Rarest Books (Untraceables)

First edition, one of 13 numbered copies on vélin pur fil Lafuma-Navarre paper, the only large paper copies.
A very good, unsophisticated copy. 

First edition printed in 51 copies numbered and initialled by the author on Whatman.
Playful and striking signed presentation inscription from Jean Ajalbert to Henry Fèvre: "... ex-écrevisse de rempart, ces vers de l'auteur des bastions..."
Illustrated with an original lithograph by Paul Signac as frontispiece.
Minor spots on the lower cover, a rare and handsome copy.

Copy in original wrappers without cream interim covers. Manuscript annotation on first endpaper.
Some marginal tears to endpapers which serve as covers.
Presumed author: Henri de Goyon de la Plombanie. In the journal des savans of 1752, article titled: Mémoire sur la manière d'élever les vers à soye.
The first part is a series of advice for successful silkworm breeding; the second consists of observations on the management of silkworms; the last relates a method for harvesting silkworm eggs. Following, a detailed table of the work's contents.
Rare.

First edition of the german translation by Paul Celan, printed on vergé.

Slight foxings, not serious, on one cover of the slipcase.
A good copy.
Autograph inscription, signed and dated, by Paul Celan to the surrealiust painter Edgar Jené and his wife : "Für Erica und Edgar Jené herzlich, Paul Celan. Paris, am 30. Oktober 1960".

First edition published anonymously in Lyon and not in Amsterdam as stated on the title page. The second edition published on the same date by the same publisher has different pagination and a smaller format (12mo); it should not be confused with the true first edition (64 pp. for ours versus 96 pp. for the other).

Binding in full vellum. Endpapers replaced.

This is a pamphlet in which the author attacks and ridicules the principal physicians of the period, and expounds the main features of his materialist doctrine. The book was condemned to be torn and burned by order of Parliament on July 9, 1746. Too often forgotten is that La Mettrie was himself a...

New post-incunabula edition in Petit Jehan. Gothic print in two columns to 45 lines. Thumbnail of the printer on the title page. The first edition was published in 1498. Jehan Petit reprinted several times in sermons 1506-1522 (Brunet). Many white initials on black (full of stars or others).
Colophon transcribed: "Opera Johannis Barbier impensis vero honesti viri Johannis Small Bibliopole parisiensis impressorum. Anno. M.CCCCC. VIII quarto nonas maii. »
Full burgundy morocco binding late ^nineteenth or early ^{twentieth century.} Back with nerves decorated with jewels box section 5. Golden tail date basis. Cold coaching nets on the dishes. Gilt edges. Wetting...

First edition of 30 copies printed on Japon paper of this offprint of L'Artiste for November 1890.
Contemporary Bradel binding of beige paper boards, ex-libris to pastedown.
Autograph inscription signed from Paul Verlaine to Edmond Bonnaffé on the justification of printing at end: “Exemplaire de Monsieur E. Bonnaffé. P. Verlaine [Monsieur E. Bonnaffé's copy. P. Verlaine]”. Edmond Bonnaffé (1825-1903) was a wealthy collector and noted historian of art, very close to the artistic movements of the age.
These pages by Verlaine are a critical review of the book by Roger Marx of the same name (Paris, 1890). In it, the poet discusses the great names in Art...

New edition.
Half cherry red morocco with corners, spine with five raised bands, gilt date at foot, slight scuffing to spine without gravity, some minor surface wear to the marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt, binding signed by Canape-Belz.
Some light foxing without gravity.
Rare.
 

First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on vélin de cuve paper reserved for the “XX” bibliophile group, the tirage de tête.
A good copy complete with its double covers by Albin Michel and the “XX” bibliophile group.
Joints of chemise rubbed, modern slipcase, tiny insignificant worming to endpapers.

Signed by the author on justification page.

Second edition partly in first edition, rare. The original was published in Paris in 1723, the author being unsatisfied with his work proposed this second edition revised and expanded with a second part, Suplémant au projet de taille tarifée, in which he responds to the objections of his detractors.

Contemporary full speckled brown sheep binding. Spine with five raised bands richly decorated with gilt compartments and fleurons, blonde morocco title label. Gilt rolls on the leading edges and headcaps. All edges speckled red. Head slightly worn, first band very slightly visible at the joint, a small amount of bookworm damage affecting the last compartment as well as the tail...

First edition printed in 250 copies.
Fine autograph inscription signed by Pierre de Crisenoy on a full page in red ink in the manner of Barbey d'Aurevilly to Monsieur H. Barthélémy: "... au réalisateur de tant de beaux livres et en remerciement de la magnifique édition des "Membra", ce humble essai de mes vingt ans, en attendant mieux. / 18 Septembre 1944." ["... to the creator of so many beautiful books and in gratitude for the magnificent edition of "Membra", this humble attempt from my twenties, awaiting better. / 18 September 1944."]
Worming to boards, handsome interior condition.
Rare.

First edition in French, printed on vergé paper.

Publisher's Arabesque yellow paper binding by A. Lenègre, spine with gilt, black, and turquoise Arabic decorative motifs (head- and tail-pieces slightly rubbed), upper cover richly ornamented with Arabic decorative motifs in gilt, black and turquoise with a frame of gilt and black fillets, turquoise paper pastedowns and endpapers (corners slightly bumped), all edges gilt, a few small insignificant spots to lower cover.
Text by Alfred Edmund Brehm & Johannes Dumichen.
The work is illustrated with 24 watercolors after nature by Charles Werner.
A few small spots, mostly affecting endpapers.
Rare.

First edition, an advance (service de presse) copy.
Handsome, fine autograph inscription from Maurice Blanchot to Gaston Gallimard on ffep: "On ne s'arrête plus aux tables des heureux, puisqu'on est mort. (Charles Cros) / A Gaston Gallimard, ce livre destiné à écarter tout lecteur [One doesn’t stop any more at the table of the joyous, for one is dead. (Charles Cros) / To Gaston Gallimard, this book destined to drive away every reader]."
Two repaired tears to head of spine (slightly sunned), one tiny scratch to head of upper cover, paper yellowed at edges of some pages as usual, ffep repaired with small lack at foot. 

First edition, one of 90 numbered copies on Hollande paper, the tirage de tête.
Elegant half red morocco binding over marbled paper boards by P. Goy & C. Vilaine, spine in six compartments, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.
A very good, well-margined copy in a handsome binding. 

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.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Holland paper, this copy bearing No. 1, the only deluxe copies.

Half dark green morocco binding with corners, spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt stippling and ornamented with double gilt compartments richly embellished with gilt typographical motifs, gilt date at foot, frame of gilt fillets on marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, top edge gilt retaining its deckled edges, contemporary binding signed by Lancelin.

Handsome full-margined copy in fine condition.
Provenance: from the library of Paul Ollendorff.