Politics in Writing

Jean-Paul SARTRE, Michel LEIRIS
L'affaire Henri Martin[The Henri Martin Affair]
Gallimard|Paris 1953|14.50 x 20.50 cm|broché
First edition of which there were no grand papier (deluxe) copies.
Texts by Michel Leiris, Jacques Prévert, Vercors, Hervé Bazin and commentaries by Jean-Paul Sartre.
Autograph inscription signed by Jean-Paul Sartre to Mademoiselle Marchais.
€580
Henri MICHAUX (inscribed to René LAPORTE)
Epreuves, exorcismes 1940-1944
Gallimard|Paris 1945|12 x 19 cm|relié
Edition partly original, one of the review copies service.
Binding half navy blue morocco, back with five nerves, golden date tail, marbled paper plates, guards and contreplats of blue paper, preserved covers, gilded head, binding signed P. Goy & C. Vilaine.
Precious autograph dedication signed by Henri Michaux to René Laporte.
Full copy of his prayer to insert mounted on tab.
€1,000
Federico GARCÍA LORCA
Yerma
Les Cahiers du Journal des Poètes|Paris 1939|14 x 19 cm|broché
First edition of the French translation, one of 50 numbered copies on Featherweight, the tirage de tête.
Illustrated with a photograph of the poet and his mother.
A nice and rare copy, printed colportage stamp on half-title page.
€750
André MALRAUX
La voie royale[The Royal Road]
Grasset|Paris 1930|11.50 x 18.50 cm|relié
First edition of 62 numbered copies on Madagascar, the tirage de tête.
Contemporary half blue morocco over marbled paper boards by Robinson, gilt date to spine, gilt fillet frame to covers, endpapers and pastedowns of light green paper, double covers and double spines preserved, top edge gilt.
A very good copy in a nice binding.
€3,500
Robert BRASILLACH
Barreaux[Bars]
Edition de minuit et demi|Paris 1945|13.50 x 21.50 cm|relié
First edition, published under the pseudonym Robert Chénier, one of 330 numbered copies on Arches paper, the only printing after 25 on Japan and 70 on Marais paper.
Elegant contemporary black gauffered leather by J. Anthoine-Legrain, small repairs to joints, covers with gilt fillet and blindruled fillet patterns and small squares making up the bars of a prison cell, a verse from this collection of poems in gilt letters to top of upper cover, "Et nos barreaux, seigneur, ne cachent pas le ciel [And our bars, Lord, cannot hide the sky]", moiré-effect paper endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt. Slipcase edged in black gauffered leather, black paper boards.
€1,200
Ezra POUND, James JOYCE
Lettres d'Ezra Pound à James Joyce[The Letters of Ezra Pound to James Joyce]
Mercure de France|Paris 1970|15 x 21 cm|broché
First edition in French, one of 60 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe copies.
The correspondence is expanded with Pound's essays on Joyce.
Handsome copy.
€350
Federico GARCÍA LORCA
Noces de sang suivi de Yerma[Blood Wedding followed by Yerma]
Gallimard|Paris 1946|12 x 19 cm|broché
First edition of the French translation by Marcelle Auclair, one of 55 numbered copies on pur fil Lafuma, the only large paper copies.
A very good copy.
€750
Maurice BARRÈS (inscribed to José Maria de HEREDIA)
Un homme libre[A Free Man]
Perrin & Cie|Paris 1889|12 x 19 cm|relié
First edition.
Paper Bradel binding by Thomas Boichot, dark blue title-piece, covers and spine preserved, ex libris pasted opposite half-title with autograph inscription.
Handsome autograph inscription signed by Maurice Barrès to the poet José-Maria de Heredia.
A very good copy nicely bound.
€900
Precious inscribed copy signed by Victor Hugo to Juliette Drouet : « à mon pauvre doux ange aimé. V. »
Precious inscribed copy signed by Victor Hugo to Juliette Drouet : « à mon pauvre doux ange aimé. V. »
Victor HUGO
Quatorze discours
La librairie nouvelle|Paris 1851|16.50 x 25 cm|broché
Partly first edition, gathering the most famous speeches by Victor Hugo, including some of his most memorable addresses delivered at the tribune of the Legislative Assembly—most notably the speech on constitutional revision and the powerful plea he gave at the trial of his son, on 11 June 1851, before the Cour d'assises of the Seine, in defense of the inviolability of human life. Spurious mention of “eighth edition.”
Complete with the rare portrait of the author by Masson printed on China paper, as frontispiece.
Scattered occasional foxing.
Precious inscribed copy signed by Victor Hugo to Juliette Drouet : « à mon pauvre...
€15,000
Jorge SEMPRÚN
La deuxième mort de Ramon Mercader[The Second Death of Ramón Mercader]
Gallimard|Paris 1969|14 x 20.50 cm|broché
First edition, one of the presentation copies.
A pleasant copy.
Signed and inscribed by Jorge Semprun to Professor Georges Blin.
Georges Blin, a specialist in the works of Baudelaire and Stendhal, was a leading literary critic and academic. Alongside Vladimir Jankélévitch and Jean Wahl, among others, he served on the Sorbonne jury before which Emmanuel Lévinas defended his doctoral thesis, Totalité et infini. Blin was also director of the Bibliothèque littéraire Jacques Doucet at the Universities of Paris (Sorbonne, 1961-1988), Professor of Modern French Literature at the Collège de France (1965-1988), and subsequently Honorary Professor at the Collège de...
€250
Henry de MONTHERLANT (inscribed to Charles MAURRAS)
Le paradis à l'ombre des épées. - Les onze devant la porte dorée. Exemplaires de Charles Maurras[Paradise in the Shadow of Swords – The Eleven Before the Golden Gate. Copy from the library of Charles Maurras]
Grasset|Paris 1924|12 x 19 cm|2 volumes brochés
First edition, one of the press service copies on bouffant paper for each volume.
Valuable autograph inscriptions signed by Henry de Montherlant to Charles Maurras on the front free endpaper of each volume: « Respectueux hommage » and « Hommage respectueux ».

