Rarest Books (Untraceables)

First edition on ordinary paper, with the printed dedication to Marshal Pétain.

Discreet restorations to the spine.

Our copy is housed in a chemise and slipcase of navy blue half morocco, smooth spine lettered with author, title, and date in palladium, decorated paper boards, grey paper pastedowns, slipcase trimmed with matching navy morocco and decorated paper sides; binding signed by Boichot.

An exceptional copy inscribed by General de Gaulle to...

First edition clandestinely printed in 175 copies on laid paper, each individually numbered.
 
Bound in full mint green morocco, spine with five raised bands framed by black fillets, subtle restoration to spine colour, date gilt at foot, endpapers and pastedowns of combed paper, gilt fillet border on pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, all edges gilt, chemise edged in mint green morocco, covers of cat's eye paper, white felt interior, an elegant binding signed by Alix.
 
A very rare and handsome copy bound by one of the most distinguished binders of the second half of the twentieth century.

 

First edition of the catalogue of the 33 works by Paul Cézanne exhibited at the Galerie Bernheim Jeune & Cie from Wednesday 1st to Saturday 18th December 1920.

Upper cover lightly sunned along the edges, printed stamp and shelf number to upper left corner of the inside front cover; otherwise a rare and attractive copy.

Some pencil annotations in the margins of a few of the listed works.

Catalogue illustrated with 10 reproductions of the artist’s works.

Introductory text by Octave Mirbeau.

New edition, partly original as revised, of this study first published in 1858 in the Revue des Deux Mondes (Sabin 40127. Ryckebusch 5041).

Minor chips to the corners of the covers, some occasional foxing.

A member of one of the oldest families in Martinique, Romuald Le Pelletier de Saint-Rémy (1809–1882) served as president of the Central Agency of Colonial Banks; he wrote extensively on West Indian issues and colonial ventures in South America.

Inscribed by the author Romuald Le Pelletier de Saint-Rémy on the front free endpaper.

Rare first edition illustrated with an original frontispiece etching by Raoul Cordier, depicting an authentic portrait of Nasser-ed-Din.

Minor losses and tears to the soiled cover margins, with a larger marginal loss to the rear cover; clean and attractive internal condition.

The only edition of this biography written on the occasion of Nasser-ed-Din Shah Qajar's (1831–1896) second European tour. He ruled Persia from 1848 until his death and was the first Persian monarch to visit the West. The reforms he introduced to the country ultimately led to his assassination by a fanatic.

Inscribed and signed by Edmond Dutemple to Monsieur Brunet, with date.

First collected edition of the French translation, one of 50 numbered copies on vélin alfa, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

A handsome copy, with only a few insignificant foxing spots to the edges.

Very rare first edition of this excellent grammar.

A few occasional spots, otherwise a pleasing copy.

Contemporary-style binding in half forest green morocco-grained shagreen, spine with five raised bands, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers, binding signed by Laurenchet.

The third part contains fables, tales, and poems in both Wolof and French.

Abbé David Boilat (Saint-Louis, Senegal, 1814 – Nantouillet, 1901), a missionary in Senegal, left behind a significant body of work: this grammar, the Esquisses sénégalaises, and several unpublished manuscripts.

First edition of the retrospective exhibition catalogue of 109 works by George Bottini, held at Galerie L. Dru from 15 April to 8 May 1926.

Minor foxing to the front cover, not affecting legibility.

Text by Adolphe Tabarant.

A rare and appealing copy.

Catalogue for the exhibition of 28 works by Edouard Vuillard held at Galerie Bernheim Jeune & Cie from Monday 13 to Saturday 25 February 1911.

Three light halos along the left margin of the upper cover, and a small tear along the right margin of the lower cover.

Illustrated catalogue featuring 3 reproductions of works by Edouard Vuillard.

Rare.

Exhibition catalogue of the 43 works by Kees Van Dongen shown at the Galerie Bernheim Jeune from Tuesday, March 1 to Wednesday, March 9, 1921.

Illustrated catalogue with 5 reproductions of Van Dongen's works.

Ink annotations on the verso of the front wrapper, the title page, and continuing on the final two pages of the catalogue, regarding a painting by the artist. Minor, usual rust marks around the staples.

Rare.

First edition, untrimmed with wide margins, very rare and highly sought-after (see Clouzot). Some occasional foxing.

