Theater: Classic Plays

First edition, one of 70 numbered copies on pure thread paper, ours being one of 15 hors commerce copies lettered under Ingres covers, deluxe copies after 2 reimposed on pure thread laid paper hors commerce reserved for Jacques Hébertot and 13 holland paper copies.
Minor marginal tears of no consequence to the covers.
Handsome and rare copy of this response by Albert Camus to Jean-Paul Sartre's "Les mains sales".

First edition printed in 112 copies, ours one of the 90 numbered copies on Arches laid paper.

A pleasant and scarce copy.

Illustrated with 5 original lithographs by Juan Gris.

Manuscript signatures of Armand Salacrou and Juan Gris at the colophon.

First English edition, published one year after the first edition (American), complete with its illustrated dust jacket with unclipped price.
Publisher's pink-red cloth, title, author's name and publisher's imprint to the spine, all three in gilt.
Headcaps very slightly pushed, faint foxing to the boards, a fine copy. On the dust jacket, spine and boards sunned as is common, discreet wear and stains to the headcaps, boards and corners, marginal browning and a dampstain at the foot to the inside of the jacket.

First edition of the French translation and adaptation prepared by Edmond Haraucourt, one of 10 numbered copies on Holland paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

Bradel binding in half tobacco percaline, smooth spine decorated with a gilt floral motif, date and double gilt fillet at foot, hazelnut shagreen title label showing some rubbing, marbled paper boards, wrappers with small marginal losses at corners and spine preserved, contemporary binding.

A few small foxing spots.

Music by Gabriel Fauré.

First edition, one of 100 numbered copies on vellum.

A small chip at the foot of the spine, a few foxing marks to the endpapers, otherwise a pleasant copy.

First edition.

Binding inspired by Seventeenth century Cambridge panelled boards, spine with five raised bands framed by double fillets in blind, boards framed by double fillets in blind, outer corners of central frame decorated with small fleurons tools in blind, decorated roll inside central frame, decorated roll in blind on edges, all edges gilt, a corner and edge and lower spine-end slightly rubbed, some chafing on boards, a small hole p. 8 affecting part of a letter.

Very scarce first editions of T

Edition limited to 200 numbered copies on mould-made vellum paper and illustrated with 36 original lithographs by Louis Morin (including the wrapper).

Bradel binding in half orange morocco over marbled boards with corners, smooth spine featuring a gilt cartouche decorated with romantic gilt arabesques, gilt date at foot, gilt fillet frames to the marbled paper covers, a small snag to the lower left corner of the upper board, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, an elegant contemporary binding signed Alfred Farez.

A handsome copy, pleasingly bound.

New edition, one of 65 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

A fine copy.

First edition printed in a small number of copies.
Half red morocco binding with corners, smooth spine decorated with a gilt panel and floral tools, enhanced with a grey mosaic morocco onlay, gilt date at foot, gilt fillet framing on the marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, gilt top edge, binding signed Charles Lanoë.
Illustrated with a fine frontispiece drawn and engraved by Félix Bracquemond.
An attractive copy, handsomely bound.

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

Bound in full burgundy morocco, spine with five raised bands ruled in black, gilt rolls to the headcaps, moiré-effect paper endleaves and doublures, inner boards framed with gilt fillets, dotted tools and corner fleurons, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt on witnesses, double gilt fillets to the turn-ins, slipcase edged in burgundy morocco with sides covered in moiré-effect paper, contemporary signed binding by Vauthrin-Pezet.

A fine, beautifully executed copy.

First edition, one of the press copies.

A pleasing copy.

Fine signed autograph inscription from René Char: "A Georges Hugnet affectueusement. René Char."

First edition printed on regular stock.

Small tears to the head and foot of the spine.

Fine presentation inscription, signed by Henri de Montherlant to Georges Bataille.

Very rare first edition, with the title printed in black, illustrated with 4 copper-engraved plates hors-texte (cf. Gumuchian, 5321.)

Contemporary half brown sheepskin over marbled boards, smooth spine tooled in gilt with fillets and dotted rolls, covers framed with a double gilt rule, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, two corners slightly bumped, speckled edges, period binding.

Expert restorations to the corners and spine ends, spine partially faded with light rubbing, occasional minor foxing.

With a highly interesting preface by the author, in which she explains that she herself directed a puppet theatre.

Brings together the following four adaptations for marione

First edition (cf. Barbier, III 1145; Monglond, IX 756).

