Tales, Myths and Legends

First edition, illustrated with 18 figures in the text.

Spine and covers slightly sunned and faded, with small losses along the edges; a pleasant copy internally despite occasional minor foxing.

From 1895 onwards, René Dussaud (1868-1958) undertook several archaeological missions in Syria, a field to which he would devote much of the rest of his career.

Signed presentation inscription by René Dussaud on the half-title to the archaeologist Emmanuel-Alban Guillaume-Rey (1837-1916), an Orientalist and archaeologist specializing in medieval Syria.

First edition, exceedingly scarce, of this light-hearted and engaging introduction to the principal ancient myths, prepared for a Polish aristocrat. Annopol (today Anopal) is a locality now situated in Belarus.

No copies recorded in the CCF. A single copy located in WorldCat (National Library of Poland, Biblioteka Narodowa, Warsaw).

Contemporary-style half sheep binding in brown, the smooth spine ruled with alternating thick and thin gilt fillets, marbled paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns; modern binding.

Losses to the title-page expertly filled and restored; the final two leaves also restored.

Rare first edition, illustrated with two vignettes: one on the title page and another at the head of the opening text leaf (cf. Backer & Sommervogel VII, 185, no. 58.)

See Brunet, "Recherches sur les imprimeries imaginaires, clandestines et particulières", p. 19.

Printed on the private presses of the Turin Court of Appeal, the work offers a detailed account of the miraculous phenomena reported in Rome between July 1796 and January 1797. The author rebuts, in particular, the sceptical reactions of the "fiers à bras du philosophisme".

Our copy is preserved in its original drab paper wrappers, the spine cracked, the covers soiled, a few spots, a pale dampstain at...

First edition.

Contemporary half calf in a bronze tone, the spine with four raised bands framed by double gilt rules and gilt pointillé work, together with broad black fillets; joints rubbed, marbled paper sides, marbled endpapers, edges sprinkled; a period binding.

Scattered foxing.

First French edition, illustrated by Arthur Rackham with 40 mounted colour plates on thick brown paper, each protected by a captioned tissue guard, along with 30 black-and-white line drawings within the text, one of the extremely rare 30 copies printed on japon, signed by Arthur Rackham on the limitation page; the deluxe issue.

Publisher’s Bradel binding in full vellum-style boards, smooth gilt-titled spine, upper board gilt-stamped with title and a tree design, top edge gilt; the silk tie on the lower board is lacking.

...

Illustrated edition with compositions by Arthur Rackham, 13 in colour tipped in with captioned tissue guards, and 52 black-and-white illustrations in the text, one of 55 copies on japon, signed by Arthur Rackham on the limitation page, deluxe issue.

Publisher’s full vellum binding, flat spine gilt-lettered with gilt-stamped animals, upper cover gilt-stamped with the title and an illustration of animals, top edge gilt, uncut, lower cover silk ties preserved.

A fine copy...

Illustrated edition with 13 colour plates on brown paper by Arthur Rackham tipped in with captioned tissue guards, together with 14 black-and-white illustrations in the text by Rackham, including a frontispiece portrait of Alice, one of the very rare 20 copies on japon, signed by Arthur Rackham on the limitation page, copy from the deluxe issue. A few name copies on the same paper were also issued.

Publisher’s full vellum binding, flat spine lettered in gilt with a gilt illustration of the Cheshire Cat, upper cover stamped in gilt with the title and an illustration of two fantastic...

Rare first edition (cf. Caillet 3017).

Full porphyry calf binding, smooth spine decorated in the grotesque style, small losses and rubbing at the foot of the spine, tan calf title label with a small loss and restoration, triple gilt fillet framing the boards, gilt rolls on the caps partially faded, marbled edges, contemporary binding.

An interesting dissertation written by President de Brosses (1709–1777) for the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, “on ancient myths, theurgy, magic, and secret cults.”

Second edition of the French translation prepared by François-Victor Hugo.

