated 1 January 1927, printed with his name “Maurice Jean Berger.”
Provenance: Maurice Béjart's personal archives.

Personal diary handwritten by Maurice Béjart, written in a 1969 diary celebrating the centenary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi.
52 handwritten leaves, written in red and blue pen in a spiral-bound notebook. This diary features amongst Béjart's very rare, privately owned manuscripts, the choreographer's archives being shared between his house in Brussels, the Béjart foundation in Lausanne and the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie.
The choreographer Maurice Béjart's diary written during the year 1969. An extremely rare collection of thoughts, questions and introspections from the point of view of Hinduism and Buddhist wisdom, which Béjart adopts following his first trip to...

Autograph manuscript signed by the painter and writer Jacques-Émile Blanche, entitled « Serge de Diaghileff ». Five leaves written in black ink, with numerous corrections in blue. Autograph foliation in black ink, later foliation in blue pencil. Leaf 4, originally in two parts, was joined with a strip of adhesive affixed to the verso.

Crossed-out passages and corrections.

A very fine funeral oration by Jacques-Émile Blanche for his friend Serge Diaghilev, director of the celebrated Ballets Russes.
The painter and writer Jacques-Émile Blanche pays tribute to the genius of Serge Diaghilev, shortly after his death in Venice in 1929. Chosen as...

Press clipping illustrated with a photograph depicting Josephine Baker on stage.

Horizontal central fold, minor tears of no consequence along the right margin of the clipping.

Inscribed and signed by Josephine Baker in black felt-tip pen a few months before her passing: "A Claude Armand ami de Jospéhine Baker 1975".

Black-and-white photographic postcard depicting Gilbert Bécaud.

Discography of Gilbert Bécaud printed on the verso, with minor paper losses.

Inscribed and signed by Gilbert Bécaud to the noted autograph collector Claude Armand: "A Claude Gilbert," enhanced with a small cat sketch in blue ballpoint pen.

Illustrated edition by Grandville, engraved by Geoffroy, comprising 29 hand-coloured plates hors-texte in the first volume, and in the second, 23 hand-coloured plates hors-texte along with 2 black botanical plates illustrating the physiology of plants, "Horticulture des dames" and "Culture des fleurs." For this edition, the plates were re-coloured by Maubert, with fresher and more vivid tones, considered superior to the first edition. Accompanied by 3 pages of sheet music for the romance Le myosotis. 
Contemporary half blue shagreen bindings. Spines with raised bands decorated with three gilt panels. Some scattered foxing, title-page of volume 2 with spotting. A few leaves slightly...

First edition with 25 full-page photographs.
Green cloth publisher's binding. Copy complete with its dust jacket, with very slight tears, and traces of wear to the margins.
Rare autograph signature of Maria Callas on the title page.

Original black and white portrait of Mistinguett wearing a hat.

Very slight, superficial scuffing to the margins, not affecting the image.

Vintage gelatin silver print. Printed stamp of the P. Apers photographic studio in Paris to the right margin of the image.

Inscribed by Mistinguett to André Saudemon, signed and dated in black ink, at the foot of the photograph.

Original black and white photograph by the Associated Press British showing Cliff Richard posing in Athens with the Acropolis in the background, taken on the occasion of the release of the film "Summer Holiday".

A fine example. Associated Press British label affixed to the verso. Autographs of actors Roy Castle and Lebbi Siffre below the image.

Cliff Richard’s autograph in black felt-tip pen in the left margin of the print.

Provenance: from the collection of renowned autograph collector Claude Armand.

Original colour print, printed on laid paper and signed in the plate lower left.

Original engraving produced for the illustration of La Gazette du Bon Ton, one of the most beautiful and influential fashion journals of the 20th century, celebrating the talent of French designers and artists at the height of the Art Deco era.

First edition of this exceptionally rare complete set of twelve dance scores, each comprising a color-printed wrapper and five leaves (title page, four numbered pages of engraved music, and one blank leaf). All covers were lithographed and hand-colored using stencil techniques by Adolphe Cathelin, whose name appears on the title pages.

The musical works are by composers Alexandre Croisez, Alexandre Artus, Eugène Dupuis, Camille Michel, Alphonse Leduc, Émile Waldteufel, Voctir-Auguste Dolmetsch, Félix Joufferoy, and Antony Lamotte.

Contemporary half green calf binding, smooth spine decorated with gilt and blind-stamped fillets and dotted lines, joints rubbed; granite-patterned...

First edition of the French translation by Nicolas-Gabriel Vaquette d'Hermilly (1705 or 1710–1778), later revised by La Harpe (Quérard II, 30; Cioranescu, XVIII, 33 926).

