Traveling writers

First edition, advance copy stamp at foot of spine.

A pleasant copy despite the very slightly faded spine.

Rare copy signed and inscribed by Paul Nizan to Louis-Martin Chauffier.

First edition which was not printed on deluxe paper (grand papier).
A beautiful copy, illustrations.
Publisher's binding with full black boards, photographic first board.
Sting's handwritten signature accompanied, underneath, with the printed stamp of the “Fondation Forêt Vierge” led by Sting and Jean-Pierre Dutilleux.

Three autograph letters signed by Gérard de Nerval (2 pages signed « Gérard »), Théophile Gautier (1 page), and a third, unsigned letter (1 page) penned by a certain « Robert » (cf. Nerval's letter)
 
Louis Desessart, Théophile Gautier's appointed publisher, co-published Nerval’s play Léo Burckart with Barba in 1839. Following financial difficulties, he was forced to take refuge « in that sad and charming city of Brussels ».
 
The three friends wrote this letter from Paris, where they had reunited following Nerval’s long journey to the East: « I spent six months in Egypt; then three months in Syria – four months in Constantinople, and the rest en route. It’s quite beautiful. I only enjoy myself while traveling and try to live twice as much as I can. »
 
This journey deeply impressed Théophile Gautier, who would only travel to Turkey and Egypt years later: « I am in Paris and wish I were in Cairo, from where Gérard is returning. » The exoticism of distant lands starkly contrasts with the melancholy and severity of Europe: « How sad Paris is when one returns from sunlit countries. » (Nerval) And in Paris, far from dreams of escape, life means toil and melancholy:
« We are like sick people who are never comfortable anywhere. I think the good times are gone, and the golden hours of the past when we spoke such wise follies will never return. What’s the point of living if we must work and cannot see our friends or write to them or do anything we would like? » (Gautier)
The two writers express great compassion for their friend’s Belgian exile, with Brussels appearing as the capital of spleen: « What ! You’re still in that sad and charming city of Brussels ! [...] Brussels is even darker, poor fellow ! » (Nerval)
This joint letter was in fact initiated by « Robert » :
« Isn’t it true, my dear friend, that I’m quite skilled at making you forget my faults? [...] as a way of making it up to you, I’m sending you the autographs of two of your [...] comrades, your fondest memories, two men of fame who, despite all their affection and friendship for you, would never have written a word had I not trimmed their quills and handed them paper like sulky children, and told them : write at once, at once to the exile you love most. »

First collective edition, one of the 23 numbered copies on vélin pur fil Lafuma Navarre, the only deluxe copies ("grands papiers").
Rare and very nice copy.

First edition of the French translation, one of 20 numbered copies on pur fil paper, ours one of the few hors commerce, a deluxe issue. Endpapers lightly and entirely toned. A fine copy with full margins.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Japan, deluxe copies ("tirage de tête").
Two small tears in the head and foot of the spine, nice copy wide-margined.

First edition of Cendrars's second book, printed in 150 copies on handmade Hollande paper and offered to subscribers.

According to Sonia Delaunay, Séquences, Pâques à New York and theTranssibérien were published at the author's expense, thanks to a small inheritance. The address given - Éditions Hommes nouveaux - 4, rue de Savoie, was in fact the small attic room that Blaise Cendrars occupied at that time.

A precious copy of Blaise Cendrars's early poems, exceptionally rare and in remarkable condition.

First edition, illustrated with a title vignette, 6 folding maps and 2 folding plates (sun and moon positions, diagrams); a map of the coasts of Acadia and Isle Royale, one of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, plan of Canseau harbor, the southeastern coasts of Isle Royale, plan of Chibouctou harbor, southeastern point of Acadia, 
Presentation copy with the cipher and arms of Louis XV.
Contemporary binding in full marbled and glazed brown sheep. Spine with raised bands decorated with the repeated cipher of Louis XV. Red morocco title label. Boards stamped with the gilt arms of Louis XV. Triple gilt fillet frame on boards. 2 compartments restored partially effacing the cipher. One restoration at foot. Restorations to joints and corners. 
The work is the most precise hydrographic survey of the eastern coasts of North America that had ever been accomplished. Chabert was appointed to carry out a precise survey of the coasts of Acadia whose contemporary maps were erroneous.
 The first part is an account of the voyage from Brest to Louisbourg and of Chabert's 4 expeditions to coasts foreign to France, to Newfoundland and neighboring islands. The second part contains the observations and astronomical surveys for which the work was highly esteemed and recommended to navigators by the Academy of Sciences. Following the success of the voyage, Chabert was promoted to knight of the Order of Saint-Louis

First edition of which there were no grand papier (deluxe) copies, an advance (service de presse) copy.
Small foxing on covers marginally and slightly sunned, one joint cracked and glued down to foot, a small tear to head of spine.
Illustrated, as frontispiece, with a drawing by Etienne Dinet.
Handsome autograph inscription signed by Etienne Dinet to Georges Rochegrosse : "A G. Rochegrosse cordial souvenir de son vieil ami."

Autograph note dated and signed by Paul Claudel, one page addressed to Thierry Maulnier (12 lines in blue ink on a single sheet).
Central folds.