Half red shagreen bindings, slightly faded spines with four raised bands numerously framed in gilt and central gilt tooled motif, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers, speckled edges, contemporary bindings.

Some occasional foxing, minor black specks on a few spines, upper corners of volume 10 slightly damaged.

Our set, attractively bound uniformly in contemporary bindings, is complete in 18 volumes including the often lacking final three volumes of apocryphal writings.

First edition of the third series of Andersen’s tales. Two parts in one volume, published respectively on 30 March and 23 November 1872, each bearing an inscription by Andersen. He mentions the first in his diary (H. C. Andersens dagbøger, vol. IX, p. 247) and the second is recorded by Henry Tuxen (Anderseniana, vol. 4, 1958-59, p. 155).

Red cloth half binding, flat spine faded with gilt title and ruled in black, black cloth boards. First board with a slight lenghtwise crack, spine-ends and corners rubbed, small lack of material at the margin of the first board.

First edition, of which no copies were issued on deluxe paper.

Publisher’s binding in full black cloth, smooth spine, a fine copy complete with its illustrated dust jacket.

Illustrations.

Inscribed and signed by Pierre Jakez Hélias to friends named Fanny and André.

Rare first edition of this predominantly folkloric and literary work: the Forest of Bréchéliant, also known as the Forest of Paimpont, is traditionally identified in Breton folklore with the mythical Forest of Brocéliande from Arthurian legend.

Illustrated with 14 full-page plates in the first volume and 21 in the second.

Our copy was uniquely extra-illustrated at the time with 59 postcards and 2 original photographs mounted on thin cardboard and bound into the volumes.

Contemporary half black shagreen bindings, flat spines with gilt compartments and decorative gilt typographic motifs, marbled paper-covered boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns...

First edition of this work published "by order of His Majesty the Emperor and under the supervision of the Minister of Public Instruction" (cf. Leclerc (1878) 2283).

The first volume is illustrated with 70 colour-printed plates, all hors-texte.

Contemporary half red shagreen bindings, spine with four raised bands adorned with double gilt fillets and floral gilt tooling, gilt decorative rolls at head and foot, some rubbing, cloth boards with blind-stamped borders and central device, bindings of the period.

Some rubbing to boards, water stains to the upper corners affecting the first 10 leaves of both volumes, one quire in the first volume becoming loose, boards slightly...

Paris, Auguste Nepveu, bookseller, Passage des Panoramas, 1821. Quarto, xxviii and 462 pages.

A new edition of the Fables, described on the title page as "more complete than the preceding editions", illustrated with 110 half-page intaglio engravings printed within the text and an engraved title vignette. In the present copy, all 111 compositions have been finely coloured by hand. Rochambeau, 305; Desprès, p. 142, no. 63.

Twentieth-century full green calf, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets, rolls and floral tools, gilt rolls to the headcaps...

First edition, accompanied by the original text with interlinear translation, grammatical analysis, and a Maya–French vocabulary, published by Count H. de Charencey.

A pleasant copy.

Contemporary full green cloth, flat spine slightly sunned, gilt title, marbled endpapers and pastedowns.

Grammatical and lexicographical study based on a short text in the Maya language written around 1562 by an indigenous chronicler named Nakuk-Pech.

From the library of the orientalist Emile Sénart, with his ink stamp and a printed presentation slip: "Avec tous les compliments de l'auteur. De Charencey".

First edition, one of 249 numbered copies on B. F. K. de Rives, the only printing other than 1 copy on Hollande and 24 on vélin crème de Renage. Illustrated with 4 original colour lithographs by Rufino Tamayo.

This copy further contains an additional suite of the 4 lithographs by Rufino Tamayo, usually reserved for the deluxe copies. Printed stamps to the versos of each engraving: "Annulation d’estampille pour annulation de vente".

First edition.

Bound in full marbled paper, with a light brown morocco spine label; original wrappers preserved. Spine ends, corners and joints slightly rubbed; minor marginal stain to rear wrapper.

