Seven Deadly Sins

Original autograph manuscript of a short story by Boris Vian, written in 1945 and published posthumously in the collection Le Loup-Garou in 1970.
Highly dense manuscript of 17 pages on 9 sheets, written in black ink with deletions and corrections, on perforated graph paper, dated “25.10.45” at the end of the text. One of the very rare manuscripts dated by the author.

Exceptional manuscript of Boris Vian’s first short story, written at the age of 25, just a few months after the Liberation.

“Yes I have sarcasm in my words, yes I do not know how to flatter and bend my back, how to beg in official salons […] I am nothing but a braying schemer, but if I had submitted - yes I would be comfortable."

Long autograph letter dated August 1896 and signed by Paul Gauguin to painter Daniel de Monfreid. Four pages in black ink on two lined sheets.
Small tears to margins not affecting the text, traces of folds inherent to sending.
In the midst of his descent into hell, abandoned in his Tahitian artificial paradise, Gauguin feels cursed : “Definitely, I was born under a bad...

Painted handscroll, or makimono, comprising twelve paintings on silk with a transparent ground, mounted end to end to form a long continuous strip measuring 840 cm - that is, twelve panels of 70 x 14 cm - laid down on paper and edged with gold along its slips. When fully unrolled, the supporting paper strip measures 869 cm. Scroll mounted on a wooden rod and preserved in its original green silk wrapper. Some foxing and localised staining affect certain panels, without impairing the harmony of the whole, which remains in satisfactory condition.

Unsigned, this scroll is stylistically related to the circle of Miyagawa Shuntei (1873-1914), a painter and illustrator trained...

Autograph letter dated and signed by André Frénaud addressed to art critic Georges Raillard (12 lines in blue ballpoint pen) regarding the publication of his latest work L'étape dans la clairière.
Fold marks inherent to the letter's envelope placement, envelope included.
André Frénaud expresses his discontent at being so poorly perceived in the literary world and, in an effort to be better regarded, he appeals to Georges Raillard regarding his latest work L'étape dans la clairière: "... je vous l'adresse comme une approche par l'auteur, très subjective donc et unilatérale, pas du tout une interprétation officielle et complète !!! mais...

2 frontispieces and 12 numbered engravings bound at rear of the second volume.
Small lack of paper to upper right corner and marginal restoration to the first volume's title page. Minor foxing, a light halo to the right margin of each of the 12 engravings at rear of the second volume.
Red half morocco binding, smooth spines with arabesques motifs in gilt, marbled paper boards, snags and rubbing to boards and edges, corners bent.
The book was first published as The Universal Cook in London in 1792; its fourth edition was translated into French...

The second édition originale on ordinary paper. Fifteen hundred copies had been printed, plus 4 on chine paper, a few copies on hollande and on vélin.
Complete with the portrait of the author by Félix Bracquemond (often missing), here in first state on papier chine pasted on the page (before letters, i.e. “L'Artiste” on top of the portrait).
Orange half cloth Bradel binding, smooth spine double ruled in gilt, gilt date at foot, slightly scratched brown shagreen title-label, marbled paper boards, slightly later 19th-century binding.

Mistakenly considered as “partly original”, this edition was entirely...

First edition. 262 engravings in the text representing the main assembled pieces of cuisine, pastry and ice creams.

Publisher's binding in full red grained cloth. Smooth spine decorated with a large black fleuron. Gilt title. Frame ornaments on the boards and a central vignette. Small lack of cloth to the upper joint at foot. Some soiling and traces of rubbing, but good copy with some scattered foxing.
One of the most important treatises on pastry-making of the 19th century. Sought after for its impressive plates. Garlin, famous chef from Tonnerre was first his father's pupil before training himself in embassies and various establishments. Le pâtissier moderne...

First edition illustrated with 19 original lithographs by Alexandre Lunois, one of 140 numbered copies on Japan paper, the only printing with 60 other Japan copies containing the separate suite of illustrations.
Half salmon morocco binding with corners, smooth spine decorated with gilt cartouches, gilt double fillets framing the marbled paper boards, pebbled paper endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, bookplate pasted to one pastedown, top edge gilt, elegant contemporary binding.
Handsome copy in perfect condition.

First edition, one of 480 numbered copies on laid paper, only grands papiers (deluxe) copies besides 20 Arches and 100 service de presse (advance) copies on laid paper.
Our copy is complete with the rare vignette etching drawn and engraved by Hans Bellmer printed 'en sanguine' present in only around 200 copies.
Preface by Jean Paulhan.
Spine very lightly faded.
A beautiful copy of this masterpiece of erotic literature.

First edition, one of the first-issue copies press-numbered, from a total limitation of just 23 deluxe copies on Holland paper.
Illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of Guillaume Apollinaire by Pablo Picasso.
Spine sunned with discreet restorations.

Our copy is preserved in a red half morocco chemise, spine with five raised bands, date lettered at the foot, paper-covered boards, matching paper slipcase edged in red morocco, the whole signed by Boichot.

Rare signed autograph inscription by Guillaume Apollinaire: « à Henri Ghéon dont j'aime la poésie, Guillaume Apollinaire ».
Our copy further contains five manuscript corrections in ink by...