Poetry

First edition strictly hors-commerce, one of 200 copies printed on glassine vellum or European paper, only print after 81 imperial Korean paper.

Our copy is complete with its overlay cover (the colour and decorative motifs often vary) and the white glassine paper label bearing the title Stèles printed in Chinese on the first part of the cover, the latter being folded into three parts.

Our copy is presented in a blueish paper chemise and slipcase, navy blue morocco spine, name of the author, title and date in palladium, slipcase in blueish paper, all signed Devauchelle in palladium.

First edition printed in 35 numbered copies on "vieux grès" rag paper from the Moulin de Larroque, this copy one of 10 hors commerce copies.

Illustrated with original color engravings by Ania Staritsky, who also devised the book’s original design with the collaboration of Claude Nardin.

A rare and very handsome copy preserved in its original full grey cloth slipcase.

Manuscript pencil signatures of Michel Butor and Ania Staritsky at the colophon.

Our copy is enriched with a two-page autograph letter, dated and signed, from Ania Staritsky to Claude Nardin concerning the making of this work.

First edition printed in 125 numbered copies on B.F.K. de Rives paper, ours being one of the 25 containing the two black etchings by Robert Lagarde, the colour suite, and the additional plate, a deluxe issue.

A few spots to the covers, internally clean and pleasing; copy complete with its publisher’s prospectus.

Each etching and additional plate is signed and justified by Robert Lagarde.

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on Larroque pure rag paper, this copy one of 10 hors commerce copies, from the deluxe issue.

Illustrated with original engravings by Ania Staritsky, who also designed the book’s original maquette with the collaboration of Claude Nardin.

A rare and very handsome copy, complete with its slipcase and chemise in full saffron cloth.

Our copy is enriched with a signed 10-line manuscript poem by Janine Mitaud, an original etching, and a second state of one of Ania Staritsky’s engravings.

Manuscript pencil signatures of Ania Staritsky and Janine Mitaud at the colophon.

Rare first edition of d'Alègre’s French translation (cf. Brunet V, 25. Barbier II, 596.)

Contemporary full marbled calf, spine in five raised bands richly gilt in compartments with floral tools, red shagreen lettering-piece, marbled endpapers, gilt fillets to board edges now almost rubbed away, red-speckled edges, contemporary binding.

Restorations to spine and joints, marginal dampstain at the foot of about ten leaves, annotations and a pen drawing on a flyleaf.

This is the second translation of this masterpiece by the Persian poet and philosopher Saadi, one of the great Sufi masters of the thirteenth century.

The first, by André Du Ryer, dates from 1634.

It

First edition, illustrated with an original etching as frontispiece and four hors-texte drawings by Henri Laurens, one of 324 numbered copies on Vélin du Marais.

Title page lightly toned, otherwise a pleasing copy.

Signed in pencil by Tristan Tzara and Henri Laurens beneath the limitation statement.

First edition of the French translation, one of 26 lettered copies on Lana wove rag paper, issued as part of the tête-de-tirage.

A fine copy.

A rare first edition, of which no subsequent reprint exists, complete with all his Neo-Latin poems, chiefly composed in Rome. The volume also contains two Greek poems at ff. 60 and 62, together with a poem which inspired the celebrated sonnet Happy he who like Ulysses.

Modern binding in full limp vellum, smooth spine, red edges, white pastedowns and endleaves.

Some defects within: discreet restoration to inner margin of title verso; small tear without loss at foot of ff. 2-3; dampstaining to lower margin of ff. 25-28 and 45-48; minimal marginal defect to f. 44, not affecting

Rare edition printed on laid paper, very likely produced in a small run for Picard bibliophiles (cf. Hage Chahine, 4071).

Listed in the CCF only at Arras, Amiens, and Compiègne.

A few minor spots.

Half cherry morocco binding, spine lightly faded and raised on five bands, a few rubs to the spine, marbled paper sides, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt top edge, a period binding signed by Petit, successor to Simier.

Robert de Clari (c. 1170 – after 1216) was a Picard knight, vassal to the castellan Pierre d’Amiens.

He took part in the Fourth Crusade alongside his lord Pierre d’Amiens. After the deaths in 1205 of his direct suzerains Pierre d’Amiens and

First edition, printed on vélin d’Angoulême, with the usual typographical errors, and containing the six banned poems; one of the few author’s copies “intended for friends who render no literary services”.

