Signed books and manuscripts by Raymond Queneau

First edition, one of the review copies.

Some light foxing to the spine and along the edges of the covers, a pleasing copy given the poor quality of the paper.

Inscribed by Raymond Queneau to Dominique Aury.

 

First edition on ordinary paper.
Handsome autograph inscription from Raymond Queneau to Jean Dubuffet and his wife Lili : "... où va-t-il traîner ses bottes?"
Spine slightly folded, a good copy.

First edition, an advance (service de presse) copy.
Handsome autograph inscription from Raymond Queneau to Jean Dubuffet and to his wife Lili.
A good copy.

First edition in wrappers with a pasted-on resale label at the colophon of the friends of "Messages", one of 100 numbered copies, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.
A very handsome copy.
Autograph presentation inscription signed by Raymond Queneau to Jean Claval.

First edition, one of the review copies.
A pleasing copy.
With contributions by Louis Calaferte, René Fallet, Yves Gibeau, Hervé Bazin,...
Precious signed autograph inscription by Raymond Queneau: "A Jean Giono en cordial hommage. Queneau."

Autograph letter dated and signed by Raymond Queneau, 17 lines in black ink, addressed to Monsieur Lauwaert.
Raymond Queneau and his wife Janine are sorry they cannot spend a few days with their friends: " Ma femme doit entrer en clinique ces jours-ci pour un traitement de radiothérapie, souffrant d'une sciatique aiguë" ["My wife must enter the clinic these days for radiotherapy treatment, suffering from acute sciatica"], hoping this is only a postponement: "... nous espérons bien venir en septembre et pouvoir récupérer longuement une meilleure santé, car la meilleure non plus n'a pas été brillante cet hiver." ["... we very much hope to come in September and be able to recover better health for a long time, as mine hasn't been brilliant this winter either."]
A touching letter from Raymond Queneau about his wife's fragile health, she being destined to pass away a few months later, on July 18, 1972.

File of jury sheets completed by Raymond Queneau for the 1952 Cannes Film Festival, comprising 90 leaves almost all filled in by his hand. Only one film is unfortunately missing, Dans la tempête (Arashi no naka no hara) by Kiyoshi Saeki; otherwise the set is complete with reviews of all 35 feature films and 50 short films in the official competition that year. Included as well are 4 pages in pencil and one page in ink of autograph notes recording the results of every vote for all prizes awarded.
An entertaining collection of Raymond Queneau’s reviews, as a member of the Cannes jury. These sheets capture the writer’s sharp or enthusiastic impressions as he viewed the films.
The year 1952 marked the fifth edition of the young Cannes Film Festival, presided over by Maurice Genevoix. The Grand Prize was awarded to two films, Deux sous d'espoir (Due soldi di speranza) by Renato Castellani and Othello by Orson Welles. On the sheet for the latter, Queneau’s opinion is unequivocal: "Number one". As for Castellani’s film, the critic is ecstatic: "enfin ! du cinéma - intelligent, vivant, humain. Deux ou trois passages ont de la grandeur. Et ce n'est pas prétentieux." He judged its leading actress, Maria Fiore, "épatante". On the French side, Fanfan la Tulipe was in competition, and Queneau was harsh: "ça aurait pu être un film agréable, mais le dialogue gâche tout." Gina Lollobrigida was "quelconque" and Gérard Philippe "pas bon, cette fois-ci". The film nevertheless received the prize for Best Director. He found Marlon Brando, who would be awarded Best Actor, "T.B." in Viva Zapata by Elia Kazan. One of his undisputed favorites was Le Medium by Gian-Carlo Menotti, which he described as "EPATANT/ un film ! un opéra ! saisissant ! poignant !" and which won the Prize for Best Lyric Film.

Queneau also noted, over four pages, the voting results of the jury in each category.
They reveal that the two winning films, Deux sous d'espoir (Due soldi di speranza) by Renato Castellani and Othello by Orson Welles, each received 18 votes after no fewer than six ballots. André Cayatte was awarded a special prize for Nous sommes tous des assassins in the out-of-competition category, by a margin of just one vote. Queneau’s tallies also show the overwhelming support of the jury for Hollywood stars Lee Grant and Marlon Brando, who respectively won the acting awards for Detective Story and Viva Zapata!

A valuable record of the behind-the-scenes workings of one of the very first Cannes Film Festivals, in the hand of one of the greatest French writers of the twentieth century.

First edition, a Service de Presse (advance) copy.
Foxing on covers, a light dampstain on spine.
Printed bookplate representing the lion of Saint Mark at head of an endpaper.
Touching and precious signed autograph inscription from Raymond Queneau: "A Serge Reggiani comédien, chanteur et poète. Queneau."