Illustrated on the title pages of both volumes with two engraved vignettes by Porrêt. This copy contains the publisher’s notice leaf in the first volume and the author’s note leaf in the second volume.

Contemporary red half calf over marbled boards, calf corners, spines ruled in gilt with...

First edition of the catalogue listing 58 works by Henri Matisse exhibited at Galerie Bernheim Jeune & Cie from October 15 to November 6, 1920.

Upper cover slightly faded along the left margin, printed stamp to upper left corner of the verso of the front cover, otherwise a rare and attractive copy.

Illustrated catalogue featuring 19 reproductions of the artist's works.

Introductory text by Charles Vildrac.

First edition of the exhibition catalogue for 21 recent works by Pierre Bonnard, shown at the Galerie Bernheim from 19 May to 7 June 1913.

Catalogue illustrated with 10 reproductions of works by Pierre Bonnard.

Rare and handsome copy.

Catalogue for the exhibition of 29 works by Édouard Vuillard held at the Galerie Bernheim Jeune & Cie from Monday 15 to Saturday 27 April 1912.

Illustrated catalogue featuring 3 reproductions of works by Édouard Vuillard.

Rare and appealing copy.

First edition, with no deluxe copies printed; one of the review copies.

Small tears to the spine and along the left edge of the front cover.

Rare signed autograph tribute by Boris Vian on this text.

First edition, one of 15 copies on Japan paper, the deluxe issue.

Minor foxing to the edges of the covers, otherwise a desirable and uncommon copy with all edges uncut.

New edition and first printing of the su­perb illustrations by Pierre Bonnard, one of 20 numbered copies on japon, the only deluxe paper issue.
Half blue percaline bradel binding with corners, smooth spine adorned with a central gilt fleuron and double gilt fillet at the foot, chocolate brown shagreen ti­tle label with minor scuffing, french curl on Turkish patterned paper boards, cov­ers and spine preserved, contemporary binding signed Carayon. Spine slightly browned, corners slightly dulled.
Our copy is housed under a half moroc­co chemise with five raised bands, “ill. de P. Bonnard” stamped in gilt at foot of spine, boards of tiger patterned paper, and a slipcase bordered with...

Autograph letter signed by Jacques Mesrine, dated Wednesday 29 December 1976,  addressed to Jeanne Schneider, his love interest of the time. She smuggled out of prison the manuscript of his famous autobiography L'Instinct de mort. 66 lines in blue ink on two pages of a leaf. In the top left-hand corner of the letter, Jacques Mesrine has drawn a bouquet of flowers in multicoloured felt-tip pens. Usual horizontal fold, small tear to the fold in the right-hand margin.
Jacques Mesrine, who was in Fleury-Mérogis prison at the time, was delighted to receive so much proof of love and friendship in the many letters he received from his friends and family.
He, in...

First edition. Very scarce and sought-after, like all of his writings. This play is inspired by his tumultous life, namely the poisoning attempt he allegedly suffered from the hands of his lover Jeanne Sarrey.
With a very rare autograph letter signed by Xavier Forneret, one of the few surviving manuscripts of this bohemian Romantic rediscovered by Surrealists.
The scandalous genius attempts to have Mère et fille performed at the Théâtre de la Gaîté. Letter dated by the author May 27, 1854, addressed to playwright Charles Desolme. Two pages in black ink on a bifolium, small tear along the fold, no damage to the text.
Forneret, a fundamentally...

First edition, one of 120 numbered copies on Lafuma pure wove paper, the only large-paper issue.

Endpapers very slightly and marginally toned, two small tears at foot of spine.

A rare and much sought-after copy in original state.

First edition, "very rare and extremely sought-after" (Clouzot), one of 750 copies on laid paper, with title vignettes engraved by Henri Porret after Henry Monnier.

Skilful restoration of a tear at the foot of a page, with slight damage to a letter. A rare copy with no foxing.

Green half calf binding, smooth spines with arabesques stamped in gilt, black title labels and volume labels; marbled paper boards, spine boards and endpapers, speckled edges, later bindings in the Romantic style.

First edition, one of 20 numbered cop­ies on hollande, the only deluxe issue (grand papier) after 10 copies on japon.

Bound in gray half morocco in panels, smooth spine, gilt date at foot, abstract decorative paper boards, black onion­skin pastedowns and flyleaves, original wrappers preserved, pastedown book­plate, top deckled edge gilt, binding signed Boichot.
Small tears with small lacks of paper to the margin of an endpaper and on the front cover.
The work is dedicated to Paul Verlaine who wrote the preface "which was a way of advertising to gay readers" (Gra­ham Robb, Homosexual Love in the Nineteenth Century, p. 210).