Rare first edition of Andersen’s tale about an ill-fated dryad often compared to “The Little Mermaid” (1837). Both feature a feminine nature spirit longing to shed her form to enter the human world, with fatal consequences.

An exceptional copy, inscribed by Hans Christian...

First edition of the vocal and piano score of the opera Déjanire by Camille Saint-Saëns.

A few pencil annotations in the margins of certain staves.

Our copy is presented in a 3/4 shagreen clamshell box, spine with five raised bands framed by gilt garlands and decorated with gilt fleurons, gilt lettering at foot of spine: "Inscribed by composer". Boards, endpapers and pastedowns in marbled paper. Spine of the box slightly faded.

Inscribed, dated and signed by Camille Saint-Saëns to music critic Edouard Beaudu.

First edition, first issue, illustrated with 21 original etchings by Jules Lalauze. Printed in a limited edition following 220 copies on deluxe paper. One of 20 copies on Wattman paper, no. 40. Title pages printed in red and black. A fine impression. An exceptional copy with the engravings in four states (sometimes bound further within the volume), whereas even the copies on Japan paper contain only three states, two of which are proofs on Japan paper. Volume IV is unfortunately lacking in this set. Original wrappers and spines preserved.
Contemporary half orange morocco binding, signed by Canaps on the upper flyleaf. Spine with raised bands, tooled with four crosses composed of four...

Second edition.

Bound in full roan, spine with five raised bands framed in gilt and decorated in gilt, edges framed in gilt partially faded in places, all edges speckled.
Lower corners bumped, worming visible on the first seven leaves.

A rare edition of this work, which include Dialogue de l'amour et de l'amitié, Critique de l'Opéra, La Peinture, Le Miroir ou la métamorphose d'Orante, La Chambre de justice de l'amour, une Critique de l'opéra Alceste.
Also featured is Charles Perrault's description of the now-lost Labyrinth of Versailles, a creation by the great Le Nôtre.

This remarkable labyrinth boasted thirty-nine fountains, each illustrating one...

First edition. 14 full-page plates including two folding, numerous illustrations in the text, as well as twelve pages of tables with hieroglyphic and Chinese characters.

Beige calf binding, elaborately gilt spine, boards stamped with the arms of the Society of Writers to the Signet. Minor foxing. Spine, corners and spine-ends restored, some wear to spine and boards.

A rare copy of this abundantly illustrated treasure trove of esoteric science, serving as an initiation into the mysteries of Egypt through the study of hieroglyphics.

One of the rarest and most interesting works by Pierre Lacour, a painter, engraver and literary scholar who succeeded...

Very elegant edition of Perrault's fairy tales, printed with the stereotype process invented by Louis-Etienne Herhan.

Illustrated with 5 full-text engravings (2 vignettes each) and a vignette on the engraved title, after the frontispiece by Antoine Clouzier for the first edition of Perrault's tales (Paris, Barbin, 1697).
Full roan binding, smooth spine framed in gilt and gilt motifs, black title label stamped in gilt, boards framed in gilt, inner dentelle, endpapers and pastedowns in caillouté paper, all edges gilt. Joints slightly split at head of spine, a small brown stain to title page and frontispiece, some spotting. 
Very rare edition, including Bluebeard, Little Red...

First printing of the 109 colored wood miniatures by Henry Lemarié, one of the numbered copies on Rives laid paper for each of the volumes.
Small tear at foot of spine of the Bluebeard slipcase, very light rubbing without significance to the slipcases, two small tears at foot of second board of the silent wrapper encasing Cinderella.

We include the illustrated catalogue of Jean Porson editions as well as the catalogue, printed on Rives, announcing the collection of Charles Perrault tales illustrated by Henry Lemarié. This descriptive catalogue is decorated with the frontispiece of Sleeping Beauty in black, two vignettes and two in-text illustrations by Henry...

Charming edition illustrated with a frontispiece, a framed title and 9 half-page illustrations, reproducing vignettes by Fokke after De Sève - with the final illustration for L'Adroite Princesse, newly added. 

