Rare first edition of a work by the "German Beccaria," unrecorded in French libraries according to WorldCat, composed while the author held the chair of feudal law at the University of Leipzig, a position obtained at the age of thirty, three years prior.
Contemporary full brown sheep, smooth spine gilt with fleurons, light brown morocco lettering-piece, red edges. Bookplate of Count Giacomo Manzoni, former Finance Minister of the Roman Republic, concealing an ownership inscription written in brown ink.
Upper headcap missing, surface scuffing to spine and boards, lettering-piece partly missing, discreet worm galleries to the pastedowns.
Marginal browning to the opening and closing leaves, scattered foxing, worm hole to the lower right corner of the first few leaves.
First edition, one of 100 copies numbered on alfa paper, the only copies on deluxe paper.
Photographic vignette on the upper cover.
A rare and handsome copy.
First edition, one of 26 numbered copies on alfa paper, our copy one of 14 hors commerce copies, the only deluxe paper issue.
A rare and handsome copy.
First edition, one of 26 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only copies issued on deluxe paper.
A rare and attractive copy.
New edition, partly original as revised and expanded.
Vertical creasing to the upper cover, a pleasant copy.
Illustrated with a photographic portrait of the author as frontispiece, together with three further plates.
Scarce pamphlet issued by the relief committee for political prisoners of the Russian penal camps in Grenoble.
Rare collection of pamphlets printed in Toulon or Marseille, notably during the Restoration period, several of which implicate senior military figures of the First Empire.
The first item is: "Ordonnance du Roi, Portant règlement sur les Franchises du Port de Marseille et Suite de l'Ordonnance..." printed in Toulon, by Alx (sic) Curet, (1815), 16 pages, comprising an extract from the Moniteur of 24 February 1815.
Bound in half ivory vellum with corners, smooth spine, manuscript inscription in black ink to spine, blue pasteboards with some surface abrasions, contemporary binding.
Some foxing. A few nicks to the edges.
Bound in continuation:
1) Jugement rendu par la Chambre des Pairs qui condamne à la peine de mort, le Maréchal Ney, ex-Pair de France. Toulon, Impr. de Calmen, n.d. (1815), 4 pages.
Comprising an extract from the Moniteur of 7 December 1815. A rare pamphlet published in Toulon on the very day of Ney's execution. "Maladroit et susceptible, Ney ne veut pas être traité comme un tambour. Il veut être jugé par la Chambre des pairs… Quelle erreur! il se retrouve condamné à mort malgré la déposition de Davout en sa faveur - Davout qu'il a si mal traité" (Tulard, 1237).
2) Ordonnance du Roi…. Toulon, Alex. Curet, (1815), 8 pages.
Extract from the Moniteur of 8 December 1815, setting out the terms of the amnesty granted to all those who, directly or indirectly, had taken part in Napoleon Bonaparte's rebellion and usurpation — illustrating Louis XVIII's attempt to pursue a policy of reconciliation — together with moving (if incidental) details concerning the death of Marshal Ney, published on the day following his execution.
3) Pétition lue à la Chambre des Députés sur la haute trahison du Maréchal Masséna. Toulon, Impr. de Calmen, (1816), 8 pp., likewise an extract from the Moniteur of 7 February 1816.
This petition, apparently brought by the inhabitants of the Bouches-du-Rhône, heaps opprobrium upon the Marshal, accusing him above all of having facilitated Napoleon's return from the Isle of Elba. "Affaibli par une maladie de poitrine, taraudé par le chagrin" (Tulard, 1151), Masséna was to die one year later.
4) Mémoire de M. le Maréchal Masséna. Toulon, Alex Curet, (1816), 8 pages.
Extract from La Quotidienne of 2 March 1816, summarising Masséna's memoir in response to the charges laid against him by the petition of the citizens of Marseille.
5) Robert, Louis-Joseph-Marie: "L'Hermite de St. Jean, ou Tableau des Moeurs et fêtes marseillaises, depuis la Restauration des Bourbons, n° 39." Marseille, Antoine Ricard, n.d. (1815), 16 pages.
A single fascicle from this rare series, of which the Bibliothèque nationale de France holds no complete set.
6) Dupin, Charles: "Des Intérêts de Marseille et de toutes les villes maritimes de la France." Ibid., id., n.d. (1815), 8 pages.
7) Barère: "Convention nationale. Rapport sur l'assassinat de Collot-d'Herbois, représentant du peuple, lu à la Convention Nationale, au nom du Comité de Salut Public". Printed in (Paris), by Charpentier, n.d. (Year II – 1794), 15 pages.