Full bordeaux red morocco binding, spine with five raised bands richly decorated with multiple gilt- and blind-tooled fillets; third-state covers; boards framed with multiple blind-tooled fillets; marbled endpapers; gilt turn-ins; all edges gilt; marbled paper slipcase with morocco border; signed binding by Semet & Plumelle.

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 preface”.
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"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 "C

First illustrated edition, with a frontispiece portrait of the author and a plate of music inserted at the end.

Not listed in Schwab.

Contemporary binding in half polished Havana calf, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets, chain motifs and floral tools, saffron paper boards, marbled edges.

Joints split at foots and slightly at heads, a pleasant copy overall.

An important work by the renowned Austrian orientalist (1774–1856) devoted to ancient Persian poetry, containing a large number of extracts translated into German and an extensive index.

The work, dedicated to the great French orientalist Silvestre de Sacy, was carefully printed in Gothic type; t

New edition, one of 50 copies on deluxe paper (no. 29/500) and issued with a named dedication, ours specially printed for Baron Emmanuel-Alban Guillaume-Rey (1837–1916), orientalist and archaeologist specializing in medieval Syria.

Full rigid vellum binding, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets and floral tools, brick-brown morocco title label, gilt place and date at foot, gilt cornerpieces on the covers, original wrappers preserved, contemporary binding.

A poetic account of the exploits of Peter I of Lusignan, King of Cyprus (1328–1369), written shortly after his death at the request of Charles V, and centered on the so-called “Alexandrian Crusade,” the ill-fated expediti

First edition, one of 500 copies on ordinary paper.
This copy has a chemise and slipcase.
A little light spotting, not serious, nice copy.
Retaining its advertising band and slip.
Handsome autograph inscription signed by René Char: “à Man Ray au voyant carnassier de tout cœur R. Char.” (“To Man Ray to the carnivorous fortune teller, with all my heart, R. Char.”)

First collective edition on ordinary paper.

Pleasing copy.

Valuable presentation copy signed by Louis Aragon: "A Maurice Druon, pour n'en pas perdre l'habitude. Louis."

 

First edition of this important account of Buffon, providing insights into his private life, his character, and his relationships with those around him; it also contains numerous references to his scientific work (cf. Quérard I, 119: "Lyon, Grabit, 1788"; Dureau, "Notice sur Joseph Aude," p. 15).

Half vellum binding, smooth spine with a red morocco title label in vertical layout, marbled paper boards, slightly rubbed corners, sprinkled edges.

Stains in the margins of the title page and final leaf.

The memoirs proper end on page 55.

The following pages contain the poems announced in the title.

The rarity of this volume was already noted by Dureau in 1868...

Autograph letter dated and signed by Alexis Léger, 26 lines in blue ink, written from Washington to his friend Emily Amram, describing the torments of his convalescence following a "stupid accident".

Folds inherent to mailing.

The poet thanks his friend for her floral attentions during his illness: "combien la présence de vos fleurs m'a aidé contre les mauvaises ombres pendant mes jours de réclusion !" and, much to his regret, must once again postpone the visit he had promised her: "une mauvaise grippe washingtonnienne, qui m'a surpris, déjà fatigué, peu après mon retour chez moi, achevé de me déprimer, et pour ne pas accabler encore l

Handwritten postcard from André Breton signed by himself, his wife Elisa, Benjamin Péret, Toyen and Jindřich Heisler addressed to Marcel Jean and his wife and written on the back of a black and white photograph view of the Chaise-du-Curé rocks on the Île de Sein (Finistère).
Charming poetic postcard, written during a stay in Brittany: "la corne de brume manque à tous ses devoirs quoique le coupage au couteau soit de règle. Dans la vase à quoi se limite la vue de l'hôtel de l'Océan un bateau penché dit son nom : "Rose effeuillée". Rien de moins. Mais c'est toujours très bien dans l'ensemble." Returning to more “professional” discussions, Breton asks for news of the Amer

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.

First edition.

Publisher’s binding, smooth olive-green cloth spine partially faded, upper headcap trimmed, cream boards speckled with pink, bumped corners, shadowed endpapers.