Complete with the Épître dédicatoire by P. Darmancour [Charles Perrault] to 'La Grande Mademoiselle', Anne-Marie d'Orléans, cousin of Louis XIV.

Half-sheep binding, smooth spine ruled in gilt, and a diagonally stamped gilt title. Beige paper boards, speckled edges. Small paper defect in the margin of page 75, scattered foxing, a small brown stain affecting the illustration of Cinderella. A name written in ink in the lower margin of page 21.
 
This...

First edition, illustrated with 10 compositions by Jean-Jacques Sempé, one of the numbered copies.

Publisher's full wood-grain style marbled boards, plain flat spine.

An attractive copy of this fable recounting the sudden disappearance of every form of paper, bringing modern society to a standstill.

First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on Japan paper, the deluxe issue.

Spine slightly sunned, otherwise a very good copy.

Preface by Léon Bocquet.

First issue, illustrated with 28 original burin engravings by Camille Paul Josso, one of 375 copies on vélin de Lana.

Cream wrappers with folded-in flaps, red suede cloth publisher's chemise and slipcase.

Chemise and slipcase somewhat soiled and scratched, corners bumped, a few edges chipped.

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.
 

New edition, revised, corrected, enlarged, and illustrated with engravings.

Contemporary half brown morocco over marbled boards, corners preserved, spine with five raised bands showing a few minor rubs, gilt date at foot, gilt fillet border to the boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, all edges gilt, an elegant binding signed by Pierson.

A few occasional and unobtrusive spots of foxing.

A handsome copy, attractively bound.

First edition of Henry Lemarié's illustrations, issued in 3,450 copies, this being one of the copies on Rives wove paper (no. 1073).
Spines of the chemises decorated with gilt compartments and lacework tools, slipcase panels adorned with a large illustration depicting artistic attributes and highlighted in gold.
Boards of the volumes lightly and partially sunned.
The work is illustrated throughout with black-and-colour in-text illustrations by Henry Lemarié.
An attractive, richly illustrated copy in an elegant presentation.

First edition, with no deluxe paper copies issued, this being one of the publisher's review copies.

Inscribed copy, dated and signed by Georges Dumézil to Alfred Ernoul.

First edition, at one time attributed to Bernard Le Bouyer de Fontenelle, on the loves of a shepherd of illustrious lineage: Mirtil, son of Venus and Adonis. Complete copy with its engraved title page by Louis Legrand and its six plates drawn by Hubert François Gravelot and engraved by Louis Legrand.

Half marbled calf binding, spine with five raised bands decorated with dotted gilt fillets, five compartments richly gilt with fillets and fleurons, pebble-pattern marbled paper boards, red edges, pastedowns and...

First edition of this important work, the fruit of nearly thirty years of research conducted in China by the Jesuit Léon Wieger (1856–1933), and which remains a valuable reference despite the narrowly confessional bias that frequently comes to the fore.

Contemporary half tan shagreen binding, faded spine with four raised bands ruled in blind, some rubbing to spine and joints, marbled paper boards, paste-paper endpapers and pastedowns, corners bumped.

Illustrated with figures in the text. 

Two parts in one volume, printed on hōsho paper and folded in the Japanese style

Two colour-illustrated covers, and 28 superb Japanese colour prints by Kano Motonobu, Kadjita Hanko. All text pages are illustrated with drawings in black.

A very fine artistic publication printed on pure Japanese rag paper with special Japanese folding. The Tokyo publisher is Kané-Mitsou Masao, the printer Shueisha, under the direction of Yamamoto Yeijiro.

Original publisher's binding in half black embossed leather with japanese motifs, illustrated boards depicting figures and animals in colours, long-grain red morocco lettering-piece on the upper board...

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on vélin de renage, most limited deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

First edition, one of the numbered copies on laid paper, the only issue after 1 copy on large Arches vellum, 50 on Japan paper, and 10 hors commerce.

The upper cover slightly and marginally toned; a pleasing copy.