First edition of which only 13 deluxe copies were printed on pur fil paper, a Service de Presse (advance) copy.
Spine sunned with two small tears at foot, a crease mark at foot of second cover, complete with publisher's slip.
Very precious autograph inscription signed by Raymond Queneau on the half-title page to his great friend Boris Vian and his wife Michèle: "A Michèle à Boris Vian, en toute joyeuseté Queneau." ["To Michèle to Boris Vian, in all joyfulness Queneau."]

First edition on ordinary paper.
Half havana morocco binding, smooth spine, decorative paper boards, brown paper doublure to endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, signed binding by Goy & Vilaine.
Contributions by Louis Calaferte, René Fallet, Yves Gibeau...
Very precious autograph inscription signed by Raymond Queneau to his great friend Boris Vian: "A Ursula, à Boris leur ami. Queneau." ["To Ursula, to Boris their friend. Queneau."]

First edition, a service de presse (advance) copy.
Spine and boards soiled with small tears or corner lacks.
Rare signed autograph inscription from Raymond Queneau to Jacques-Henry Jouheaud on this text.

first edition on current paper.
Warning for the Swiss reader by Jean Paulhan.
A slight marginal scratch without gravity on the first board, otherwise pleasant copy.
Precious and fun autograph signed by the author to Raymond Queneau "... very cordially / between academics / ..."

First edition, one of the review copies service.
Small foxing in the margins of the boards and on the back, a clear wetness at the head of the second board.
Precious autograph dedication signed by Raymond Queneau to his close friend and biographer Jean Queval, like him, figure and creator, Oulipo.
.

First edition, one of the review copies service.
Insolated back, clear marginal wetness on the boards.
Precious autograph dedication signed by Raymond Queneau to his close friend and biographer Jean Queval, like him, figure and creator, Oulipo.
.

First edition, one of the publisher’s press copies.

Some light spotting to the boards and spine.

Exceptional signed autograph inscription from Raymond Queneau to his very close friend and biographer Jean Queval, himself a leading figure and co-founder of Oulipo.

This dedication is followed by a second one — in English and heavily corrected — by Jean Queval: "To the [?], in friendship. NB. I smoke no more. This is a rather nice book, one on which I worked. There's also Beowulf. There is a university in Limoges. Untest uncheck ! Nan is none too well."

First edition, an advance (service de presse) copy.
Spine slightly sunned, copy retaining its advertising slip.
Autograph inscription signed by Raymond Queneau to a friend named Suzanne and her husband Jean Rossignol.

First edition of which there were no grand papier (deluxe) copies, false statement of third edition.
Spine slightly sunned.
Autograph inscription dated Octobre 1946 and signed by Raymond Queneau to a friend named Suzanne : "... de tout mon coeur (pas de pierre, elle le sait bien.)"

First edition for which it was not drawn from great papers, mention of third edition.
Back slightly insolated with a clear wetting in the middle, two small gaps on the second board.
Autograph dedication dated October 1946 and signed by Raymond Queneau to a friend named Suzanne: "Dear Suzanne, I apologize, it's a very bad book, it's clumsy and awkward as its author, but have more indulgence. for the latter."

First edition, an advance (service de presse) copy.
Spine repaired, small filled-in lacks in the margins of the first leaves, paper yellowed.
Handsome autograph inscription signed by Raymond Queneau to Simone de Beauvoir.

First edition, one of the review copies service.
Pleasant full copy of his prayer to insert.
Autograph dedication signed by Raymond Queneau to Luc Estang.

First edition, one of the review copies service.
Nice copy.
Autograph dedication signed by Raymond Queneau to Jean-Marc Lambert.

First edition, review copy.
Signed autograph of the author Michel Mohrt.
Back slightly insolated without gravity, otherwise nice copy.

First edition, review copy.
Signed autograph of Raymond Queneau in jean dutourd: "... hello and fraternity ..."
Two small lacks in back foot slightly insolated, a foot laceration of the first flat, paper yellowed and brittle heads of first leaves.

First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on pur fil, tirage de tête after 10 copies on yellow paper reserved for the author.
Handsome autograph inscription signed by Raymond Queneau to Michel Simon.
A good copy.

First edition, an advance (service de presse) copy.
Handsome autograph inscription from Raymond Queneau to Marguerite Duras.
A good copy.

First edition on ordinary paper.
Affectionate autograph inscription from Raymond Queneau.
Contributions from L. Calaferte, R. Fallet, Y. Gibeau, among others.