Signed autograph inscription by Thomas Nelson Page at the head of the title page.

First edition of this issue of the review consisting of two folded sheets.
Marginal lacks very skillfully filled on the sheets.
On the first, a color woodcut representing Paul Signac by Georges Seurat.
On the following ones, text by Félix Fénéon in first edition entitled "Signac".
Very rare issue.

Second edition of the French translation prepared by François-Victor Hugo.

Half red shagreen bindings, slightly faded spines with four raised bands numerously framed in gilt and central gilt tooled motif, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers, speckled edges, contemporary bindings.

Some occasional foxing, minor black specks on a few spines, upper corners of volume 10 slightly damaged.

Our set, attractively bound uniformly in contemporary bindings, is complete in 18 volumes including the often lacking final three volumes of apocryphal writings.

First edition, one of 10 lettered copies on Holland paper, the only deluxe copies.

Illustrated on the cover with a portrait of Max Jacob by Pablo Picasso.

A rare and handsome copy.

First edition, one of the rare copies printed on laid paper.
This issue consists of 4 pages and includes a comic strip by Achille Lemot alias Uzès : "L'honneur est satisfait".
Literary contributions by Albert Samain ("Une"), Rodolphe Darzens with the poem "Crainte d'aimer", George Auriol ("La mort du démon d'oubli"), Paul Cary ("Les deux sorties de ma tante"), Rodolphe Salis...
A handsome copy despite a few faint marginal dampstains.
Le Chat noir was a weekly magazine founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897, intended to promote the famous cabaret of the same name, of which it served as a record. It featured texts performed during the s

First edition, one of 50 copies numbered on pure wove paper, the only deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

First bilingual edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Arches wove paper, the deluxe issue.

The French translation, printed opposite the English text, was prepared by Patrick Guyon and Marie-Claude White.

A rare and attractive copy.

A remarkable autograph poem of youth by André Breton dedicated to Guillaume Apollinaire entitled «Décembre». 20 verses in ink on vergé d'Arches paper, composed in December 1915. This manuscript was copied between March 1917 and the beginning of 1918.

This poem is presented in a chemise and case with paper boards decorated with abstract motifs, the spine of the chemise in green morocco, pastedowns and endpapers of beige suede, a sheet of flexible plexiglass protecting the poem, case lined with green morocco, piece of green paper with caption «poème autographe» to bottom of upper cover of case, the whole by Thomas Boichot.
Key poem of the author's pre-Dadaist peri

First edition, one of 42 numbered copies on Japon paper, the leading copies after 8 hors commerce on Chine paper.
Elegant Bradel binding in half black calf over floral paper boards by P. Goy & C. Vilaine, covers preserved (lightly soiled at edges), top edge gilt.
With a frontispiece portrait of the author on Chine paper by Jean-Louis Forain.
One tiny foxing as well as a small, clear marginal dampstain touching frontispiece.
A very good copy nicely bound.

The first edition for large parts of the text, printed in 550 copies with the correct date of 1891 on the title.

Contemporary paper boards with blindstamped floral motifs, spine very slightly browned, brown shagreen title-piece, gilt date to foot of spine, covers preserved.
Biographical press clippings bound in at end, bookseller's description laid down on head of one endpaper, leaving a mark on the opposite page.
This copy is complete with the original preface by Rodolphe Darzens, removed from most copies of this printing.
A good copy in a contemporary binding, which is rare, according to Clouzot.

Third edition, partly original, expanded with 25 poems, along with a lengthy introduction by the poet Théophile Gautier and several articles and letters by Barbey d'Aurevilly, Dulamon, Sainte-Beuve, Charles Asselineau, Custine, Edouard Thierry et Émile Deschamps selected by Baudelaire.
With a steel-engraved frontispiece portrait of the author by Nargeot.
One of the rare first issue copies with the correct date of 1868 on the title and without statement of edition.
This comprehensive edition contains 25 unpublished poems, totaling 151 poems (100 poems in the 1857 edition). Among the new poems, eleven are from Les Épaves.
Although wishe

First edition printed on vélin d'Angoulême. Complete copy with the six banned poems and the usual misprints.

Half shagreen binding, spine with four raised bands twice ruled in gilt with gilt fleurons, marbled paper boards, marbled pastedowns and flyleaves, contemporary binding. Some foxing scattered foxing.  