Charles Maurras exerted a decisive influence on Henry de Montherlant, as evidenced by these two inscriptions. The founder of Action française was indeed one of his openly acknowledged masters, as he writes in his preface to L'Exil in 1929, the two men sharing a certain conception of Mediterranean antiquity.
An interesting mark of Montherlant’s loyalty towards Maurras.

€1,500
Maurice BARRÈS
Les amitiés françaises
Félix Juven|Paris 1903|16 x 19 cm|relié
First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on Japan paper, the tirage de tête.
Half maroon morocco over marbled paper boards by P. Goy & C. Vilaine, spine in six compartments, maroon paper pastedowns and endpapers, covers preserved, top edge gilt.
A fine, well-margined copy in a lovely binding.
€1,500
Jorge SEMPRÚN
L'évanouissement[The Fainting Fit]
Gallimard|Paris 1967|12.50 x 20 cm|broché
First edition, one of the 35 copies numbered on "pur-fil" paper, the only large paper copies .
Nice copy.
€600
François René de CHATEAUBRIAND
Lettre à un pair de France (sur la situation politique)
Le Normant père|Paris 1824|14.50 x 22 cm|broché sous chemise et étui
The first edition, which appeared in plain covers
This copy has a chemise of half blue morocco over blue marbled paper boards and slipcase of blue marbled paper edged with blue morocco
Foxing, an angular lack to the first blank endpaper, traces of folds to plain covers
Very rare autograph inscription from François-René de Chateaubriand: “De la part de l'auteur [from the author]” to head of half-title
A precious, unsophisticated copy enriched with an autograph inscription from the author.
€6,800
Henri BÉRAUD
Les raisons d'un silence
Inter-France|Paris 1944|15.50 x 21.50 cm|broché
First edition, one of rares copies d'auteur on Hollande dont il n'est fait nulle mention, the only large paper copies.
Small and slight foxings on covers and some edges.
Rare copy with edges preserved.
Provenance : Henri Béraud's library.
€680
André MALRAUX
Antimémoires[Anti-Memoirs]
Gallimard|Paris 1967|14.50 x 20.50 cm|broché
First edition, one of 80 numbered copies on Hollande paper, the deluxe issue.
Fine copy.
€2,800
Jorge SEMPRÚN
L'évanouissement[The Fainting Fit]
Gallimard|Paris 1967|12 x 19 cm|broché
Edition, review copy.
Complete copy of his please insert.

