Some "tirages de tête" (most limited deluxe issues)

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.

First edition, one of 25 copies on handmade laid paper, numbered and justified by the publisher, the only deluxe issue.
 
Bradel binding in half chocolate-brown morocco with corners, smooth spine, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, illustrated wrappers by Manuel Orazi and backstrip preserved.
Work illustrated with 136 black and colour drawings, in- and out-of-text, by Georges Bottini.
 
Bookplate mounted.
 
Our copy is enriched with a full-page original drawing, signed by Georges Bottini and heightened in black ink, depicting Jacques Beaudarmon wearing a bowler hat and conversing with the « môme ». This drawing appears as a woodcut illustration on page 133.
 
The drawing is inscribed by Georges Bottini to M. Casanove « en grande sympathie ».
 
Very rare deluxe copy of Jean Lorrain’s masterpiece.

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on Lafuma, the only copies on deluxe paper.
Very handsome copy despite a slight shadow on the half-title page.

First edition, one of 12 numbered copies on Hollande, the only deluxe issue. 

Complete with the folding map at the end.

Full fawn morocco binding, five raised band spine, date at foot, comb-marbled paper pastedowns framed with a rich gilt roll, comb-marbled endpapers, gilt fillet to headcap, gilt fillet to leading edges, gilt roll to headcaps, original wrappers and spine preserved, all gilt deckled edges, housed in a fawn morocco-edged slipcase. Binding signed by Semet & Plumelle. 

Provenance: From the libraries of Dr André Chauveau, Lucius Wilmerding, and RBL, with their bookplates affixed.

A splendid deluxe copy of exceptional rarity. 

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

Illustrated with 121 wood engravings and a folding coloured map.

Bound in modern half black oasis, flat spine decorated with double gilt fillets, brown oasis lettering-piece, marbled paper boards, endpapers and pastedowns of marbled paper, lower cover preserved and mounted on a tab.

First edition, one of 20 deluxe copies on Holland paper, the only large-paper issue, reimposed in octavo format (the ordinary edition being in duodecimo).

Cf. Vicaire III, 305-306. Carteret I, 222.

Contemporary full stiff ivory vellum, smooth spine, marbled endpapers and pastedowns.

Fine copy.

Bibliographers mention 25 copies, which seems difficult to account for, as the limitation is clearly stated on the verso of the half-title. This procedure was customary for the author (Les Six aventures, 1857, was issued in the same dual printing).

Precious presentation copy inscribed and signed by Maxime Du Camp to the celebrated critic Jules Janin (1804–1874), who later affixed his engraved bookplate to the front endpapers.

First edition printed in 130 copies, all nominative and numbered, on Rives vellum.
Full chocolate-brown morocco binding, spine with four double raised bands framed by black fillets extending onto the covers, gilt date at foot, gilt rolls on the caps, endpapers and pastedowns of hand-made paper, quintuple gilt fillet borders on the pastedowns, double gilt fillets on the board edges, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.
Illustrated with a frontispiece, 15 plates and 6 vignettes by Georges Leroux engraved on copper by Raoul Serres.
This copy is supplemented, at the end of the volume, with a suite of the 22 illustrations together with the printed menu for the dinner of 30 June 1930 of the Société bibliophilique des "Cent centraux bibliophiles".
In addition, the work includes, mounted on a tab, four original preparatory sketches in black pencil and, following them, an original drawing by Georges Leroux, dated, signed, and executed for the representation of the menu of the dinner of 30 June 1930 held by the "Cent centraux bibliophiles".
Manuscript signatures of Rosny aîné and Raoul Serres on the verso of the original menu drawing.
A very handsome copy accompanied by five original drawings by Georges Leroux, finely bound in full morocco.

First edition of the author's second work, one of 10 numbered copies on Holland paper, the only deluxe paper issue.
Bound in yellow half morocco with corners, spine with five raised bands, gilt date at foot, a small black spot at head of spine, floral and moiré patterned paper boards, pale green paper endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, gilt edges, bookplate of Gérard Pesme Baron de Saint-Genies pasted on a pastedown, binding signed by Thomas Boichot.
Half-title entirely toned.
A fine copy, handsomely bound.

First edition, printed on vellum paper in 260 numbered copies.

Bradel binding in half vellum-style boards, smooth spine, gilt title running lengthwise, gilt fillet framing the marbled paper covers, top edge gilt.

