Inscribed Books

First edition, a Service de Presse (advance) copy.
A discreet restoration using a small adhesive piece on the verso of the first cover extending onto the first endpaper.

Autograph inscription signed by André Breton: "A Claude Aveline, hommage d'André Breton".
Nicknamed at 21 "the world's youngest publisher," Claude Aveline would publish from 1922 onwards, thanks to André Gide and Georges Duhamel, some fifty works. In 1934, he would engage in politics, alongside Henri Barbusse and Romain Rolland, in the anti-fascist movement then, from August 1940, in the Resistance first in Paris then in the free zone where he would miraculously escape arrest by the Gestapo in...

First edition, one of 12 numbered copies on hollande paper, the only large paper copies.

Full red shagreen binding, spine with three raised bands decorated with gilt fillets and gilt cartouche enriched with black typographic motifs, marbled paper endpapers and pastedowns, bookplate affixed to pastedown, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, other edges uncut.

Foxing to some uncut edges.

Autograph inscription signed by Georges Clemenceau to Monsieur Henry Leyret, political and judicial chronicler...

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, one of the 200 numbered alfa paper copies reserved for the press service.

Spine with a few rubbed areas along the joints.

Signed autograph inscription from Marcel Pagnol to the writer Raymond Magne.

First edition on ordinary paper.

Spine very lightly sunned, a trivial defect.

Signed autograph inscription from Marcel Pagnol to Mr. R. Bouchard on the printed dedication page.

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 edition.

Wrappers illustrated by Louis Icart.

Exceptional signed autograph inscription by Louis Icart: "à mon ami, au peintre Edouard Chimot \"Gouverneur de... Javea\" - ces scènes rapportées d'Espagne ! En hommage cordial. Louis Icart."

First edition, one of 56 hors commerce name copies on Saint-Amand, the only deluxe issue with 32 copies on hollande.
A fine copy.

Name copy printed for Kessel's friend Eddy Marnay signed and inscrbied by Joseph Kessel beneath the limitation statement and his name: "... ou le zombie son ami Jef."

Born Edmond Bacri, he was a French lyricist and singer who wrote approximately 4,000 songs, including Les Amants de Paris for Edith Piaf.

First American edition.

Publisher's original brown paper-covered boards, flat spine, spine ends and corners lightly rubbed, complete with its illustrated dust jacket showing a few minor closed tears.

Profusely illustrated throughout.

An exceptionally important presentation copy inscribed Paul Bocuse to Lionel Poilâne: "A monsieur Poilane avec toutes mes amitiés gourmandes. Paul Bocuse 1978." [with all my gourmand sympathies]

First edition, one of 300 numbered copies on alfa paper reserved for the press service.
A few spots of foxing, chiefly affecting the endpapers and edges, small tears to the boards at the edges, a small loss at the foot of the spine, which also shows slight sunning at the head.
Presentation inscription signed by Marguerite Yourcenar to Mr. Van Melle.
 

First edition, one of the press service copies.

Spine sunned and lightly soiled.

Exceptional and highly desirable signed autograph presentation inscription from Louis de Vilmorin to her lover, the French sport shooter, businessman and politician Jean de Beaumont: "A Jean de Beaumont T(endrement) F(idèlement) T(on) A(imée), (the calligraphic capital letters enclosing the remainder of each word) Louise". 20 June 1960. I am leaving for Switzerland today. I shall be staying in Geneva with Sacha de Manziarly. If by any chance you should happen to pass through... Afterwards you will find me with the André family from 23 July until 10 August...

First edition, one of 350 numbered copies on alfa paper reserved for the press.

Spine slightly cocked.

A touching and highly desirable signed autograph inscription from Louise de Vilmorin to her lover, the French sports shooter, businessman and politician Jean de Beaumont: "à mon Jean chéri que j'aime toujours davantage sa mendiante de baisers. Louise", enhanced with a drawing of a four-leaf clover enclosing the name Louise.

First edition.

Contemporary half brown shagreen bindings, spines with four raised bands framed by blind fillets, gilt floral tools at head and tail, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, bookplates mounted at the head of the pastedowns, sprinkled edges.

A few minor spots of foxing, with press cuttings loosely inserted and leaving offsetting to the front endpapers of the first volume.

Signed autograph presentation inscription by Jules Claye, the printer of this work, to Ferdinand Taillefer on the front of the first volume: "... souvenir typographique à mon ancien et excellent collaborateur..."

First edition on ordinary paper.

