Antique and illustrated books, first edition drawings, painters' monographs, artists' watercolors, studies, catalogs, painting history

First edition, one of the numbered copies.

Publisher's binding after the original binding design by Paul Bonet.

Richly illustrated.

A fine copy.

Long unpublished autograph letter signed by Marcel Vertès to Carlo Rim, six pages. Written in a large, flowing hand in black ink on three leaves, stapled together with an envelope and a newspaper clipping. Some light foxing and folds.

A long polemical letter in which Marcel Vertès, a year before his death, defends his attack on abstract art and reproaches his old friend Carlo Rim for failing to support him.

First edition of Michel Seuphor's poems with drawings by Ania Staritsky.

Illustrated wrappers slightly yellowed and soiled, a light corner crease to the upper cover.

First edition, illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of Edouard Manet by Bracquemond and an etching by Edouard Manet after "Olympia".

Black half morocco over corners, spine with five raised bands ruled in blind, date gilt at foot, marbled paper boards, stone-patterned endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, binding signed by Stroobants.

A rare and handsome copy, attractively bound.

A collection of twelve issues of L'Amour de l'art for the year 1931, bound together in one volume, richly illustrated.

Half shagreen brown binding with corners, marbled paper boards, spine with four raised bands, gilt-lettered title and date on spine, marbled paper endpapers, gilt top edge, original Art Deco wrappers preserved. A few minor rubs and spots of soiling to the binding, some leaves lightly browned at the margins, otherwise a fine copy.

Contributions by Elie Faure, René Huyghe, Claude Roger-Marx, Germain Bazin, Jean Cassou, Paul Fierens, Raymond Cogniat, Charles Léger, Pierre Prat, Charles Sterling, Tristan Klingsor, Raymond...

Original linen-backed lithograph, featuring a large portrait of Liane de Pougy by A. Gallice after a photograph by Léopold-Émile Reutlinger (“cliché Reutlinger” stated on the plate). Printed by G. Bataille. Horizontal and vertical fold marks, discreet traces of rolling at the hem of the dress, four pasted and stamped tax stamps, and a shadow in the left margin.

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Exceptionally rare original poster advertising a performance by the dancer and courtesan Liane de Pougy, renowned...

Original ink drawing by Marie-Laure de Noailles, signed “Marie-Laure” within the artwork (appearing twice as a result of folding the paper while the ink was still wet). With an autograph postcard signed to Valentine Hugo, with two inscriptions and some parts of the photograph drawn over. 

First edition, one of 26 copies on pure wove paper, the only deluxe-paper issue.

A rare and handsome copy.

Antoine Tudal was the son-in-law and close confidant of Nicolas de Staël, who confided to him a few days before his death: "Tu sais, je ne sais pas si je vais vivre longtemps. Je crois que j'ai assez peint. Je suis arrivé à ce que je voulais..."

Rare first edition of the catalogue for Picasso’s final exhibition at the Galerie Paul Rosenberg in Paris, held from 17 January to 18 February 1939 at 21 rue La Boétie. The front wrapper is illustrated with a black-and-white photograph of the exhibition’s centrepiece: La sculpture nègre devant la fenêtre, now known as Buste de Minotaure devant une fenêtre (Private Collection; see Zervos, vol. VIII, p. 360). Painted on 19 April 1937, the work is widely regarded as a precursor to the bull of Guernica, executed only a few weeks later.

An excellent, well-preserved copy.

The plaquette lists the 33 works exhibited, arranged by year of execution-...

Rare first edition comprising a fine series of 40 two-tone lithographs by Yuko Watanabe depicting Japanese types, scenes of traditional life, costumes, and more: Ronin, hara-kiri, samurai, the attack on Shogun Nobunaga, a geisha’s visit, young women paying a call, a game of go...

Not in Colas, nor Hiler & Hiler; lacking from the Bn; not in Nipponalia or Cordier. Wenckstern, I, p. 228 (gives the Yokohama address, undated, and mentions two volumes, the second—of which no trace could be found—containing 25 plates).

Bound in full beige cloth, smooth spine without lettering, lithograph mounted on the upper cover; twentieth-century binding.

Minor tears affecting three...

Rare and luxurious invitation card for the exhibition organized by art critic André Warnod on "art nègre," a term he coined in 1910 in the journal Comœdia to originally designate African and Oceanic statuary. From January 20 to February 20, 1926, four painters were invited to exhibit at the art gallery of the Grande Maison de Blanc, Place de l'Opéra in Paris. These were most likely the French artists Marguerite Guy-Lemm (née Lemaire) and Luc-Albert Moreau, the Uruguayan Pedro Figari, and the Dutchman Kees van Dongen.