A long orange offset to the margin of the lower cover on the vellum-style board, light orange offsets to the margins of the white endpapers.

Illustrated with 68 plates reproducing drawings by Max Liebermann in facsimile.

This copy retains the two original etchings by Max Liebermann, each signed by him in pencil.

First edition, one of the rare copies printed on laid paper.
The issue comprises 4 pages and features a comic strip by Godefroy: "Question de cabinet".
Literary contributions by Victor Meusy ("Les prunes de monsieur"), Alphonse Allais ("Le médecin (monologue pour Cadet)"), Rolla ("Tombes de fleurs")...
A faint dampstain along the left margin of the journal, otherwise a pleasing copy.
Le Chat noir was a weekly magazine founded by Rodolphe Salis and Émile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897 to promote the famous cabaret of the same name, acting as its living archive. It published the texts performed during the shows and stands as a major literary and artistic testimony of late 19th-century bohemian life and the vibrant Parisian scene it embodied.

Very rare first edition, printed in only 80 copies (According to CCFr, copies are held only at the BnF and in Lille).

This edition was printed on August 27, 1867, in the presence of Emperor Napoleon III, during his visit to northern France with Empress Eugénie from August 26 to 30, 1867.

Publisher’s binding in full green grained cloth, flat spine decorated with blind fillets, panels framed with blind fillets, slightly bumped corners, pink edges.

Minor foxing mainly affecting the endpapers; a handsome copy.

On a blank endpaper, an autograph inscription signed by Léonard-Jean-Baptiste Danel (1818–1905), nephew and successor of Louis Danel since 1843, addressed to Auguste Ohnet, likely the paternal uncle of the novelist Georges Ohnet (1848–1918), in which case he lived from 1808 to 1882.

Laid in: a chromolithographed broadside (39 x 29 cm) presenting a copy to the Empress ("Offert à S.M. l'Impératrice Eugénie par le personnel de l'imprimerie Danel à Lille").

First edition, one of 40 numbered copies, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

A handsome and scarce copy.

Illustrated with full-page color drawings by André François.

Pencil signature by Vincent Pachès at the colophon.

First edition of the French translation by Jean Dutourd, one of 86 numbered copies on pur fil, only grand papier (deluxe) copies. 

First edition of this magnificent work, one of Gustave Le Bon’s (1841–1931) contributions to anthropology, in which he applied his pioneering theories to the Arab world. One of the few copies printed on japon paper, unrecorded in bibliographies.

Illustrated with 10 chromolithographs, 4 maps, and 366 engravings, including 70 large plates, after the author’s photographs or the most reliable documentary sources. Cf. Vicaire V, 134.

Contemporary half cherry-red shagreen, spine with five raised bands adorned with gilt fillets and double gilt compartments, double gilt fillet frame on marbled paper-covered boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt.

Minor superficial rubbing to spine ends.

A rare and attractive copy on japon paper, handsomely bound in contemporary period style.

First edition, one of 35 copies printed on Japan paper, the deluxe issue, complete with the four states of the etchings (pure etching with remarque, with remarque, before letters, final state), see Vicaire, VII, 534.

(Vicaire mentions a blank leaf and a dedication leaf which appear to be missing here, although the copy is otherwise perfectly complete.)

Contemporary binding in half Empire green morocco, spine with five raised bands framed by black fillets, minor rubbing to the spine, spine and boards slightly faded, black fillet border on marbled paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt on witnesses, binding signed by Pétrus Ruban.

Excellent internal condition.

First edition, one of 300 numbered copies signed and justified by Frans de Geetere, reserved for the friends of La Marie-Jeanne, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.
As stated in the limitation, our copy is complete with a manuscript leaf from the work and an original drawing by the author depicting two reclining nude women, signed by him.
A desirable copy, complete with its rare promotional wraparound band: "le livre qu'aucun éditeur n'a osé publier".

First edition of the French translation, one of 31 numbered copies on pur fil, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

Spine and covers slightly and marginally faded, a pleasant copy.

First collected edition, one of 25 copies printed on Japan paper, the deluxe issue.

Contemporary brown half shagreen binding with corners, spine with five raised bands ruled with gilt dotted lines, adorned with double gilt compartments and decorative motifs, moiré paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt on witnesses.

A handsome copy in an attractive period binding.

