Printed in small numbers, illicitly passed out, sought-after, forgotten, found again, major works or confidential texts... Some of these works are extremely rare today ; here are a few of them.
New edition.
Half cherry red morocco with corners, spine with five raised bands, gilt date at foot, slight scuffing to spine without gravity, some minor surface wear to the marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt, binding signed by Canape-Belz.
Some light foxing without gravity.
Rare.
Second edition partly in first edition, rare. The original was published in Paris in 1723, the author being unsatisfied with his work proposed this second edition revised and expanded with a second part, Suplémant au projet de taille tarifée, in which he responds to the objections of his detractors.
Contemporary full speckled brown sheep binding. Spine with five raised bands richly decorated with gilt compartments and fleurons, blonde morocco title label. Gilt rolls on the leading edges and headcaps. All edges speckled red. Head slightly worn, first band very slightly visible at the joint, a small amount of bookworm damage affecting the last compartment as well as the tail joint of the lower board.
First edition printed in 250 copies.
Fine autograph inscription signed by Pierre de Crisenoy on a full page in red ink in the manner of Barbey d'Aurevilly to Monsieur H. Barthélémy: "... au réalisateur de tant de beaux livres et en remerciement de la magnifique édition des "Membra", ce humble essai de mes vingt ans, en attendant mieux. / 18 Septembre 1944." ["... to the creator of so many beautiful books and in gratitude for the magnificent edition of "Membra", this humble attempt from my twenties, awaiting better. / 18 September 1944."]
Worming to boards, handsome interior condition.
Rare.
First edition in French, printed on vergé paper.
Publisher's Arabesque yellow paper binding by A. Lenègre, spine with gilt, black, and turquoise Arabic decorative motifs (head- and tail-pieces slightly rubbed), upper cover richly ornamented with Arabic decorative motifs in gilt, black and turquoise with a frame of gilt and black fillets, turquoise paper pastedowns and endpapers (corners slightly bumped), all edges gilt, a few small insignificant spots to lower cover.
Text by Alfred Edmund Brehm & Johannes Dumichen.
The work is illustrated with 24 watercolors after nature by Charles Werner.
A few small spots, mostly affecting endpapers.
Rare.
First edition, an advance (service de presse) copy.
Handsome, fine autograph inscription from Maurice Blanchot to Gaston Gallimard on ffep: "On ne s'arrête plus aux tables des heureux, puisqu'on est mort. (Charles Cros) / A Gaston Gallimard, ce livre destiné à écarter tout lecteur [One doesn’t stop any more at the table of the joyous, for one is dead. (Charles Cros) / To Gaston Gallimard, this book destined to drive away every reader]."
Two repaired tears to head of spine (slightly sunned), one tiny scratch to head of upper cover, paper yellowed at edges of some pages as usual, ffep repaired with small lack at foot.
First edition, one of 90 numbered copies on Hollande paper, the tirage de tête.
Elegant half red morocco binding over marbled paper boards by P. Goy & C. Vilaine, spine in six compartments, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.
A very good, well-margined copy in a handsome binding.
First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on "pur-fil" paper, most limited issue. The book Camus dedicated to his friend René Leynaud.
Rare and handsome copy.
First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Holland paper, this copy bearing No. 1, the only deluxe copies.
Half dark green morocco binding with corners, spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt stippling and ornamented with double gilt compartments richly embellished with gilt typographical motifs, gilt date at foot, frame of gilt fillets on marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, top edge gilt retaining its deckled edges, contemporary binding signed by Lancelin.
Handsome full-margined copy in fine condition.
Provenance: from the library of Paul Ollendorff.
First edition, one of 300 copies, this one of 20 numbered and justified by François-Louis Schmied, the tirage de tête.
With 42 full page plates hors texte.
Spine and covers sunned at edges, scratch to head of lower cover, occasional wormholes, internally good.
Edition illustrated with original tailpieces and vignettes by Jean-Gabriel Daragnès engraved on wood, one of 250 numbered copies on Arches vellum, the only edition with 30 various Japan.
Publisher's binding in full flexible boards covered with watered paper, title vignette pasted on the front cover.
Precious and fine autograph inscription from J.-G. Daragnès to André Gide who signed twice (in black ink then in blue ballpoint pen).
A tiny lack at the foot of one joint, handsome copy.