First edition, with no deluxe paper copies issued.

Half aubergine shagreen binding, spine with four raised bands decorated with triple gilt compartments, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, speckled edges. Contemporary binding.

This collection of poems is followed by essays on Henry Murger by Théophile Gautier, Jules Janin, Arsène Houssaye, and Paul de Saint-Victor.

Our copy is enriched with an autograph note signed by Henry Murger, informing his correspondent that he will visit him soon.

First edition on ordinary paper.

Half red morocco binding, spine with five raised bands framed with gilt fillets and decorated with double gilt panels, gilt lettering at the foot of the spine reading "Ex. de Sainte-Beuve", double gilt fillets on the marbled paper boards, small black spots on the covers, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, gilt edges.

Scattered foxing.

Precious autograph inscription signed by Auguste Brizeux: "A Sainte-Beuve, au poète et à l'ami. A. Brizeux."

First edition.
Contemporary half red shagreen over marbled paper boards, (a few discreet repairs), spine in six compartments, date to foot, marbled paper-lined endpapers and pastedowns, covers preserved, top edge red.
A very handsome autograph inscription signed by Victor Hugo to Alphonse Daudet.
Mrs. Daudet's collection stamp to first endpaper.

Victor Hugo represented for Alphonse Daudet, as for the other writers of his generation, the incontestable master of the Pantheon of the arts. His benevolent attention runs through Daudet's work, often listed side by side with Rousseau, Byron, Sand and Delacroix.
If during Daudet's childhood and youth, Hugo, an

First edition, one of 42 numbered copies on Japan Barjon paper, one of the deluxe issue, with 8 additional copies on Japan reserved for the author.

Introduction by Francis Scarfe and preface by Jean-Jacques Mayoux.

Rare and attractive copy of Kenneth White’s first book, complete with two photographs by Marie-Claude White.

First edition on ordinary paper.

Bradel binding in half grey percaline, smooth spine decorated with a central gilt ornament, gilt double fillet and date at foot, brown shagreen title-piece, cat's-eye patterned paper boards, blue paper endpapers and pastedowns, contemporary binding.

Precious signed autograph inscription from Jean Richepin to Léon Deschamps.

First edition printed in 245 numbered copies, the only printing after 10 copies on heavy paper.

Bradel binding in half blue cloth, smooth spine decorated with a gilt floral motif, double gilt fillet at foot of spine, red morocco title label with a very small defect, marbled paper boards, wrappers preserved, contemporary binding.

Inscribed and signed by Paul Fort.

First edition, one of the review copies.

Slight sunning at head and foot of spine, without seriousness.

Precious signed presentation from Francis Ponge: "Pour Marthe et Henri Calet leur ami. Francis Ponge."

First edition, published at the author’s expense and in a small print run.

A few minor spots of foxing.
Bradel binding in full paper echoing the work’s gilt checkered cover, smooth spine, red morocco lettering-piece, fragile original wrappers preserved, gilt edges, binding signed by Thomas Boichot.
Rare signed autograph inscription from Auguste Villiers de l’Isle-Adam to the Marquis de Monthec.

 

Signed letter hand-written by Charles Baudelaire, written in paper pencil, addressed to his mother. Dry-stamped headed paper from the Grand Hôtel Voltaire, Faubourg Saint-Germain. Madame Aupick's address in Honfleur (Calvados) in the author's hand, as well as several postage stamps dated 13 and 14 July 1858. Some highlighting, crossing out and corrections by the author. Signs of a wax seal with Charles Baudelaire's initials in pencil, likely written by the author. A small section of paper from the second leaf has been removed, without affecting the text.
This letter was published fo

First edition, one of 1,000 numbered copies on offset.

A fine copy.

Illustrated with 10 drawings by René Magritte.

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, an advance (service de presse) copy.
Half mustard-colored morocco over marbled paper boards by P. Goy & C. Vilaine, spine in six compartments, brown paper endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine (sunned) preserved, top edge gilt.
Handsome autograph inscription signed by Robert Desnos to Colette Clément, whose name he plays on: "A Madame Colette Clément / Clément Marot non Jacques Clément (ces mots barrés) / non / hommage de l'auteur Robert Macaire."
Ex libris of recipient pasted in underneath justification.