First edition, one of 35 numbered copies printed on vélin pur chiffon B.F.K. de Rives, the only limited deluxe issue.

A small tear at the top of the lower cover, barely noticeable.
Very handsome copy.

First edition, one of 50 copies numbered on pure white rag paper, deluxe printing.

Binding in red half-shagreen with corners, spine with five raised bands framed by black fillets, some small rubbing on a few of the bands, date in gilt at the tail, framed by black fillets on the boards of speckled paper, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt on witnesses.

Illustrated with 60 heliogravure plates hors-texte.

Pleasant copy despite minor marginal spots of little significance on the endpapers.

Our copy is enriched with an autograph note dated June 1929 and signed by Pierre Abraham, mounted on tab, thanking Joseph Gabalda, then president of the Balzacian Circle, for his active contribution to the realization of this work.

The work also contains another autograph note, dated and signed by the author, mounted on tab, addressed to the same person, discussing the iconographic documents used to illustrate the book.

He promises him, in return for his investment, a copy from the deluxe printing.

First edition, one of 35 copies on pure rag paper, this one not numbered but specified as a copy printed for Pierre Jean Jouve under the colophon, the only deluxe paper copies issued.

Three small spots on the lower cover.

A very good copy.

First edition of the French translation by Dominique Aubier, printed in 150 numbered copies on Rives wove paper, ours being one of 30 copies including the original print, numbered and signed by Louis Chavignier.

Our copy is one of only 10 exceptionally enriched with an additional suite on chine appliqué of the etching by Alberto Giacometti and the 14 burin engravings by Louis Chavignier.

The work is illustrated with an original etching as frontispiece by Alberto Giacometti, and 14 full-page original burin engravings by sculptor Louis Chavignier.

A handsome and rare copy.

Enclosed is the printed report, on Rives paper, of the general meeting held on 16 May 1962 by the bibliophile society Les Impénitents.

Also included is the promotional leaflet illustrated with an original burin engraving by Louis Chavignier, justified and signed by the artist, announcing the forthcoming publication of the book.

Minor, insignificant foxing affecting one leaf of the final gathering.

A rare and desirable copy.

First edition, one of the 200 numbered copies on Hollande paper, the only large paper edition.
A stain on the front cover near the title, fading on the half-title page, shaded endpapers.
Rare copy with full margins.

Facsimile edition limited to 1,000 numbered copies of the exceedingly rare 1931 first edition published by Jeanne Walter.

Introduction by Fernand Léger.

Splendid volume illustrated with 80 photographs by Moï Ver.

A rare and desirable copy, complete with its original grey full cloth chemise and slipcase.

First edition, one of 50 copies on deluxe paper, the only copies printed on large paper.
Fine copy.

First edition, printed in 500 numbered copies on Arches wove paper, adorned with 48 black illustrations within the text and 32 full-page plates after drawings by Iacovleff, printed in bistre and black. A superb album, produced under the direction of Jacques de Brunhoff with the collaboration of Sergueï Grigorievitch Elisseeff (1889–1975).

In 1917, the Russian painter Aleksander Evgenevitch Iacovleff (1887–1938) spent six months on the Japanese island of Izu Ōshima, following a stay in China. He would never return to Russia, where the Soviets seized power that same year, but emigrated to France, where he would pursue the rest of his career. He became the official painter of the Croisière Noire and later the Croisière Jaune. His fascination with the Far East inspired several illustrated albums, including Dessins et peintures d’Extrême-Orient (1920), Le Théâtre chinois (1922), and finally, the present work.

Minor losses at head and foot of spine, restored tear to head of spine, small tears and stains to lower board, final endpaper slightly and partially toned with some marginal foxing; a well-preserved copy overall.

First edition, numbered copies on vélin pur fil, most limited deluxe issue.

A handsome copy complete with the publisher’s announcement slip.

Rare and important presentation copy inscribed by Irène Némirovsky: "A Benjamin Crémieux hommage de l'auteur. Irène Némirovsky". Némirovsky died in Auschwitz in 1942, and Crémieux in Buchenwald in 1944.