Precious signed and inscribed...

First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on pure laid paper, the only large paper copies.

Autograph presentation inscription dated and signed by Charles de Gaulle: "Pour J. Emery, bien cordialement ! C. de Gaulle. 25.2.61."

A fine and rare large paper copy with autograph presentation inscription signed by Charles de Gaulle.

First edition, one of 75 numbered copies on surfine colored paper.
Work illustrated with 3 aquatints by Mimi Parent.
One scratch with three light stains on the first cover.
Handsome copy.
Precious and surrealist autograph inscription signed by José Pierre to Marie Cermínová Toyen: "A Toyen, les violons monégasques fabriqués secrètement dans les presbytères en partant de l'anémone de mer, José." (To Toyen, the Monégasque violins secretly manufactured in presbyteries starting from the sea anemone, José.)
Signatures of José Pierre and Mimi Parent below the justification page.

First edition of Anne Guérin's French translation, for which no deluxe copies were issued; one of the review copies.

A small, unobtrusive nick to the head of the spine.

Introduction by Daniel Guérin.

An attractive copy, complete with the publisher's printed notice.

First edition, one of the few copies printed on Japan paper.

A fine copy.

First edition, privately printed in a small number of copies as an offprint from issue No. 6 of the review Hermès, devoted to the theme of emptiness, of which Henri Michaux was the first editor-in-chief.

A few stains to the upper wrapper.

Signed autograph inscription by Henri Michaux to his friend, the painter and draughtsman Bernard Saby: "Quelques mots encore amicalement à Bernard Saby. Henri Michaux."

Inspired both by his investigations into serial music and by his experiments with mescaline and hashish, Bernard Saby's painting aroused keen interest among his contemporaries. In 1956, his friend Henri Michaux welcomed him into the pages of...

Very rare first edition, one of 150 copies signed at the colophon by Conrad Rooks. OCLC records only two copies at the American College of Greece and at Princeton University Library.

Spine and boards marginally sunned, two stains to the right margin of the rear board.

Presentation copy, inscribed, dated and signed "to Sueeva Viegand with appreciation for kind thoughts and friendship. Sincerely Conrad Rooks 5/7/1963 / Paris 26 rue Saint Beniot [Benoît] ’

Extremely rare first edition of Conrad...

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe-paper issue (cf. Claude Menguy).

Endpapers slightly and partially toned.

A rare and attractive copy.

Second edition, with a thousand-copy statement.

Spine warped and faded, small tears without consequence to the margins of the covers, a pale dampstain at the foot of the final leaves, occasional foxing.

Rare signed and dated autograph inscription from Joseph Zobel to Madame de Bruycker: "... ce premier reflet de ma province antillaise..."

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on ivory laid edition paper, the only deluxe-paper copies.

A rare and fine copy.

Signed autograph inscription from Eric Jourdan to a friend named Guy: "... ce livre qui vient de loin presque à des années lumières, mais que j'accepte tel qu'il est. En signe d'amitié de toujours. éric 19 février 1996."

Rare first edition for which no large-paper copies were printed, one of the press copies.
Spine and boards lightly sunned as usual, a few light dampstains to the spine.
Illustrated with 32 photographic plates.
Precious autograph inscription signed by Michel Leiris to Gabrielle Gras, a discreet yet prolific critic for the Revue Europe, close to Surrealist circles and to numerous writers and artists.

First edition, actually printed in Nantes by Malassis despite the Paris imprint on the title-page, as revealed by a manuscript note by Mangourit himself cited by Barbier.

An anonymously published pamphlet, with a typographical vignette on the title-page.

Copy preserved in its original stitched state and therefore without wrappers, with a pencilled manuscript note on the title-page identifying the author.

Our...

First edition in French, one of the ordinary paper copies.

A pleasant copy despite three small stains to the edges.

Signed presentation copy inscribed by Milan Kundera to Jacques Brenner, conveying his best wishes for 1990.

First collected edition, one of 30 copies on alfa paper, this copy unnumbered but duly identified as printed on alfa at the foot of the spine and in the limitation statement, the only deluxe-paper copies.
Albert Camus's foreword appears here for the first time.
A pleasant copy.

Edition published in the same year as the first edition, with edition statements in each volume.