Fine...

First edition, one of 40 numbered copies on Ingres paper, deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

First edition, with no deluxe-paper copies printed.
Illustrations.

A handsome copy despite the slightly faded spine.

Precious and fine signed presentation copy from Louis Aragon to Maurice Druon: "A Maurice Druon, pour qu'il sache que de temps je m'égarée dans Césarée. [sic] Louis".

Handwritten postcard from André Breton signed by himself, his wife Elisa, Benjamin Péret, Toyen and Jindřich Heisler addressed to Marcel Jean and his wife and written on the back of a black and white photograph view of the Chaise-du-Curé rocks on the Île de Sein (Finistère).
Charming poetic postcard, written during a stay in Brittany: "la corne de brume manque à tous ses devoirs quoique le coupage au couteau soit de règle. Dans la vase à quoi se limite la vue de l'hôtel de l'Océan un bateau penché dit son nom : "Rose effeuillée". Rien de moins. Mais c'est toujours très bien dans l'ensemble." Returning to more “professional” discussions, Breton asks for news of the...

First edition of this issue of the review consisting of two folded sheets.
Marginal lacks very skillfully filled on the sheets.
On the first, a color woodcut representing Paul Signac by Georges Seurat.
On the following ones, text by Félix Fénéon in first edition entitled "Signac".
Very rare issue.

First bilingual edition with texts in Spanish and French, one of the numbered copies.

Publisher’s full beige cloth bindings, smooth spines, complete with their illustrated dust jackets and slipcase.

A richly illustrated work featuring numerous black and colour reproductions of Vieira da Silva’s artworks.

Texts by Jean-François Jaeger, Guy Weelen, Jean-Luc Daval, Diane Daval Béran, Virginie Duval...

A fine copy, complete with the chronological list of works reproduced in colour, inserted as a loose leaf.

First edition, richly illustrated with reproductions of works by Edouard-Marcel Sandoz.

Publisher’s full cream cloth binding, smooth spine, complete with its illustrated dust jacket.

A very handsome copy.

First edition of this album of caricatures by Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi which he numbered and initialed (copy no. 36). Printed “in small numbers” (Bartholdi Museum), with only six located in institutions (Colmar Museum, BnF, Harvard, UPenn, NYPL, Rutgers University).

Publisher’s blue cloth binding, flat spine gilt-lettered lengthwise, upper board numerously framed in black, anchors and stars stamped in black at the corners, title and date gilt-stamped; lower board numerously framed in black, black stars at the corners and a central anchor, red edges. Slight rubbing to joints, faint...

Partly original edition, with no mention of a deluxe paper issue.

Half black shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands tooled with gilt garlands, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt edges, contemporary binding.

Pleasant copy.

Partly original edition, entirely revised.

Some foxing.

Rare copy preserved in its original wrappers.

Exhibition catalogue of paintings by Tony Curtis, presented at the Center Art Galleries in Hawaii.

Catalogue illustrated with reproductions of works by Tony Curtis.

A very good copy. The original mailing envelope for the catalogue is included.

Signed by Tony Curtis in blue felt-tip pen on the front cover of the catalogue.

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

First edition of the exhibition catalogue presenting 37 works by Claude Monet at the Galerie Durand-Ruel from 9 May to 4 June 1904.

During the exhibition, most of the paintings were immediately purchased by American collectors.

Binding in vellum-effect paper boards, names of the catalogue preface writer and the painter inscribed in ink, water-effect paper endpapers, covers and spine preserved, curious ex-libris drawn by H. P. Gassier glued to a pastedown endpaper, binding signed Gonon.
Preface by Octave Mirbeau.

A rare and pleasant copy.

First edition of this program of events organized by the Centre National d'Art Contemporain from 16 October to 23 December 1974, presenting the works of Christian Boltanski and Jacques Monory.
The December date has been modified in green felt pen at the foot of the program.
Presentation of photographic, cinematographic and book-based works by Christian Boltanski and pictorial works by Jacques Monory.

A very rare document.

Very rare first issue of this periodical, the mouthpiece of German Expressionism founded by Herwarth Walden in 1910.
Text by Rudolf Blümmer.

One tear at the bottom of the spine, another at the head, pale angular damp stain on the marginally discoloured
covers, the text sheet tends to come apart. A fragile set held together by two strings.