Crémieux had published a glowing review of Némirovsky’s first novel, David Golder. Its film adaptation by Julien Duvivier was among the earliest French talkies. On this short stories collection fittingly titled Films parlés (Talking Films) Némirovsky, the émigré writer, paid homage  to Crémieux, a descendant of a long-assimilated Jewish family from southern France. Two years after the publication of this collection, Irène Némirovsky’s name would appear alongside Crémieux’s in an anonymous antisemitic pamphlet entitled Voici les vrais maîtres de la France [Here are the true masters of Frabce] listing over 800 names of writers (Mémorial de la Shoah, Olivier Philipponnat).

Neither would return from the death camps: “In Geneva, in February 1945, Olga Jungelson, an envoy from the Ministry of Refugees to the Red Cross, was unable to obtain any information about her, nor about the other deported writers she had been tasked with tracing: Benjamin Crémieux, Robert Desnos, Jean Cavaillès, Maurice Halbwachs” (La vie d'Irène Némirovsky, Patrick Lienhardt, Olivier Philipponnat). 

First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on Vélin du Marais, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

A fine and rare copy.

First edition, one of 55 numbered copies printed on Lafuma-Navarre laid paper, the only deluxe copies.

A light halo stain to the upper edges of the front endpaper and half-title, otherwise a pleasing copy.

First edition, one of 35 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

A handsome copy, despite slight and marginal fading to the spine and covers.

First edition, one of the rare copies on Holland paper, not mentioned in the printed justification.

Contemporary Bradel binding in half black morocco, smooth spine with gilt date at foot, cat's-eye paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, binding signed Champs.

Inscribed and signed by Eugène Manuel to Madame Michel Lévy.

Our copy is enriched with two dated and signed autograph letters by Eugène Manuel, mounted on tabs at the beginning of the volume, most likely addressed to one of his literary mentors regarding the first performance of his play "Les ouvriers".

In the first letter, written with delicate modesty and dated the day before the premiere on 17 January 1870, Eugène Manuel expresses his hope and longing for the distinguished recipient to attend the opening of "Les ouvriers": "Vous prendrez peut-être plus d'intérêt à l'auteur, lorsque vous saurez que je suis le neveu d'un de vos amis d'autrefois, Jules Lévy, qui avait pour vous une bien vive et bien sincère affection... [...] J'espère, monsieur, que rien ne vous empêchera d'assister à cette représentation, peu importante peut-être pour vous, puisqu'il s'agit que d'un acte, mais qui est sérieux pour moi..."

In the second, the author warmly thanks his correspondent for the attention paid to the play: "J'apprends aujourd'hui seulement que vous m'avez fait l'insigne honneur d'entretenir de ma petite pièce des Ouvriers, l'auditoire d'élite qui se presse à vos leçons du Collège de France... [...] le jugement d'un critique aussi considérable est une de ces bonnes fortunes que l'on ose ambitionner..."

First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on pure wove paper, the only deluxe copies.

First endpaper slightly and partially toned, without consequence.

A handsome copy with full margins.

First edition, one of 60 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

Quarter red shagreen with corners, spine with four raised bands ruled in black, gilt-patterned paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.

A handsome and scarce copy, attractively bound.

First edition, one of 40 copies printed on pur fil paper, this one numbered 1, the only copies on deluxe paper.

Complete with the folding map at the end of the volume.

A handsome and rare copy, untrimmed, of this work dedicated "To the glory of those who fell and those who prevailed, workers, soldiers, and commanders."

Preface by Marshal Franchet d'Esperey.

First edition, one of 220 numbered copies on pure rag paper, the only deluxe issue.
Fine copy.

First edition, one of 55 numbered copies on Rives vellum, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy with wide margins.

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe copies.

Spine very slightly faded, a pleasing copy.

First edition of this text dedicated to Jean-Paul Sartre, one of the 43 numbered copies on pure rag paper, the only large paper copies.
Beautiful copy.

First edition of the French translation, one of 50 numbered copies on pur fil, the only deluxe copies.

Tiny marginal chips of no consequence on the wrappers, a crease to the upper right corner of the front cover, final page slightly darkened due to the presence of a folding facsimile.

This volume comprises three previously unpublished chapters from the novel "Les possédés".

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on pure rag vellum, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

A fine copy.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe copies.
Bound in red half shagreen with corners, spine with four raised bands framed by blind fillets, sides covered in gilt-effect paper, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt on witnesses.
A handsome copy in an attractive binding.

First edition, one of 80 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

A handsome and rare copy.

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

Illustrated.

A handsome copy.