Despite its very late date, this was only the second attempt at a French translation of Os Lusiadas (1572), following that of 1735 by Duperron de Castéra, which had failed to convince contemporary readers.

This edition includes 10 copper-engraved plates out of text, and is further enriched with notes and a biography of the author.

Bound in early 19th-century green bottle Russian morocco over pink paper boards, corners reinforced, flat spines with gilt double fillets and black ruling; some...

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...

First edition of this celebrated illustrated publication, issued in Paris by H.-L. Delloye in 84 parts between February 1842 and October 1843 and subsequently gathered into three volumes. Carteret described it as an “admirable publication printed on stout wove paper [...] one of the finest of the 19th century”, comparing the quality of its production to that of the great illustrated books of the 18th century. Carteret III, 143-153; Vicaire II, 234-248.

The first volume comprises 5 unnumbered leaves - half-title...

First edition, one of 35 copies on pure rag paper, this one not numbered but specified as a copy printed for Pierre Jean Jouve under the colophon, the only deluxe paper copies issued.

Three small spots on the lower cover.

A very good copy.

Autograph postcard signed and addressed to his friend Ariel Denis from his summer residence in Vendée, 22 lines in black ink.

The postcard shows a general view of the coastal cliffs of Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez in Vendée.

Julien Gracq expresses his satisfaction with the advice he had given his friend, while lamenting the petty calculations of administrative life: "j'avais décidément raison de vous recommander une saine stratégie syndicale : faute ce cet appui je crains qu'il n'y ait plus de belle carrière dans l'enseignement ! J'espère tout de même que la stabilité au moins va venir couronner vos efforts (il y en a un de ma part sous le beau style ! malgré...

First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on Holland paper, the deluxe issue.

Spine and covers very slightly and marginally faded, not affecting the overall appearance. A handsome copy.

Original photograph depicting Charles Gounod, full face.

Vintage gelatin silver print mounted on cardboard, produced by photographer Isidore Alphonse Chalot at 18, rue Vivienne, Paris.

Autograph inscriptions in black then blue ink on the verso by the recipient, A. Lasserre, inspector at the Opéra Garnier: "Portrait de Ch. Gounod signé le soir de la 926eme représentation de Faust (samedi 29 septembre 1888) A. Lasserre."

Additional handwritten note in pencil in the right margin of the verso: 1867e représentation de Faust le 28 septembre 1929.

Printed stamp at foot of the verso: "Maison Martinet Albert Hautecoeur, 18, bd des Capucines."

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.

Original black and white photograph depicting Michel Polnareff in the street, standing opposite a security guard.

A handsome example. Signed by Michel Polnareff on a piece of paper mounted to the verso of the photograph.

Signed by Michel Polnareff in the upper part of the image.

Provenance : from the collection of renowned autograph collector Claude Armand.

First edition of this rare and fragile promotional item for the Galeries Lafayette consisting of 47 cardboard pieces with an illustration in medallion drawn by Jack Roberts and a children's song of eight verses.

A handsome copy, complete with its original printed crystal paper envelope.
 

Original inscribed photograph showing Yves Montand dressed as a cowboy and pointing a revolver in his right hand.

Yves Montand is slightly facing forward. Vintage silver gelatin print. 
On the verso, Yves Montand's name is misspelled twice.

Autograph inscription signed by Yves Montand at the bottom of the photograph: "Pour Michel amicalement Y.Montand."


 

"Chère Madame,
Mille excuses pour le malentendu qui est de ma faute, sans doute.
Je ne me souvenais pas du tout que vous n'étiez pas libre ce soir. Si vous l'êtes demain samedi, j'en serais heureux. J'ai couru à Châtelet et suis parvenu à faire changer le jour...

First edition, of which no deluxe paper copies were issued.

A copy complete with its illustrated dust-jacket, which, as is often the case, shows a few small marginal tears; wrappers lightly soiled.

Rare presentation copy by Georges Brassens to Michel Soulié.

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.
 

Black-and-white photographic postcard depicting a young Charles Trenet wearing a hat.

A handsome example. Charles Trenet’s discography with Columbia printed on the verso.

Inscribed and signed by Charles Trenet: "Pour monsieur Thézard souvenir joyeux de Niort. Charles Trenet."

Photographic postcard by Studio Philips, depicting Johnny Halliday in black and white, holding his guitar in his right hand, resting it on his shoulder.

The verso features the artist's discography, with minor text loss at the head and foot. A well-preserved example.

Bold blue ink signature by Johnny Halliday.

Colour photographic postcard depicting Claude François.

A well-preserved example. A newspaper clipping has been affixed to the verso, which also shows traces of glue.