A crease to the lower right corner of the upper cover, a library shelf-mark to the upper left corner of the half-title page, which also bears, at its foot, a library stamp overprinted with the word "cancelled".

On the same half-title page, a signed autograph inscription by Alain: "A Monsieur Prulhières et vivent les lions ! Alain. Le 5 juillet 1935."

First edition, one of the press service copies.

Sun-faded spine, boards marginally faded and sunned, as is usually the case.

Precious signed autograph inscription by André Malraux: "A Pierre Mac Orlan, introuvable, en témoignage de gratitude et de vieille sympathie."
 

Published one month after the first edition.
A pleasing copy.
Signed autograph inscription from Jacques Borel to François Escoube in this work, which was awarded the Prix Goncourt in 1965.

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.

First edition, one of 35 numbered copies on pure wove paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

A handsome copy.

Inscribed and signed by Alain Jouffroy to Monsieur Marchaux: "... en plein vol jusqu'au prochain..."

First edition illustrated with a photographic portrait of Paul Valéry as frontispiece.

Contemporary forest green half morocco over marbled paper boards with corners, spine faded and with four raised bands, boards slightly faded at the margins, marbled and gilt paper-covered boards, moiré-effect endpapers and pastedowns, wrappers and spine preserved, bookplate mounted on a pastedown, signed binding by Lagadec.

Signed autograph inscription from Paul Valéry to Louis Barthou on the title page: "... ces propos subversifs, son confrère et ami..."

First edition, one of the press review copies.
Trimmed copy, joints soiled and restored, stain to the lower cover.
Humorous signed autograph inscription by Paul Morand: "Cher Caracalla, j'apprends que vous n'avez jamais reçu mon Fouquet ; en juin dernier je vous l'envoyais avec ma fidèle pensée. Que le diable patafiole le facteur ! Je vous renouvelle ici ma très amicale sympathie. Morand."

First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on alfa mousse paper, the only deluxe paper issue.
A pleasing copy.

Signed autograph inscription from Jean Freustié to Micheline Amar: "... this Marthe ou les amants tristes to which she will owe much..."

First edition, one of 175 numbered copies on alfa paper, being the only large-paper copies after 23 on pure laid and 155 on vellum.
A fine copy despite two small tears at the head and foot of the spine.

Autograph presentation inscription signed by Hervé Bazin to Robert Géry, accompanied by a small drawing of a viper with its forked tongue extended.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on velin alfa paper, the only large-paper copies.

Boards with light, marginal tanning; pleasant interior condition.

Autograph presentation inscription signed by François Nourissier to Maurice Marchaux.

First edition on standard paper.
Minor tears of no consequence to the margins of the boards, spine slightly sunned with minor wear.
Signed autograph inscription by Léo Ferré to Caro Mame.

 

Very rare first edition, with second edition statement on title page.

Bradel binding in half blue-grey percaline, smooth spine decorated with a central gilt fleuron, double gilt fillet at tail, title label lacking, cat's-eye paper boards, original wrappers preserved with angular losses and discolouration, corners slightly rubbed, period binding.

Foxing, front wrapper and first free endpaper clumsily restored, small tears repaired on the first three leaves.

Rare presentation copy inscribed by Louise Michel: "... à de méchants amis que l'on aime quand même et toujours. LMichel." [to...

First edition on ordinary paper for the second volume; statement of 1000th edition on the first volume.

Minor foxing to the top edges.

A handsome set, housed in a white paper covered chemise and slipcase.

Exceptional presentation copies signed by Marcel Pagnol to Maurice Druon on each volume: "à Maurice Druon, écrivain véritable, hommage du romancier amateur, son ami, MarcelPagnol. 1958" [to Maurice Druon, true writer, homage from an amateur novelist, his friend, Marcel Pagnol] and "Cher Maurice, puisque ça te plaît, voilà la suite. Mais rassure-toi, il n'y en a plus qu'un ! affectueusement, Marcel." [Dear Maurice, since you liked it...

First edition, one of the copies not issued on deluxe paper.

A handsome copy, illustrated throughout.

Autograph inscription signed by Jean-Pierre Mocky to film journalist Jean-Pierre Busca: "A JP Busca, et notre interview sur internet ? Amicalement, JPMocky."

First edition, one of the press copies.

A few spots of foxing to the centre of the spine.

Presentation inscription signed by Raymond Queneau to Marcel Mithois.