Illustrated with wood engravings by Raoul Dufy.

First edition, one of 100 copies printed on antique Montval wove paper, the only issue following 1 copy on old Japan paper, 10 on imperial Japan, and 20 hors commerce.

Work illustrated with 9 original drypoints by Jean Lurçat.

A rare and handsome copy.

Inscribed and signed by Jean Lurçat to Jean Bourgoin.

First edition of the French translation of an episode from the Ramayana. 

Our copy is preserved in its original wrappers, under a temporary blue paper cover with minor losses at the corners. 

Some foxing, mainly affecting the endpapers.

The young orientalist Antoine-Léonard Chézy (1773-1832), influenced by Friedrich Schlegel, had begun teaching himself Sanskrit around 1806, studying original texts alongside their English translations.

In the same year, 1814, he was appointed to the very first chair of Sanskrit in Europe, becoming professor of Sanskrit language and literature at the Collège de France.

New illustrated edition featuring 15 naive woodcuts, including one on the rear cover.

No copies recorded in the CCF (Collective Catalogue of France).

Pleasant and rare copy.

This small illustrated tale, primarily serving as an opportunity to showcase all familiar animals within a single narrative, is part of the "penny books" series—the equivalent of our own chapbooks intended for the most modest audiences.

It is traditionally attributed to the publisher, John Golby Rusher (1784–1877), who took over his father’s printing business (William Rusher) and specialized in children’s literature.

First edition printed in a small number of copies of this offprint from the Journal asiatique.

Unlettered spine with restorations; scattered foxing.

Abel Bergaigne (1838–1888), one of the leading Indologists of his time, was Professor of Sanskrit and Comparative Linguistics at the Sorbonne.

His interpretation of the Rig-Veda remains authoritative.

On the upper wrapper of the first cover, a signed autograph inscription by Abel Bergaigne to the academic and statesman Charles Lenient (1826–1908).

First edition, printed in a small number of copies, of this offprint from the Revue de l'Orient, de l'Algérie et des colonies, published in the February 1857 issue.

According to the CCFr, copies are recorded only at the BnF, the BULAC and the Académie de médecine.

Our copy is preserved in its original stitched wrappers, with plain blue temporary paper covers, unopened.

Some foxing.

This pamphlet surveys all the animals mentioned in the Quranic surahs.

The author, Antoine-Paulin Pihan (1810-1879), who was proficient in Arabic, Turkish and Persian, was merely a proofreader in the Oriental typography department of the Imprimerie Impériale. Yet the number of...

First edition of the French translation of the story of Nala and Damayanti, from the Aranyakaparvan, or Book of the Forest, the third of the eighteen books of the great Indian epic.

Spine restored and reattached, a few spots of foxing.

 Emile-Louis Burnouf (1821-1907), first cousin of Eugène Burnouf, was likewise a Sanskrit scholar and Indologist.

First edition, printed in a limited run, of this extract from the Revue britannique of February 1880.

Only three known copies in the CCF (BnF, INHA, and Sorbonne).

This copy is presented in its original wrappers, with a blank temporary cover.

Pamphlet adorned with in-text black-and-white illustrations.

In Greek mythology, the Cabeiri were minor deities worshipped in mystery cults across several regions of Greece, particularly on the islands of Samothrace, Lemnos, and Imbros.

These deities, little understood even by the Greeks themselves, were remnants of an Aegean past influenced by Phoenician culture, yet they later became protectors of...

Rare first edition, illustrated at the end of the volume with two folding plates.

Only two copies recorded in the CCF (BnF and Strasbourg). Backer & Sommervogel III, 1242 (59).

Our copy is preserved in its original provisional yellow paper wrappers,

With a few minor spots of foxing on the folding plates.

The Neapolitan Jesuit Raffaele Garrucci (1811–1885) devoted his work to the study of the Church Fathers as well as to both pagan and Christian antiquities.

He became one of the foremost disciples of Father Giuseppe Marchi, alongside the renowned Giovanni Battista de Rossi.