Signed in black felt-tip pen by Claude François, with a small flower drawing and the word "bises".

Provenance: from the collection of the prominent autograph collector Claude Armand.

Black and white photographic portrait of the legendary jazz musician Benny Goodman, holding his clarinet in his left hand.

A fine example. A newspaper clipping announcing the musician’s death is affixed to the verso of the print. We include the original mailing envelope, bearing Benny Goodman’s initials, in which the photograph was sent. A concert program for Benny Goodman and his jazz band performing in Zurich in 1970 accompanies the set.

Signed by Benny Goodman in blue ballpoint pen in the upper left corner of the photograph.

Provenance: from the collection of renowned autograph collector Claude...

Photographic postcard depicting Lionel Hampton in the 1960s–70s playing the vibraphone.

A handsome copy.

Signed by Lionel Hampton in blue felt-tip pen on the verso of the photograph.

Provenance: from the collection of the renowned autograph collector Claude Armand.

First edition printed in small numbers of this offprint from the Mercure de France published on May 15, 1920. OCLC does not locate any copies in North America and only three in Eu­rope (Bnf, Bibliothèque Doucet, Uni­versitätsbibliothek Basel).
Covers with frayed margins, second cover partially shaded, one small piece of paper missing from the right margin of a page due to the fragility of the paper.
Signed and inscribed copy to paint­er Bernard de Blois: “En sympathie de voisin de logis et d'esthétique. Canudo 1922.” [”In sympathy as a neighbor of lodgings and aesthetics. Canudo 1922.”]
Extremely rare first edition of the li­bretto of...

Unpublished and signed autograph score by Camille Saint-Saëns. Two pages of handwritten music for solo voice and piano, on an oblong bifolium with twenty staves. Autograph inscription on the first page signed by Saint-Saëns, with his signature and date ("Nov. 1870") appearing again on the second page.
Trace of vertical fold, with a tiny tear along the fold, a small marginal tear on 1 cm of the first page, without damage to the manuscript.

An exceptional unpublished autograph manuscript of a Persian melody for voice and piano, composed by Camille Saint-Saëns during the Siege of Paris in November 1870, enriched with a autograph inscription: 'A...

First edition of this rare and fragile advertising object for the Galeries Lafayette consisting of 47 cardboard pieces with a medallion illustration designed by Jack Roberts and a children's song of four verses.

Handsome copy complete with its original crystal paper envelope.
 

First edition.
Half blue morocco shagreen, smooth spine, gilt date at foot of spine, marbled paper boards, contemporary binding.
Exceptionally inscribed by Emile Zola to the playwright and opera librettist Ludovic Halévy, with the autograph signatures of Guy de Maupassant, Joris-Karl Huysmans, Léon Hennique, Paul Alexis and Henri Céard on the first flyleaf.
Provenances: from the libraries of Ludovic Halévy and Marcel Lecomte, with their bookplates on front pastedown.
Our copy also includes, on a flyleaf, an autograph note by Ludovic Halévy: "See a letter by Guy de Maupassant at the end of the volume. L.H. Inscribed by the six authors of the volume...

First edition, with no mention of deluxe paper copies.
Half red marbled sheep binding, spine faded with four raised bands decorated with a gilt floral motif, light rubbing to the bands, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, sprinkled edges, front cover preserved, modest contemporary binding.
Rare signed and inscribed copy by the author Colette Andris to Jean Blavet.
Novelist, music-hall performer and actress, a forgotten and short-lived muse of the Roaring Twenties music-hall, Colette Andris (the pseudonym of Pauline Toutey) managed to write three novels between 1929 and 1935, with a lot of autobiographical elements. She would die in the prime...

First edition printed in 300 numbered copies on pure rag vellum from the marais, ours being one of the 246 containing illustrations in the text.
Work illustrated with 18 unsigned drypoints in the text by Fernand Hertenberger.
Boards uniformly and lightly sunned.
Rare and handsome copy.

Complete collection in 36 issues (including three double issues) bound in three volumes - First year: 12 issues, from 8 February 1885 to 6 January 1886 - Second year: 12 issues, from 8 February 1886 to 15 January 1887 - Third year: 12 issues, from February 1887 to January 1888.
Illustrated with 4 full-page lithographs by Fantin-Latour: L'Évocation d'Erda - Odilon Redon : Brünnhilde - Jacques-Emile Blanche : Tristan et Isolde and Le pur-simple.
Three quarter brown morocco binding, smooth spine titled in gilt, marbled paper boards, marbled paper endpapers and pastedowns, orignal wrappers preserved, binding signed by Dupré.
Numerous contributions...