8) Honoré-Pelletier: "Honneur aux dames, ou Leur apologie, Épître à Juvénal et Boileau." Paris, chez l'auteur, Martinet, n.d., 14 pages.
9) Comte de Salaberry: "Concernant les épurations dans plus d'un ministère et dans les grandes administrations" printed in Toulon, by Calmen, n.d., 24 pages.
A rare and curious collection of pamphlets, almost all printed in Toulon or Marseille at the fall of the Empire.
The fascicles concerning Ney and Masséna are particularly striking.
A rare collection of pamphlets censuring several of the foremost Marshals of the First Empire.
Autograph letter signed and dated September 26, 1955, by Georges Simenon, addressed from Cannes to André David.
18 lines in black ink on one leaf bearing his American address in Lakeville, Connecticut.
Mailing fold as usual.
Georges Simenon apologizes for his delayed response: "mais j'étais en plein roman. Parbleu ! si je me souviens de vous !" and indicates his upcoming availability to his correspondent, even specifying his future address in Cannes. He authorizes André David's project to adapt his novel "Maigret et la Grande Perche" for the screen, while setting his terms: "vous pouvez travailler sur La Grande Perche mais, bien entendu, mon acceptation ne peut dépendre que du résultat (duquel, d'ailleurs, je ne doute pas). Tenez-moi au courant."
First edition of the French translation, one of 200 numbered copies on white wove paper, the only deluxe paper issue.
Bound in full mouse-grey shagreen, spine with five raised bands ruled in black, covers framed with a single black fillet, endpapers and pastedowns in cat’s-eye patterned paper, wrappers (with a small loss at the foot of the lower cover) and spine preserved, top edge gilt.
A pleasing copy.
First edition of the French translation, one of 350 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe paper issue.
A fine copy, despite a small area of sunning at head and tail of the spine.
First edition of the French translation prepared by Alexandre Vialatte, one of the complimentary copies.
A manuscript ex-dono erased in the upper right corner of the half-title page, resulting in a small loss of paper.
Signed autograph inscription by Alexandre Vialatte to Albert Thibaudet.
Autograph letter signed by François Vidocq, dated in his hand November 12, 1837, on a double leaf, with the autograph address of the correspondent on the fourth page "Monsieur Pujol ancien directeur des Postes de Vendôme à Gournay, Enbray [Gournay-en-Bray] (Seine-Inférieure)". Numerous usual folds.
Fine printed letterhead detailing the services offered by his private detective agency: "20 FRANCS PAR ANNEE, Et l'on est à l'abri de la ruse des plus adroits fripons !" [for 20 francs a year, one is protected from the most cunning of scoundrels!] It bears the address of his agency, recently relocated to "Rue Neuve St Eustache, N°39" (manuscript notation). Vidocq had retained his former offices at "Rue du Pont-Louis-Philippe, N°20" (printed letterhead).
Second edition comprising the reissue of the first two volumes of the Bulletin, no less scarce than the copies of the first edition, and corresponding to the opening phase of Bourbon’s legislative and regulatory activity, a veritable mine of information not only on legal matters but on every aspect of the island’s daily life (cf. Ryckebusch, 1224).
Contemporary Bradel bindings in half fawn marbled sheepskin, smooth spines ruled in gilt with double fillets, marbled paper sides, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, yellow edges, three corners lightly rubbed.
The third and final volume lacking, occasional foxing, two black stains to the lower cover of the first volume.
First edition.
Green half morocco with corners, spine with five raised bands and blind-tooled compartments, a few rubs to the spine, marbled paper sides, comb-marbled endpapers and doublures, sprinkled edges, contemporary binding.
Georges Perrot (1832–1914), a French Hellenist and archaeologist, undertook in 1861, together with the architect Edmond Guillaume and the travelling physician Jules Delbet, a scientific and literary mission to Greece and Asia Minor on behalf of the French Ministry of Public Instruction, the results of which were published in 1872.
He would later be the author, with Charles Chipiez, of the monumental Histoire de l'art dans l'Antiquité, Égypte, Assyrie, Perse, Asie mineure, Grèce, Etrurie, Rome (Paris, Hachette et Cie, 1882–1914).
We include, on a loose leaf, a dated and signed autograph letter addressed to M. J. Jahègue, Doctor of Law, announcing the gift of a book (certainly this one) originating from the Plocque sale.
A finely preserved copy in its contemporary binding.
An uncommon first edition (cf. Palau, 92 173. Barbier, IV, 1072. Quérard, II, 40. Cioranescu, XVIII, 28675-28678.)