Contemporary half sheep in brown, smooth spine gilt with decorative rolls and stars now partly dulled, joints rubbed, red and dark green morocco lettering-piece, author’s name gilt at the foot, marbled paper boards, a few small abrasions to the edges, corners softened, sprinkled edges, period binding.

Scattered marginal foxing.

Alphonse-Toussaint-Joseph-André-Marie-Marseille, comte de Fortia de Piles (1758–1826), pursued a military career while composing operas, then emigrated during the Revolution and travelled throughout Europe with his friend the chevalier de Boisgelin.

Upon his return to France, he publis

Photographic postcard inscribed by Laurent Terzieff to the renowned autograph collector Claude Armand.

Postcard reproducing a black-and-white photograph by Studio Harcourt, showing Laurent Terzieff resting his head on his arms.

Autograph inscription signed by Laurent Terzieff in black ink to the right of the image: "A Claude Armand merci de votre très aimable lettre. L. Terzieff."

Original black-and-white photograph depicting Elvire Popesco in a three-quarter profile.

A handsome print. Vintage print, with the printed stamp of the Nicolas Treatt Studio in Paris on the verso.

Signed in black ink by Elvire Popesco.

Provenance: from the collection of renowned autograph collector Claude Armand.

Black-and-white photographic postcard depicting a young Ludmila Tcherina.

Pinholes to the corners of the card.

Signed autograph inscription by Ludmila Tcherina, in white felt-tip pen, to the prominent autograph collector Claude Armand: "A Claude bien amicalement Tcherina."

Provenance: from the collection of the renowned autograph collector Claude Armand.

Autograph letter dated and signed, one page by Jean-Louis Barrault addressed to Thierry Maulnier (34 lines in blue ink on a recto verso sheet)

Central folds inherent to the mailing, some foxing spots on the letter.

Jean-Louis Barrault, returning from a tour in South America, hastens to respond to Thierry Maulnier in order to consider a radio adaptation and possibly theatrical adaptation of his text Une ville sous la mer: "I do not know if this purity would remain in a theatrical realization, but this confirms to me that you must absolutely give us the opportunity as soon as possible to serve you directly on the theatrical plane."

Autograph letter signed and dated, one page, from Maurice Blanchot addressed to the theater actress Marcelle Tassencourt, wife of Thierry Maulnier, 18 lines in black ink.
Central folds inherent to postal handling, envelope included.

Maurice Blanchot praises the acting performance of Marcelle Tassencourt who created, in 1944, the role of Antigone in Robert Garnier's play directed by her husband, Thierry Maulnier:  "... cette Antigone m'a beaucoup touché. Je ne croyais pas que la beauté des vers y fût capable d'une actrice aussi vivante. Que la vie et le style peuvent être à ce point associés, que l'harmonie engendrât l'horreur, et la beauté le déchirement, c'est que j

First edition on ordinary paper, bearing the correct imprint dated 6 May 1959, with the false statement of second edition.
Spine very slightly sunned.
Signed and inscribed by Eugène Ionesco to the stage director, playwright, and writer Simone Benmussa on the half-title.

Complete set of 13 original lithographs by Eugène Delacroix, in first edition, first issue with the letter, one of 20 copies on Chine paper pasted on laid paper:

"It was originally printed in a few proofs on Chine, the format of which exceeds the square line by one or two centimeters. They are highly sought-after, even though they bear the letter" (Robaut).

Bound in the original publisher's brown half-shagreen binding, title gilt stamped on first board, original first cover wrapper preserved. Small restored tear to the margin of the wrapper over 5 cm, sunned spine, joints and corners rubbed, scattered foxing and a dampstain to the lower part of the laid paper

First edition of the theatrical adaptation.
 
Contemporary binding in red half morocco with corners, spine with five raised bands framed by gilt fillets, adorned with double gilt panels and decorative tooling, gilt fillets framing the marbled paper boards, combed paper endpapers and pastedowns, combed edges.
A few stains to the covers, a crisp and clean copy, free of foxing.
 
Signed autograph inscription by George Sand to the actor Fresne : « à monsieur Fresne, souvenirs affectueux. G. Sand. »
Fresne had performed in her play Molière at its premiere at the Théâtre de la Gaîté i

First edition, one of 1050 numbered copies on alfa bulky paper.
Publisher's binding after the original design by Paul Bonet.
Handsome copy despite slight traces of sunning at head and foot of spine and to margins of boards.