First edition, one of the press review copies.
Spine with a small waterstain at the foot.
Signed autograph inscription from Jorge Semprun: "A Mr Pierre Pain, a good bookseller like good bread, in memory of a signing day and of a shared memory far richer. With warm regards. JSemprun."

 

First French edition, one of the press review copies.

Spine and covers lightly and marginally sunned, as is often the case, with two small chips at the foot of the spine.

Inscribed and signed by Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz to Pierre de Massot.

First edition, one of the press service copies.

A faint waterstain affecting the centre of the final leaves.

Bradel binding in patterned paper-covered boards, smooth spine, black oasis morocco lettering-piece, wrappers and spine preserved.

Precious presentation inscription signed by Jean Genet to Claude Romain, who created the role of Maurice in this play: "à Claude Romain petit gamin et déjà grand comédien. Ton pote, Jean Genet."

High Surveillance was first performed in Paris at the Théâtre des Mathurins on 26 February 1949, directed by Jean Marchat, with Tony Taffin, Claude Romain, Robert Hossein and Jean-Marc Lambert in the cast.

Claude...

First edition, one of a limited issue for which no deluxe paper copies were produced.

Small stains to the lower left corner of the upper cover and to the top edge.

Presentation copy by Mohammed Khaïr-Eddine : "à M. Maurice Genevoix, écrivain et pêcheur comme moi, ces images d'un Maroc étrange, en hommage fraternel. Khaïr-Eddine."

First edition on ordinary paper.

Contemporary half burgundy sheep, smooth spine sunned and decorated with double gilt fillets, marbled paper boards, a few scratches to the lower board, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, a few small nicks to the edges, contemporary binding.

Scattered foxing.

Presentation inscription signed by Guy de Maupassant « à Monsieur [Amaury] Renoul », manager of the Librairie Nouvelle, established at 15 boulevard des Italiens. The bookshop's back room served as a literary salon frequented by many of the leading artistic and intellectual figures of the French capital.

First edition on ordinary paper.

A pleasing copy, complete with its illustrated dust jacket.

Important presentation copy inscribed by Romain Gary to the jeweller Alexandre Reza: "To Alexandre Reza, in memory of the precious stones of our youth. Romain Gary, 1 December 1970."

Loosely inserted in a folded sheet of tracing paper is an original colour drawing by the jeweller Alexandre Reza depicting a ring and captioned 'Jonquille" No. 33'

First edition of the French translation, one of the ordinary issue copies, as no deluxe paper copies were produced.

A very good copy.

Signed autograph inscription from Richard Wright to Pierre Descaves.

Edition published in the same year as the first edition, stated 43rd edition.

Autograph inscription dated by Panaït Istrati to Madame S. Ionesco.

First edition, one of the rare copies specially printed for the author on Holland paper.

Contemporary Bradel binding in half vellum-style paper boards, smooth spine slightly sunned and decorated with a central gilt ornament, marbled paper covers, wrappers preserved.

Fine signed autograph inscription by Binet-Valmer: "à Claude Farrère son admirateur, à Charles Bargonne, son ami reconnaissant, Binet-Valmer."

First edition.

Half morocco binding, spine with five raised bands tooled in black with gilt fleurons, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, sprinkled edges, contemporary binding.

Some minor foxing.

Presentation copy signed by Victor Hugo to René Heymann.

Victor Hugo most likely came to know René Heymann (1866-1944) through his beloved grandson, the future painter Georges Victor-Hugo. In the immediate aftermath of the great poet's death, two years after the publication of this penultimate series of La Légende des siècles, Heymann would receive from Georges a heartbreaking letter: "Do not come today. If you only knew...

First edition of the French translation, of which no deluxe paper copies were issued.

Rare copy.
Rare signature by Alexandre Solzhenitsyn on the title page.

First edition, one of the press service copies.
Minor tears to the margins of the covers, spine slightly sunned with a few small nicks.
Precious signed autograph inscription by Léo Ferré to Marie Bell and Jean Chevrier.

 

Later edition on ordinary paper.

Illustrated wrappers.
Illustrations.
Spine slightly split as is often the case, a few minor marginal tears to the covers, the paper inevitably toned owing to the poor quality of this post-war stock.
Inscribed, dated and signed by Marcel Sauvage to Mr. Berthet.

First edition on ordinary paper.
A fine copy.
Inscribed and signed by François Cheng to a woman named Pascale.


 

First edition, one of 175 numbered copies on pur fil wove paper, this being copy No. 1, specially printed for Madame General Frère, one of the deluxe issue.