First bilingual edition, one of 270 copies on Arches Ingres paper, including a photographic portrait of Ratna Mohini by her husband Henri Cartier-Bresson.

Rare and handsome 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; no copy recorded in the CCF or Worldcat, with a single copy held at the Real Academia Española.

Full red shagreen portfolio, smooth spine without lettering, double gilt and blind-tooled fillet borders with gilt garlands and rosettes at the corners on the covers, gilt title lettered in the center of the upper cover, moiré white silk endleaves and pastedowns, contemporary binding.

Inscribed and signed by Albertus Frederik Johan Reiger to Baron Joseph Louis Heinrich Alfred Gericke van Herwynen (1814–1899), Minister of the King of the Netherlands to the Court of Brussels, accompanied by an autograph signed note addressed to the same, dated 12 December 1881

First edition, one of the review copies.

Some light foxing to the spine and along the edges of the covers, a pleasing copy given the poor quality of the paper.

Inscribed by Raymond Queneau to Dominique Aury.

First collected edition of which there were no grand papier (deluxe) copies, an advance (service de presse) copy.
A nice copy despite a tiny tear to foot of upper cover.
Rare autograph inscription signed by Robert Desnos to Pierre Berger: " ces feuilles déjà bien vieilles..."

First edition, a numbered copy on alfa du Marais paper, this one not included in the justification.
Handsome autograph inscription signed and dated by Aimé Césaire to Raymond Queneau: “Très sympathique hommage de ces bucoliques de sang et de soleil... [a very affectionate homage of these bucolics of blood and sunshine...]”
Covers and spine slightly sunned at edges (but not seriously).

One of the very few copies bearing an autograph inscription—fewer than ten are recorded—of this first edition, containing the Marseillaise.
First edition illustrated with an engraved frontispiece by Charles-Étienne Gaucher after Jean-Jacques Le Barbier and four pages of engraved musical score at the end of the volume. La Marseillaise appears here in its true first edition, having first been pre-published in the Almanach des Muses in 1793 and circulated as separate leaves.
Contemporary half-sheepskin binding, smooth spine gilt-decorated with compartments, fleurons and fillets, red morocco title-piece, black pasteboard sides

Celebrated edition entirely engraved both images and text, richly illustrated with 6 engraved titles, a frontispiece and an engraved half-title for volume I, together with 243 figures, 473 vignettes and tail-pieces engraved by Fessard.

The illustration of the first three volumes is the work of Monnet, and in the last three by Fessard after Bardin, Bidauld, Caresme, Desrais, Houel, Kobell, Le Clerc, Leprince, Loutherbourg, and Meyer. The text is entirely engraved by Montulay and Drouet within decorative borders.

Contempor

Second edition, first for some parts, one of 100 copies on vergé blanc paper.
Contemporary Bradel half dark-green cloth over marbled paper boards, the spine with gilt fleuron, date and double gilt fillets at foot, upper corners rubbed, covers preserved.

An attractive copy in a pleasant binding.
Handsome autograph inscription from Paul Verlaine to Alice Densmore.

Second complete edition of Krylov's Fables with a preface by the poet and highly regarded literary critic Piotr Pletnev (1792-1866).

Half tan goatskin binding with corners, smooth spine decorated lengthwise in rocaille style in blind with tears and losses, joints fragile, gilt fillet framing the red pebbled paper boards, gilt Cyrillic inscription at the center of the upper cover, grey edges, rubbed corners, chips and losses along the edges, contemporary binding.

Foxing, library stamps and markings.

Prize book "Pour Succès et Bonne Conduite".

Manuscript ex-libris in ink, in Russian, on the front endpaper, dated Vilnius, 6 August 1857, and on the verso in Latin chara

First edition of the French translation with the Arabic text following.

Contemporary half cherry sheep binding with corners, spine without lettering and with five raised bands, marbled paper boards, pink paper endpapers and pastedowns, covers preserved.

The pre-Islamic Arab poet Zuhayr ibn Abî Sulma (530–627) holds a central place in Arabic literature, although his life remains little known. He is the author of one of the seven Mu'allaqât, the canonical anthologies of Arabic poetry.

Rare and attractive copy.