Writers & Painters

One of the most magnificent letters by Fernand Léger

A fabulous handwritten letter by the painter Fernand Léger, written on the front line during the Battle of Argonne, addressed to the Parisian art trader Adolphe Basler.
92 lines in black ink, four pages on a double leaf, dated 28 May 1915 by Léger.
The handwritten letter is presented with a half forest green morocco chemise, green paper boards with a stylised motif, endpapers lined with green lamb, slip case lined with the same morocco, the piece is signed by Goy & Vilaine.
The letter was chosen for Cécile...

First edition, one of the 1000 numbered copies on vellum cloth, ours one of the hors commerce.

Illustrated book of 4 reproductions of works of Claude Garache.
Nice copy.
Signed autograph Yves Bonnefoy to his friend the sculptor and painter Raymond Mason and his wife: "For Raymond and Janine with affection Yves." enriched with the handwritten signature of Claude Garache in pencil.

The first edition on simili-Japon paper.
Bradel grey cloth binding, navy blue cloth band with authors and title blindstamped to edge of upper board, upper cover preserved at end.
With 21 collages by Max Ernst.
A very good and rare copy.

First edition on current paper.

Illustrated book of 6 vignettes by André Derain.
Very discreet restorations on the back and the boards of covers, tiny angular gaps in heads of the very first leaflets.
Precious autograph dedication signed by Antonin Artaud: "To my dear friend André Lhote the only living writer who knows how to speak about painting in a poetic and superior sense."

First edition, one of 15 numbered copies on Hollande paper, the leading copies.
This copy with the original frontispiece lithograph by André Masson.
Hors-texte illustrations by André Masson.
A very good and rare copy.

First edition, one of 60 numbered copies on vélin d'Arche papers, the only grand papier (deluxe) copies with a few hors commerce also on vergé d'Arches.
Illustrated with 6 original lithographs by Antoni Tapies.

A very nice copy.
HAndwritten signatures of Antoni Tapies and Georges Raillard to colophon.

First edition, one of 100 hors commerce numbered copies on BFK de Rives paper, the only grand papier (deluxe) copies with 662 other copies on BFK de Rives paper.
Precious copy inscribed and dated October 1966 by Beckett to his friend the painter Geer (Van Velde) and his wife Lise.
Nice copy.
“What to say of the sliding planes, the shimmering contours, the cut-out figures in the fog, the balance that any little thing can break, breaking and re-forming themselves under our very eyes? How to talk about the colors that breathe and pant? Of the swarming stasis? Of this world without weight, without force, without shadow? Here everything moves, swims, fells...

First edition of the author's French translation, one of 50 numbered copies on vélin d'Arches paper, an hors commerce copy, the only large paper copies with 292 other vélin d'Arches paper.
Precious copy inscribed and dated December 1972 by Samuel Beckett to his friend the painter Geer (Van Velde) and his wife Lise.
Spine and back cover slightly discolored.

What to say of the sliding planes, the shimmering contours, the cut-out figures in the fog, the balance that any little thing can break, breaking and re-forming themselves under our very eyes? How to talk about the colors that breathe and pant? Of the swarming stasis? Of this world without weight...

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 of the german translation by Paul Celan, printed on vergé.

Slight foxings, not serious, on one cover of the slipcase.
A good copy.
Autograph inscription, signed and dated, by Paul Celan to the surrealiust painter Edgar Jené and his wife : "Für Erica und Edgar Jené herzlich, Paul Celan. Paris, am 30. Oktober 1960".

First edition of only 100 copies, numbered by Pierre-Eugène Clairin on pur fil de Lana paper, plus a few hors commerce copies.
Text by Albert Camus.
With 7 etchings, 2 drypoints and three original lithographs (one in colors) by Pierre-Eugène Clairin, who has signed eight of the illustrations in pencil.
A little light marginal worming, a good copy complete with its chemise and slipcase (with flaps).
Rare.

First edition, one of the review copies.

Spine slightly sunned, minor marginal spots on the front cover.
Precious autograph inscription signed by Maurice de Vlaminck to his Montmartre friend Pierre Mac Orlan: "... son vieux copain..."

First edition, one of 110 numbered copies on China paper, the only printing along with 12 copies on Japon nacré paper and 1 on Chine, variously enriched.
Illustrated with 11 original color lithographs by Jean Fautrier.
Autograph inscription from Robert Ganzo to a couple of his acquaintance.
Manuscript signatures of the author and illustrator on the justification page.
This copy retains its original glassine wrapper showing spiders wandering in the webs they've woven
Occasional very light spotting, a good copy.

With 8 original etchings to text and hors-texte by Oscar Dominguez, one of 70 numbered copies on B.F.K. de Rives paper, the only printing with 4 on old Japon paper, variously enriched.
Autograph inscription from Robert Ganzo to a couple of his acquaintance on half title.
This copy is additionally enhanced with a manuscript quatrain signed by the author on the page opposite half-title.
Autograph signatures of the author and illustrator on the justification page.
Some slight small foxing mostly affecting the first leaves, a joint of the chemise cracked, with a tear almost all over it.
A rare copy in a chemise and flexible...

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.