Autograph dedication of the author autograph signed by Jorge Semprun to Jean Freustié.
€250
NADAR [Félix TOURNACHON]
Les dicts & faicts du chier cyre Gambette le Hutin en sa court [The Sayings & Deeds of the dear sire Gambette the Hutin in his court]
chés l'auctheur|Paris s. d. [1882]|14 x 19 cm|relié
first edition of this Rabelaisian style pamphlet directed against Gambetta, one of 300 numbered copies on paper of the Netherlands.
Binding to open bradel ivory wove, smooth back, red mesh frame compositions painted boards and boards to centers: a bookplate and a monogram on the first front cover and Léon Gambetta dabbling in a bathtub on the second, fragile parchment wrappers preserved and bound in, contemporary binding signed Dodé.
Nadar handwritten signature under the justification of the draw.
Book adorned the author of illustrations.
Provenance: Library of Frederick Lachèvre, bibliographer, specialist in French poetry, with its large bookplate...
€400
NADAR [Félix TOURNACHON]
La Passion illustrée sinon illustre de N.-S. Gambetta [The Illustrated, if not Illustrious, Passion of N.-S. Gambetta]
chés l'auctheur|Paris s. d. [1882]|14 x 19 cm|relié
first edition of this Rabelaisian style pamphlet directed against Gambetta, one of 300 numbered copies on Holland paper.
Binding to open bradel ivory wove, smooth back, red mesh coaching boards and boards painted in watercolor compositions centers: a bookplate and a monogram on the first front cover and Léon Gambetta embodying Christ crucified, fragile parchment wrappers preserved and bound in, contemporary binding signed Dodé.
Nadar handwritten signature under the justification of the draw.
In addition, this copy is enriched with a handwritten correction Nadar pencil in The Passion, p. 45, to orveitan [sic].
Book adorned the author of illustrations.
€400
Jean-Paul SARTRE
L'imaginaire[The Imaginary]
Gallimard|Paris 1940|14.50 x 23 cm|broché
First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only large paper copies.
A very good copy.
€2,800
Paul NIZAN (inscribed to Pierre UNIK)
Antoine Bloyé
Grasset|Paris 1933|12 x 19 cm|broché
First edition, one of 300 numbered copies on alfa paper an advance (service de presse) copy.
Handsome autograph inscription from Paul Nizan to (Pierre) Unik : "Au camarade Unik en échange des bonnes feuilles qu'il a probablement vendues sur les quais. Nizan."
Two small traces of sunning, not serious, to head and foot of spine.
€700
Curzio MALAPARTE
Monsieur Caméléon[Mr. Chameleon]
La Table Ronde|Paris 1948|12 x 19 cm|broché
First edition of the French translation, one of 75 numbered copies on pur fil, tirage de tête.
With original illustrations by Orfeo Tamburi.
A good copy.
€500
Léon BLUM
Au Théâtre (Deuxième série)[At the Theatre (Second Series)]
Paul Ollendorff|Paris 1909|11.50 x 18 cm|relié
First edition on ordinary paper, with only 11 deluxe copies printed.
Half brown morocco binding, spine with five raised bands, dated at foot, marbled paper boards, endpapers and pastedowns lined with combed paper, original wrappers preserved, top edge gilt, binding signed by P. Goy & C. Vilaine.
Precious signed autograph inscription from Léon Blum to Paul Reboux.
Fine copy perfectly executed.
€700
Charles PÉGUY
Oeuvres choisies 1900-1910
Grasset|Paris 1911|11.50 x 19 cm|relié
First edition on ordinary paper
Contemporary vellum-effect paper-backed Bradel binding over marbled paper boards, light brown shagreen title piece (rubbed), covers preserved

Handsome autograph inscription signed and dated by Charles Péguy to the Academician Gabriel Hanotaux: "..
Samedi 29 Avril 1911 / Exemplaire pour monsieur Gabriel Hanotaux de l'Académie Française / en hommage très respectueux
/ Charles Péguy [Saturday 29 April 1911 | A copy for Monsieur Gabriel Hanotaux of the Académie Française | with very best wishes
| Charles Péguy]." A little spotting (not serious) to endpapers.
€3,000
Irène NÉMIROVSKY
L'affaire Courilof[The Courilof Affair]
Grasset|Paris 1933|12 x 19 cm|broché
First edition, one of numbered copies on alfa.

A good copy.
Autograph inscription from Irène Némirovsky to monsieur Maier.