Illustrated catalogue of 15 colour reproductions of artworks, laid on thick black paper by Marc Chagall (3 works), Wassily Kandinsky (2), Alexander Archipen
ko (1), Rudolf Bauer (1), Albert Gleizes (1), Reinhard Goering (1), Jacoba von Heemskerck (1), Paul Klee (1), Fernand Léger (1), Franz Marc (1), Johannes...

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

Illustrations.

A few very light, insignificant spots of foxing.

A handsome copy, complete with its illustrated dust jacket.

Autograph manuscript signed by the painter and writer Jacques-Émile Blanche, entitled « Serge de Diaghileff ». Five leaves written in black ink, with numerous corrections in blue. Autograph foliation in black ink, later foliation in blue pencil. Leaf 4, originally in two parts, was joined with a strip of adhesive affixed to the verso.

Crossed-out passages and corrections.

A very fine funeral oration by Jacques-Émile Blanche for his friend Serge Diaghilev, director of the celebrated Ballets Russes.
The painter and writer Jacques-Émile Blanche pays tribute to the genius of Serge Diaghilev, shortly after his death in Venice in 1929. Chosen as...

First edition of this issue of the magazine edited by Jean-Louis Bory, with Pierre Bourgeade as editor-in-chief.
The entire issue is devoted to the work of Arman, who also authored the texts.
Illustrated throughout.

A handsome copy.

First edition, printed on vellum paper in 260 numbered copies.

Bradel binding in half vellum-style boards, smooth spine, gilt title running lengthwise, gilt fillet framing the marbled paper covers, top edge gilt.

A long orange offset to the margin of the lower cover on the vellum-style board, light orange offsets to the margins of the white endpapers.

Illustrated with 68 plates reproducing drawings by Max Liebermann in facsimile.

This copy retains the two original etchings by Max Liebermann, each signed by him in pencil.

First edition of this exceptionally rare complete set of twelve dance scores, each comprising a color-printed wrapper and five leaves (title page, four numbered pages of engraved music, and one blank leaf). All covers were lithographed and hand-colored using stencil techniques by Adolphe Cathelin, whose name appears on the title pages.

The musical works are by composers Alexandre Croisez, Alexandre Artus, Eugène Dupuis, Camille Michel, Alphonse Leduc, Émile Waldteufel, Voctir-Auguste Dolmetsch, Félix Joufferoy, and Antony Lamotte.

Contemporary half green calf binding, smooth spine decorated with gilt and blind-stamped fillets and dotted lines, joints rubbed; granite-patterned...

First edition printed in 700 numbered copies, ours being one of the 50 non-commercial copies.

Publisher's binding in full blue cloth, smooth spines, copies complete with their illustrated dust jackets.

Rich iconography.

Beautiful copy in two volumes, complete with its soft cardboard case.

First edition, one of 40 numbered copies, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

A handsome and scarce copy.

Illustrated with full-page color drawings by André François.

Pencil signature by Vincent Pachès at the colophon.

Autograph letter signed by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres to Charles Paillet, with autograph address and title "Honorary Expert Commissioner of the Royal Museums", with postal stamps. Usual fold marks. A marginal tear repaired without affecting the text.

Ingres provides descriptions and exhibition instructions for his two paintings Aretino and the Ambassador of Charles V and Aretino in the Studio of Tintoretto.

First edition, one of 950 copies on Vélin Vidalon signed by André Marchand, the only printing following 49 copies on Vélin d'Arches.

Bound in black morocco-backed boards with corners, smooth spine, gilt fillet borders on cat's eye paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, all edges gilt. Slipcase edged in black morocco, marbled paper panels. Binding signed by D. Saporito.

Illustrated with 50 splendid original lithographs by André Marchand, printed by Mourlot.

Featuring previously unpublished texts by Georges Spyridaki, René Lacôte, Georges Hugnet, Gabriel Audisio, Raymond Queneau, David Herbert...

Handsome suite of 72 engraved plates of ornamentation, including the title page, printed on bluish paper. The first 64 plates feature decorative friezes and motifs characteristic of the Empire style—Neoclassical elements and the so-called “Retour d’Égypte,” adorned with laurel and oak wreaths, imperial eagles, etc. The final 7 leaves display interior arrangements in the style of the period.

Enclosed: the price list for the models offered by the manufactory of Joseph Beunat, recipient of a silver medal for patented inventions.

Contemporary temporary binding in marbled blue paper boards, flat spine with scuffs and small paper losses, red morocco title label, lower corners...