Contemporary full marbled fawn calf, smooth spine decorated with double gilt panels and ornaments, hazelnut calf lettering-piece, spine caps defective, covers framed with a single blind fillet, marbled endpapers, corners rubbed, gilt fillets to the edges, red edges; a fragile contemporary binding: spine ends trimmed, joints and upper hinge entirely split.
The imprint is fictitious: the pamphlet was not printed at Saint-Malo.
This satire, directed against the government, religion and customs of the Spaniards, and marked by singular bad faith (Fleuriot never set foot in Spain), was condemned in France to be burnt by the public executioner by decree of the Parlement of Paris dated 26 February 1786, at the request of King Charles III. Emboldened by this success, Jean-Marie-Jérôme de Fleuriot (1749-1807) pursued his career as an anti-religious pamphleteer. The work went through six editions up to 1803 (the last recorded by the DLF, XVIIIe s., p.38) and was translated into four languages.
First edition of the French translation (cf. Sabin 8048; Quérard I, 521, who gives the date 1825).
Contemporary half roan with an aubergine hue, the flat spines lightly sunned and ruled with gilt fillets and dotted tooling, some rubbing to the backs, marbled paper sides, yellow mottled edges.
A few very light, insignificant spots.
John Bristed, born in the county of Dorset in 1778, died in the United States in 1855.
After studying medicine and law, he entered the Church. "Before leaving England he began writing and seems to have held ideas considered radical at the time (...) In 1806 Bristed came to New York City and there practised law, lectured, and wrote books and magazine articles (...) His writings show diligent and exhaustive study ; interest in history, economic questions, and religion ; a strong personal point of view, frequently amounting to prejudice ; and a rather ornate style" (Dict. of American Biography).
A very rare first edition.
Répertoire bibliographique des livres imprimés en France au XVIe siècle. Aix, vol. I, p. 36:5. Lindsay & Neu, French Political Pamphlets 1547–1648. A single copy recorded in WorldCat (Chicago, Newberry Library).
Our copy is offered disbound, in sheets, preserved in plain marbled paper wrappers, with an early manuscript label on the upper cover.
Répertoire bibliographique des livres imprimés en France au XVIe siècle. Aix, vol. I, p. 36:5. Lindsay & Neu, French Political Pamphlets 1547–1648. A single copy recorded in WorldCat. A rare example bearing on the title an early contemporary manuscript annotation: “du 11 avril 1598.”
Uncommon first edition, issued anonymously: as early as 1817 the second edition bears the author's name (cf. Davois III, 117. Tulard 1194.)
Contemporary half blond sheepskin binding, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets and fleurons, joints split and repaired, blue paper-covered boards with a few scuffs, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, speckled edges.
An interesting account of the Russian campaign, which the author, the Vicomte de Puybusque or Puibusque (1792-1841), experienced as a military intendant: it abounds in little-known details concerning the Grande Armée and the Imperial Guard.
Bound at the end is Thomas Lindley’s: "Voyage au Brésil ; où l'on trouve la description du pays, de ses productions, de ses habitans, et de la ville et des provinces de San-Salvadore et Porto-Seguro. Avec une table correcte des latitudes et longitudes des ports de la côte du Brésil, ainsi qu'un tableau de change, etc. Traduit de l'anglais par François Soulès" published in Paris by Léopold Collin in 1806 (xiv-216 pp. Borba de Moraes I, 485. Rodrigues 416)
Rare first edition of the French translation.
The English merchant Thomas Lindley chartered a cargo vessel and travelled to Brazil to sell his own goods, but was arrested and convicted of smuggling.
He spent a year in Brazilian prisons.
Illustrated edition by George Roux featuring 12 large chromotypographs, 2 maps, and numerous photographic views.
Publisher’s decorative binding by Hetzel, signed Engel, known as “au globe,” type 4, spine with the lighthouse design, lower cover of Engel type "h" as per Jauzac; all edges gilt.
Headcaps very slightly pushed without consequence, original blue endpapers faintly faded as often, a few occasional spots of foxing.
Les Frères Kip is a detective and adventure novel, likely inspired by a late 19th-century criminal case: the Rorique brothers.
Copy not recorded by Jauzac.
First edition on ordinary paper.
Autograph inscription signed, in pencil, by Sacha Guitry to madame Simone Gerbert.
First edition, of which there were no deluxe copies.
Autograph inscription signed by Henri Charrière to journalist and historian Gilbert Guilleminault.