€800
Simone de BEAUVOIR, Gisèle HALIMI
Djamila Boupacha
Gallimard|Paris 1962|14.50 x 21 cm|broché
First edition, one of 125 numbered copies on pure thread, the only deluxe paper copies.
Illustrations.
A fine copy.
€1,500
Jules VALLÈS
Le bachelier
Charpentier|Paris 1881|12 x 19 cm|relié
First edition on ordinary paper, stated the second.
Contemporary half khaki cloth Bradel binding over marbled paper boards by Paul Vié, initials and date gilt to bottom of spine, covers preserved.
Precious autograph inscription from the author to the noted art critic Philippe Burty.
Occasional spotting, principally affecting margins.
€2,000
Jean-Paul SARTRE, David ROUSSET
Entretiens sur la politique
Gallimard|Paris 1949|12 x 19 cm|broché
First edition, one of 60 numbered copies on pur fil, the only large paper copies.
A good copy.
€350
Albert CAMUS
Lettres à un ami allemand[Letters to a German Friend]
Gallimard|Paris 1945|12 x 19 cm|broché
First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on "pur-fil" paper, most limited issue.

The book Camus dedicated to his friend René Leynaud.

Rare and handsome copy.
€8,000
François MITTERRAND
Mémoires interrompus[Unfinished Memoirs]
Odile Jacob|Paris 1996|15.50 x 23.50 cm|broché
First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on Lana chiffon wove, the only deluxe paper copies.
A very handsome copy.
€1,200
Jorge SEMPRÚN
Le mort qu'il faut[The Necessary Dead Man]
Gallimard|Paris 2001|14.50 x 21.50 cm|broché
First edition of the French translation, one of 40 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe copies.
A very handsome copy.
€500
Jean GENET
Les Nègres[The Blacks: A Clown Show]
Marc Barbezat|Décines [Décines-Charpieu] 1958|15 x 19.50 cm|relié sous étui
First edition, one of 32 numbered copies on nacré Japon, the tirage de tête.
Bound in full embossed khaki leather, smooth spine without lettering, the title of the work and the author's name in gilt on the front cover reproducing the calligraphy of the original wrapper, publisher’s name and place in gilt on the back cover likewise reproducing the calligraphy of the rear wrapper, endpapers and pastedowns of wood-grain effect almond paper, wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt; slipcase covered with wood-grain effect almond paper, echoing the binding and bearing on the covers the same features as the binding.
A few small spots of foxing on the spine and upper edge, slightly...
€4,500
Pierre DRIEU LA ROCHELLE
Mesure de la France[Measure of France]
Grasset|Paris 1922|12 x 19 cm|broché
First edition, one of 100 numbered copies on pur fil, the deluxe issue after 30 on "papier vert lumière."
Spine and boards with marginal sunning, as often, otherwise a clean and well-preserved copy.
Inscribed by Pierre Drieu la Rochelle to the Dadaist and Surrealist writer Paul Chadourne, whom he met through his wife Colette Jéramec.
€600
André MALRAUX
L'espoir
Gallimard|Paris 1937|14.50 x 21 cm|broché
First edition, one of 230 numbered copies on Alfa paper. Handwritten inscription signed by the author. A tiny marginal tear on the front cover, ex-libris pasted on the first blank endpaper.
€2,000
Léon BLOY
L'âme de Napoléon[The Soul of Napoleon]
Mercure de France|Paris 1912|12 x 19 cm|broché
First edition, a first issue copy numbered in the press; there were only 3 large paper copies on Japan and 27 on Hollande paper.
Autograph inscription signed by Léon Bloy to a close friend "...ce livre d'un vieux pauvre pour agrandir les coeurs […this book from a poor old man to make hearts a little bigger]."
One small insignificant stain to head of upper cover, a very good copy.
€1,200
Félicité de LAMENNAIS
Du projet de loi sur les Congrégations Religieuses de Femmes, présenté à la Chambre des Pairs par Mgr. l'évêque d'Hermopolis, le 4 janvier 1825.
Imp. de Lachevardière • Au bureau du Mémorial catholique|à Paris 1825|13 x 21 cm|broché
First edition.
Contemporary waiting pamphlet, under blue paper. Memoir written by Abbé Lamennais (1782-1854) on the usefulness of female religious congregations, and notably their role with the sick and disinherited.
Le Mémorial catholique was a periodical that appeared on the 15th of each month.
€200