First edition of this issue entirely devoted to Guillaume Apollinaire.
With numerous contributions including those by Guillaume Apollinaire, Tristan Tzara, Pierre Albert-Birot, Paul Dermée, André Salmon, and Roche Grey. Iconography, illustrations, facsimiles; a complete copy including the portrait of Guillaume Apollinaire by Marcoussis.
Two small tears at the head and foot of the spine, a well-preserved copy.

Front cover illustrated with a portrait of Guillaume Apollinaire by Pablo Picasso.

First edition of the French translation by Dominique Aubier, printed in 150 numbered copies on Rives wove paper, ours being one of 30 copies including the original print, numbered and signed by Louis Chavignier.

Our copy is one of only 10 exceptionally enriched with an additional suite on chine appliqué of the etching by Alberto Giacometti and the 14 burin engravings by Louis Chavignier.

The work is illustrated with an original etching as frontispiece by Alberto Giacometti, and 14 full-page original burin engravings by sculptor Louis Chavignier.

A handsome and rare copy.

Enclosed is the printed report, on Rives paper, of the...

First edition, one of 15 copies printed on japon impérial, most limited deluxe issue.

Bradel binding with grey box spine, front board in plexiglass revealing the original cover, back board in grey box, original wrappers and spine preserved, housed in a soft grey paper chemise lined with light grey felt; unsigned binding by Mercher.

Illustrated with three original lithographs, including the original colour illustration on the cover.

Discreet repairs to...

First edition of the catalogue of the 33 works by Paul Cézanne exhibited at the Galerie Bernheim Jeune & Cie from Wednesday 1st to Saturday 18th December 1920.

Upper cover lightly sunned along the edges, printed stamp and shelf number to upper left corner of the inside front cover; otherwise a rare and attractive copy.

Some pencil annotations in the margins of a few of the listed works.

Catalogue illustrated with 10 reproductions of the artist’s works.

Introductory text by Octave Mirbeau.

Autograph letter signed by Jean-Jacques Henner to his friend Castagnary, 18 lines in black ink on a bifolium.

The letter is almost entirely devoid of punctuation.

A date written in violet ink, likely indicating when the recipient received the letter.

"Mon cher ami,

votre très aimable invitation m'est arrivée malheureusement un peu en retard vous aviez l'adressé place Clichy au lieu de place Pigalle et à mon grand regret je ne suis pas libre j'en suis désolé vous savez tout le plaisir que j'ai a venir chez vous soyez donc mon interprète auprès de madame Castagnary et excusez moi. Votre tout  dévoué JJHenner."

Autograph note signed by Caran d'Ache to a lady friend, 18 lines in pencil on a bifolium, with each letter written in uppercase.

Tears repaired with adhesive patches, minor loss to corners not affecting the text.

"Admirable madame ! Grandpierre & non Dampierre est votre proche voisin rue d'Offemont. Je me traîne à vos pieds heureux de baiser la pointe de vos pieds. Caran d'Ache."

The rue d'Offemont, located in the Plaine Monceau district, is now known as rue Henri Rochefort.

First edition of the retrospective exhibition catalogue of 109 works by George Bottini, held at Galerie L. Dru from 15 April to 8 May 1926.

Minor foxing to the front cover, not affecting legibility.

Text by Adolphe Tabarant.

A rare and appealing copy.

Catalogue for the exhibition of 28 works by Edouard Vuillard held at Galerie Bernheim Jeune & Cie from Monday 13 to Saturday 25 February 1911.

Three light halos along the left margin of the upper cover, and a small tear along the right margin of the lower cover.

Illustrated catalogue featuring 3 reproductions of works by Edouard Vuillard.

Rare.

Exhibition catalogue of the 43 works by Kees Van Dongen shown at the Galerie Bernheim Jeune from Tuesday, March 1 to Wednesday, March 9, 1921.

Illustrated catalogue with 5 reproductions of Van Dongen's works.

Ink annotations on the verso of the front wrapper, the title page, and continuing on the final two pages of the catalogue, regarding a painting by the artist. Minor, usual rust marks around the staples.

Rare.

First edition of the catalogue listing 58 works by Henri Matisse exhibited at Galerie Bernheim Jeune & Cie from October 15 to November 6, 1920.

Upper cover slightly faded along the left margin, printed stamp to upper left corner of the verso of the front cover, otherwise a rare and attractive copy.

Illustrated catalogue featuring 19 reproductions of the artist's works.

Introductory text by Charles Vildrac.