Contemporary half brown shagreen bindings, spines with four raised bands ruled in black and decorated with double black compartments featuring gilt central tools, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, speckled edges; corners rubbed.

Occasional foxing, with minor nicks to the top edge of one volume.

A handsome copy, attractively bound at the time.

First edition, printed in 400 copies and dedicated in particular to the memory of the Armenians who were massacred because their industrious people stood in the way of German ambitions.

Spine and covers lightly and marginally sunned, small tears to the inside flaps of the wrappers, two small holes at the foot of the lower cover, unlettered spine.

Inscribed presentation copy, dated and signed by Antoine Poidebard to Vice Admiral Lejay, Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour.

First French edition, one of 75 numbered copies on Arches wove paper, the deluxe issue.

A rare and handsome copy.

This copy is complete with the original silkscreen by Victor Vasarely, numbered and signed in justification by the artist.

First edition, one of 90 numbered copies on pure wove paper, curiously the smallest deluxe paper issue prior to the 109 reimposed in-quarto tellière copies.
A handsome copy.

New edition, with a spurious seventh edition statement.

Contemporary half brown shagreen over marbled boards, spine with four raised bands, ruled in black and decorated with double black panels enclosing gilt central fleurons, marbled endpapers, sprinkled edges.

Minor wear to the edges, lower corners lightly bumped, a small loss to the upper right corner of the title page.

A handsome copy attractively preserved in its contemporary binding.

Edition issued in the year of the first edition, bearing the fanciful statement of "Fourth Edition."

Contemporary half brown shagreen over marbled boards, spine with four raised bands ruled in black and decorated with double black panel compartments featuring gilt floral tools, marbled endpapers, sprinkled edges, contemporary binding.

Three small nicks to the edges.

A handsome copy attractively bound in a contemporary binding.

First French edition, one of 16 copies printed on Imperial Japan paper, our copy unnumbered but correctly justified as "japon" beneath the limitation statement and at the foot of the spine, from the deluxe issue.

A rare and handsome copy.

Edition published in the same year as the first edition, with the spurious statement of "Eleventh Edition" on the title page.

Contemporary half brown shagreen over marbled boards, spine with four raised bands ruled in black and decorated with double black panels featuring central gilt floral tools, marbled endpapers, sprinkled edges.

A few minor spots of foxing.

A handsome copy in an attractive contemporary binding.

Later edition, stated eighth edition.

Contemporary half brown shagreen over marbled paper boards, spine with four raised bands ruled in black and decorated with black double-panel compartments featuring gilt central floral tools, marbled endpapers, speckled edges, contemporary binding.

A few minor spots of foxing.

A handsome copy attractively bound in its contemporary binding.

Edition from the same year as the first edition, of remarkable rarity, bearing a fictitious statement of fifteenth edition, yet featuring correct colophon (1872) at the foot of p. 312: "1124-72". 

Binding in brown half sheepskin, spine with four raised bands ruled in black and decorated with double black compartments bearing central gilt fleurons, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, speckled edges, contemporary binding.

A few minor foxing spots of no consequence.

A fine copy attractivelyhoused in a contemporary binding, published the same year as the first edition.

First edition, one of 15 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

A rare and handsome copy.

Edition limited to 100 numbered copies on laid paper.

Bradel binding in half vellum-style paper boards with corners, smooth spine very lightly toned, black date lettered at foot, blue paper-covered boards with a few small stains, endpapers partially foxed, pasted bookplate.

Original edition of Marcel Schwob's introduction and facsimile reproduction of the Stockholm manuscript.

First edition, one of 85 numbered copies printed on Arches wove paper, this being one of the 15 deluxe copies issued with an additional suite of the 7 original drypoints and 8 rejected drypoints on Auvergne paper, all individually numbered and signed in pencil by Brigitte Simon, from the deluxe issue.

The upper cover lightly and uniformly sunned.
Fine copy, complete with its original grey cloth chemise and slipcase.
Illustrated with 7 original drypoints by Brigitte Simon.
Claude Esteban and Brigitte Simon's handwritten signatures beneath the limitation statement.

Signed autograph inscription from Brigitte Simon to the...

Definitive edition with a foreword by the author, one of 12 numbered hors commerce copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

The first edition of 1935 was not issued on deluxe paper.

A rare and pleasing copy.

Signed autograph inscription from Jacques Debû-Bridel to Monsieur and Madame Claude Gallimard.