Henri Charrière, known as Papillon, ward of the state and petty criminal, had been sentenced to the penal colony in 1931 for a murder he always denied. More than thirty years later, he recounts his terrible experience in this autobiographical text. He describes the violence, injustice, diseases and escape attempts, crowned by years of exile in South America: « Pure of all contact, his publisher noted, and of all literary ambition, what he writes is "as he tells it to you", you see it, you feel it, you live it [...]. » The book met with immense success before being adapted for cinema with Steve McQueen in the leading role.
Original autograph manuscript, 8 pages on 4 squared leaves, extensively revised and signed by Boris Vian. Subtle horizontal folds.
This short story, written on 7 June 1948 according to Noël Arnaud, was first published in issue no. 2 of the magazine Dans le train, and later included in the collection Le Loup Garou. The manuscript differs slightly from the printed versions.
Autograph letter dated and signed by Jacques Mesrine, dated Saturday September 22, 1976, 67 lines in blue ink on one page recto verso addressed to his love of the time, Jeanne Schneider, thanks to whom the manuscript of Instinct de mort was discreetly smuggled out of prison.
Jacques Mesrine, then incarcerated at Fleury-Mérogis prison and deprived of human warmth, is enthusiastic about all the visits he receives in the visiting room, thus dispelling the myth of the antisocial bandit devoid of human feelings: "And after that they'll say I'm a savage! No, quite the contrary, and people who have had contact with me want to see me again. This gave me immense pleasure and do you know what happened next... she's also going to ask to see you. Apparently I'm missed by the nurses 'mister smile' that's the secret."
He particularly appreciated the visit from the nurse at La Santé prison who would also be their wedding witness with Jeanne Schneider and whom he praises: "... an enormous surprise! You'll never guess who came to see me! My nurse from La Santé... yes my darling... that charming lady with white hair whom you had seen in the visiting room at La Santé and who is to be our witness at our wedding [...] She's an exceptional woman, a former military nurse and quite well-placed in the ministry. During my 2 and a half years at La Santé I considered her like a mother, this woman is so devoted it's unthinkable. Woe to anyone who would touch a single hair on her head."
Public enemy No. 1 takes the opportunity again to break this reputation as a bloodthirsty beast that sticks to him: "If journalists knew that all the nurses entered my cell alone and with complete confidence, we'd be far from the 'beast' and hostage-taking à la Buffet. Nurses have always been sacred to me. They are untouchable like quite a few other people, but those journalist faggots don't know that; because they're not in my thoughts and that's regrettable sometimes."
Jacques Mesrine the rebel is surprised to find himself appreciating his prison solitude: "Do you know that I'm beginning to like it here... What calm you know manou, my isolation, I bear it insofar as I have peace. In detention it's not proven that I would have it. It's my reactions I'm afraid of... and the mentality of so-called crooks is increasingly disgusting! [...] in my isolation, there's good and bad... but personally, I don't want to complain... because there's no reason to do so." and ends his letter with paternal considerations for his daughter who is not very assiduous at school and for whom he worries: "I'm going to find out if Sabrina has been regularly attending her classes... I hope so because if the opposite were the case... no mercy this time... But what worry this kid can represent and what powerlessness I have to control her being here!"
Rare and very fine letter from Jacques Mesrine overflowing with reverence for the nursing profession and regrettable detestation for that of journalists.
Autograph letter dated and signed by Henri II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé and father of the Grand Condé, 2 pages on one sheet, 27 lines in black ink.
Minor restorations and dampstain to left margin of the sheet. Discreet annotation by a former owner at head of verso of the letter.
Although he acknowledges the full atrocity of the crime perpetrated by sieur Cardinet against the person of the son of one of the most important magistrates of the city of Bourges, Henri II undertakes to intervene in favor of the assassin: "... l'action qui sest passee a Bourges est très méchante estant un assassinat très inhumain fait en plein jour contre le fils dun des principaus magistras de la ville. Japorteray pour vostre respect tout mon pouvoir pour ledit Cardinet et espère pour lamour de vous et pour lobeissance que je vous veus rendre le tirer daffaire..." ["... the action that took place at Bourges is very wicked being a very inhuman assassination done in broad daylight against the son of one of the principal magistrates of the city. I will bring for your respect all my power for the said Cardinet and hope for love of you and for the obedience that I wish to render you to get him out of trouble..."] but in no case for his accomplices: "Je dis lui seul car pour les autres complices je tiens la chose impossible sans une abolition du Roy principalement estants tous prisonniers presentement je despescheray à Bourges a cet effet est en ceste petite occasion que je voudrois estre plus grande..." ["I say him alone for as for the other accomplices I hold the thing impossible without an abolition from the King principally being all prisoners presently I will dispatch to Bourges to this effect and in this small occasion that I would wish to be greater..."]