First edition of the exhibition catalogue for 21 recent works by Pierre Bonnard, shown at the Galerie Bernheim from 19 May to 7 June 1913.

Catalogue illustrated with 10 reproductions of works by Pierre Bonnard.

Rare and handsome copy.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Japan paper, ours not numbered but printed for the publisher, a copy from the deluxe issue.

Half black morocco binding, spine with five raised bands, date gilt-stamped at foot, moiré paper sides, endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, binding signed in blind by Ch. Septier.

Illustrated with 21 hors-texte engravings by Daniel Vierge, along with numerous in-text black-and-white engravings.

Our copy, as with all copies on Japan paper, includes the hors-texte engravings in two states.

A handsome and finely bound copy.

Autograph letter dated and signed by Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen, 30 lines in black ink, written from his Montmartre residence at 21 rue Caulaincourt, addressed to his friends the Lefèvres.

Folding marks inherent to mailing, minor marginal tears.

The painter inquires after the health of Madame Lefèvre, who was unwell at the time, and asks his correspondent to see that everything is put in order at their house in Saint Ay, where his wife and model Massia would soon be staying.

Steinlen is held back in Paris: "Pour moi, je ne se sais trop ce que je ferai, en tout cas, je ne puis quitter Paris avant le 15 - d'ici là des évènements peuvent survenir qui me bloqueront...

Catalogue for the exhibition of 29 works by Édouard Vuillard held at the Galerie Bernheim Jeune & Cie from Monday 15 to Saturday 27 April 1912.

Illustrated catalogue featuring 3 reproductions of works by Édouard Vuillard.

Rare and appealing copy.

Autograph note dated and signed by Henri Laurens, 7 lines in black ink, addressed to a Mr Fardel, most likely Gildas Fardel, the prominent art collector.

A handsome example.

Henri Laurens writes to postpone their appointment, as he will not be at his studio at the agreed time.

A major collector of abstract art, Gildas Fardel donated part of his collection to the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Nantes in 1958.

Exceptional illuminated manuscript of 35 poems by Stéphane Mallarmé, probably copied by Joris-Karl Huysmans on watermarked Hollande laid paper, after pre-first editions of the poems published in journals. Most of the poems are preceded by a separate title-page noting the source from which it is taken.

The manuscript includes a fine charcoal portrait of Mallarmé as a frontispiece by Charles Tichon, after a photographic portrait by Van Bosch. The portrait was published in the Mallarmé issue of Empreintes...

Autograph letter dated and signed by André Breton, 21 lines in blue ink on a single sheet, addressed to Georges Isarlo of the journal Combat-Art concerning a text given to him by his friend José Pierre.

True to form, the leading figure and high priest of Surrealism seeks to clarify matters with his correspondent: "Vous comprendrez sûrement le souci que je puis avoir de ne pas, sous un vain prétexte d'anniversaire, laisser dénaturer le sens et gâter le fruit de quarante années de lutte et voudrez bien considérer qu'il a pour tous ses signataires - répondants du surréalisme aujourd'hui - la même importance vitale que pour moi."

Autograph manuscript by André Breton initialed three times by his hand, written in black ink on two leaves. Multiple crossed-out and rewritten passages, annotations by his hand in pencil.
Pagination in blue pen on each of the leaves. Published in the review Medium, Paris, 1st series (sheet) no. 8, June 1953.
Breton delivers spirited literary and artistic chronicles for the Surrealist review Médium - and lashes out with great virulence against the "false witnesses" and "dubious witnesses" who criticize Surrealism.
The praise of Premier bilan de l'art actuel by his friend Robert Lebel becomes the occasion for a violent attack...

Autograph letter dated and signed by Henri Martin, post-impressionist painter who was a pupil of Jean-Paul Laurens, 20 lines written in black ink. 
Central fold inherent to postal dispatch. At the end of the missive, some calculation notes in black ink probably traced by the recipient.

Autograph letter signed by painter Elis­abeth Vigée-Lebrun addressed to his­torical painter and portraitist Hortense Haudebourt-Lescot. Two pages in black ink on a bifolium. Autograph address of Mme Haudebourt, 19 rue Rochefou­cauld, on verso of second leaf. Usual horizontal folds, tear without damage to the text on the second leaf due to the wax seal. A bibliographer's note in blue pencil on the verso of the last leaf.

Engraved bookplate of Eward Wasserman by Marie Laurencin with the words "Ex-libris Edward Wasserman" inscribed on the plate.

Outstanding print on japon with wide margins of Laurencin's engraving for bibliophile Edward Wasserman.