Contemporary full red shagreen, spine with four raised bands decoratively tooled in blind with fillets and a coat of arms, light rubbing to the joints, gilt rolls to the spine ends, spotting to the boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt fillet border to the pastedowns, gilt rules to the edges, corners slightly bumped, top edge gilt, others untrimmed.
General Aubert Frère was notably a hero of the French Resistance, serving as organizer and commander of the Resistance within the Army; he was arrested by the Nazis in...

First edition on ordinary paper.

A pleasing copy.

Signed autograph inscription from Yves Bonnefoy to François Erval.

First edition, one of the press service copies, no deluxe paper copies issued.

A dampstain to the lower edge of one textblock edge.

Precious signed autograph inscription from Casamayor: "à Jean Paul Sartre au nom de la réalité concrète avec la fidélité de Casamayor."

New edition.

A pleasing copy.

Inscribed and signed by Jean Raspail : "A M. Claude Fricker, des camp des amis (word underlined), avec ma fidèle et fraternel souvenir, Jean Raspail. 7 juin 1994."

First edition on ordinary paper.

A fine copy, complete with its promotional band.

Inscribed and signed by Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio to Pierre Mertens.

First edition on ordinary paper.

A very good copy.

Inscribed, dated and signed by Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio to Pierre Mertens.

First edition illustrated with reproductions of works by Zao Wou-Ki.
A pleasing copy.
Dated and signed autograph inscription from Zao Wou-Ki to Catherine and François Trèves.


 

Bilingual edition in Provençal with the French translation printed opposite.

Contemporary half brown shagreen, smooth spine sunned and decorated in gilt with floral tools and ornamental motifs, gilt initials at foot, cat’s-eye paper sides, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, wrappers preserved.

A few minor foxing spots, the first gathering tending to loosen.

Precious dated autograph inscription signed by Frédéric Mistral in Provençal to his friend, the félibre poet Paul Arène.

First edition, with the false statement of 16th edition.

Light discoloration at the head of the spine and along the left margin of the upper cover.

Autograph inscription signed by Léon Blum to Charles-André Julien: "à André Julien, son camarade fidèle et son ami reconnaissant, Léon Blum."

Charles-André Julien was one of the leaders of the Communist Party in Algeria. He left it in 1926 and contributed to the journal Clartés edited by Henri Barbusse.

A committed anti-colonialist and activist, he established contacts with independence movements, notably with the group formed around Habib Bourguiba, who became his friend...

First edition, one of the ordinary issue, with no deluxe paper copies noted.

Small angular losses at the upper margins of the first leaves, paper occasionally brittle in the margins of certain leaves.

Signed autograph inscription from Rachilde to Léon Frapié.

First edition, one of the press review copies.

A pleasing copy.
It is the work for which Patrick Modiano was awarded the "Prix Goncourt" in 1978.
Rare signed autograph inscription from Patrick Modiano to his friend, the actor and dubbing artist Roger Lumont.
 

First illustrated edition issued for the Club français des bibliophiles, one of the numbered copies.
Publisher’s full olive-green cloth bindings, smooth spines, gilt medallions in relief depicting General de Gaulle and Free France stamped at the centres of the upper covers, fine copies complete with their original glassine wrappers.
A complete set in three volumes, richly illustrated.
Autograph inscription dated and signed by Charles de Gaulle in the first volume, manuscript signatures dated in the second and third volumes.

First edition of the French translation, one of 21 numbered copies on pur fil paper, deluxe issue.

Bradel binding in half blue percaline, smooth spine, floral motif, date and double gilt fillets at the foot, hazel morocco title label with some scuffing, marbled paper boards, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, contemporary binding.

The text by Friedrich Sieburg is followed by a letter from Bernard Grasset to the latter.

Fine dated and signed autograph inscription, from London, by Friedrich Sieburg to Monsieur de Fleuriau, then French ambassador in London: "... en le priant de ne voir dans ce livre que l'attrait que la France exerça sur son auteur...

First edition, one of 50 copies numbered on alfa paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

Bound in full beige sheepskin, spine ruled in black, gilt date at foot, minor rubbing to the edges of the boards, marbled endpapers, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.

Pencil annotations relating to the reading of the work.

Gift inscription by a former member of the José Corti publishing house: "A monsieur Marchaux en témoignage de sympathie ce tout premier livre publié par José Corti."

Above all else Damas's writing theatened conventional society. This pamphlet Retour de Guyane was bought in big numbers by the colonial authorities and burnt.