"Ce soir je suis très mal foutu... il est 19 heures et je me couche juste après la fin de ta lettre... de rien de grave... juste une grande fatigue (à rien faire)" ["Tonight I feel really awful... it's 7 PM and I'm going to bed just after finishing your letter... nothing serious... just very tired (from doing nothing)"]
"Comme cela la puce veut prendre la religion juive... encore une idée à elle... oui je sais elle a fait croire à ses copains qu'elle était juive... car eux l'étaient...si cela l'amuse je la laisse libre... mais ça démontre aussi un dédoublement de personnalité..." ["So the little one wants to take up the Jewish religion... another one of her ideas... yes I know she made her friends believe she was Jewish... because they were... if it amuses her I leave her free... but it also shows a split personality..."]
"Aujourd'hui j'ai eu la visite du juge Madre. Tu aurais rigolé, car il a eu droit à tout mon vocabulaire... il en perdait la parole (j'ai pris mon pied (sic)) A un moment il me dit "mais c'est quand même moi qui commande... Réponse de ton bibi : "Ici pédé" c'est moi ton patron". Il était vert et les flics se marraient comme des perdus." ["Today I had a visit from Judge Madre. You would have laughed, because he got my full vocabulary... he was speechless (I had a ball) At one point he tells me 'but I'm still the one in charge... Your boy's response: 'Here, faggot, I'm your boss.' He was green and the cops were laughing like crazy."]
and against all submission to any form of power or violence:
"Le pire que l'on puisse faire à un juge, c'est lui enlever toute autorité devant les autres et crois moi il l'a bien compris. Il était venu avec 5 anti-commandos... L'un avait la bombe de gaz à la main... au cas où? Loin d'être impressionné... cela me rend con..." ["The worst thing you can do to a judge is to remove all his authority in front of others and believe me he understood it well. He had come with 5 anti-commandos... One had the gas canister in his hand... just in case? Far from being impressed... it makes me crazy..."]
"Là ma puce je vais prendre mon lit en marche...Ton vieux voyou pose ses lèvres sur le tiennes en une douce caresse d'amour. je t'adore petite fille... car nous sommes réellement le "couple" et plus encore. Bonne nuit chaton." ["There my little one I'm going to take to my bed... Your old rogue places his lips on yours in a sweet caress of love. I adore you little girl... because we are truly the 'couple' and even more. Good night kitten."]
First edition, one of 100 numbered copies on pure linen thread paper, the only deluxe copies.
Rare and handsome copy complete with its illustrated dust jacket which shows minor scuffs to head and foot of spine.
The work was adapted for cinema in 1957 by Phil Karlson with Dianne Foster and Richard Conte in the principal roles.
Autograph signed poem quatrain by poet Franc-Nohain entitled "Du pays tourangeau".
Fold marks inherent to postal handling.
The signed poem, 31 lines in black ink on one leaf, was included in the collection "Inattentions et sollicitudes" published in 1894 under the same title with some variants:
"Du pays tourangeau
Lai médiévite.
Du pays tourangeau
La belle châtelaine
Garnit de blanche laine
Son agile fuseau.
C'est Yette qu'on l'appelle,
Et Yette est la plus belle...
A tourné, pour se voir,
Les yeux vers son miroir :
Rajuste sa cornette,
Et se voit si proprette
Dedans ses, beaux atours,
- se fait une risette...
Ris, Yette,
Ris, Yette de Tours !
Un chant mélodieux
Chante sous sa fenêtre,
Et puis voici paraître,
Gentil page aux doux yeux.
- Oh ! dit-il, ô ma Dame,
Moult (1) amour ai dans l'âme ;
Si ne m'écoutez pas,
Pour moi c'est le trépas ! -
Mais point ne s'inquiète
La cruelle coquette :
Et rit de ses amours...
- Il s'est coupé la tête...
Ris, Yette,
Ris, Yette de Tours !
Franc-Nohain."
(1) moult (underlined word), beaucoup
New edition of the French translation based on the latest English edition, with some parts in first edition.
Half brown sheep bindings, smooth spines decorated with black and gilt fillets, gilt friezes at head and foot of spines, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, marbled edges, Romantic bindings.
Some surface scratches on the boards and minor rubbing to the spines, headcaps of the first two volumes with small losses.
A rare and handsome copy of this work which serves as the first detective novel in literary history.
William Golding is considered one of the most important precursors of anarchist and utilitarian thought, he is the father of Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, better known as Mary Shelley.
