Charentes & Aquitaine

Autograph letter dated and signed by Jacques Chardonne to literary critic and novelist Frédéric Lefèvre, 23 lines in black ink on a single leaf with letterhead of his address at La Frette, notably regarding members of the Prix Goncourt jury.
Mailing fold as expected. Envelope included.
Jacques Chardonne advises and recommends to Frédéric Lefèvre the attitude to adopt toward members of the Goncourt jury after the publication of his latest work. He also wants to help his friend and bring all his literary weight to bear in order to make his work favorably known: "When you send the deluxe copies, signed by you, I will write again and I will go see those I can reach directly."
Jacques Chardonne also mentions the distribution of his recently published Claire: "I sent a copy of Claire (my pleasure) to Madame Arnoux, at Nouvelles. As well as a copy to you, M. du Gard, and Charensol, last Thursday. In your copy, I included a note telling you that a deluxe copy was naturally reserved for you."

Autograph letter dated by Jacques Chardonne and signed with his initials to literary critic and novelist Jacques Brenner, 52 lines in black ink on a single leaf recto verso regarding the worlds of publishing and literature mired in an overly capitalist vision.
Mailing fold as expected.
For Jacques Chardonne, capitalism rests not on money but on men: "Money is nothing; it gives nothing, saves nothing, it's the barometer, that's all. Everything rests on men... [...] this is very clear in publishing. Le Mercure is a good example (Charpentier likewise; all the 'literary' publishers, for that matter.") ... Do reserves of publishers exist, when they are lacking in a house? (Charpentier was a 'publisher'; the Fasquelles were nothing); similarly Arthème Fayard was a publisher; his successors nothing."... "One can pour capital (which is what we do today) into a house without a 'publisher' and without authors; it's like pissing on sand".
Jacques Chardonne also attacks a consolation prize that displeases him because of its political connotation (the exploitation of misfortune): "I thought that the 'consolation prize' was a figure of speech: I had no idea that she was really poor... [...] what I don't much like about this prize is the political background; the exploitation of misfortune. This has gone on long enough."
He also sharply criticizes certain people like Pierre Dumayet: "You can't imagine Dumayet's behavior. If a nice little lady sings on television quite often, it's because she agreed to see him! I know one who fled (I had recommended her to Dumayet) immediately." or Roger Nimier: "I read Boisdeffre's article on 'five years before'. He's right. One feels the emptiness of Roger Nimier; about which he had no illusions... He only wrote one good book, one of the very first: 'Un grand d'Espagne'. All this is only more tragic."
The author of Destinées sentimentales concludes his letter with this peremptory impression: "Perhaps the best book of this hollow era (except for journalists) is 'Histoire d'O' (don't mention it at the Academy).
Fine autograph letter from Jacques Chardonne, at the twilight of his life, full of bitter condemnations of society and men.

First edition printed on ordinary paper.
Bradel binding in half yellow cloth, smooth spine decorated with a gilt floral motif, double gilt fillet at tail, brown shagreen title label with scratches, combed paper boards, original wrappers preserved, contemporary binding.
A library shelf label pasted at upper corner of one pastedown, bookseller's description label pasted on one endpaper.

First and only edition. This copy is one of the rare examples complete with the 64 full-page plates. The work is also illustrated with a title vignette depicting the artist Ambroise-Louis Garneray in a small boat, sketching the entrance to the port of Brest.

Contemporary binding of half tan sheep with corners, smooth spine richly decorated in gilt and blind with multiple large typographic tools, discreet restorations to the joints, marbled-paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns.

A magnificent work on the ports of France, and one of the finest collections ever produced on the subject.

The author of these highly precise engravings joined the navy at the age of thirteen and thereby witnessed numerous naval battles. From 1806 he was imprisoned for eight years in Portsmouth, using his captivity to study drawing and painting and to record the scenes he had observed during his voyages. Upon his return from the United Kingdom, Garneray became painter to the Duke of Angoulême, then Grand Admiral of France, later serving as director of the Rouen museum, and entering the Sèvres manufactory where he executed numerous maritime subjects.

His work, of remarkable delicacy and realism, was praised by Melville in Moby-Dick: "Who Garneray the painter is, or was, I know not. But my life for it he was either practically conversant with his subject, or else marvellously tutored by some experienced whaleman. The French are the lads for painting action." 

First edition.
Publisher's binding in full black paper boards, smooth spine, spine and covers richly decorated with gilt ornamental motifs, blind-ruled frame on covers, yellow paper endpapers and pastedowns, contemporary Romantic binding.
Some light foxing.
Work illustrated with 12 engravings devoted to the different regions of France.

Autograph letter signed by Jacques Chardonne with his initials, 20 lines in blue ink regarding a supply error at Stock concerning François Nourissier's latest work.
Fold inherent to mailing. A date has been added at the top of the letter (21 January 68), probably the date this missive was received by the addressee.
Jacques Chardonne expresses surprise and indignation at the delay that Stock seems to have experienced in supplying and putting on sale François Nourissier's latest work ("Le Maître de Maison" published in 1968): "... For weeks people have been writing articles about the Nourissier... If truly a bookstore such as Stock only received the Nourissier three days ago, there is a rather serious mistake here."
Finally, Chardonne relieves his anger by delivering this unfriendly judgment on the magazine "Arts" and its readership: "Always excellent the Matthieu (certainly Matthieu Galey) in "Arts". "Arts" loses sight of one thing: a reader of "Arts" is a man who turns pages. No need to exhaust oneself much for him."

Autograph letter signed by Jacques Chardonne with his initials, 14 lines in blue ink.
Fold inherent to mailing. A date has been added at the top of the letter (February 66), probably the date this missive was received by the addressee.
A small ink stain at the foot of the letter.
Jacques Chardonne congratulates his correspondent on his departure for a trip to Megève even though he recommends that he disdain, as a "young king of Paris" this kind of place, just good enough to impress: "rich provincials, who feel in exile in Tourcoing or Abbeville (sic), and who come to Megève, to see high society, at any cost" and to prefer to this resort other places more beautiful and less expensive : "... if it's about mountains, for health, you have others just as beautiful elsewhere, for a quarter of the price".

Autograph letter from Jacques Chardonne signed with his initials, 14 lines in blue ink.
Fold inherent to postal handling. A date has been added at the top of the letter (Jan. 66), probably the date of receipt of this missive by the recipient.
Minor spotting at the foot of the letter not affecting the text.
Addressing an unidentified recipient, Jacques Chardonne invites his correspondent to obtain Christine Garnier's work "L'homme et son personnage" published by Grasset in 1955: "... Tachez de trouver ce livre, emportez-le, et gardez-le. Il peut vous être utile, plus tard, quand il y aura la nuit derrière vous." ["Try to find this book, take it with you, and keep it. It may be useful to you, later, when there will be night behind you."]
To conclude his letter, Jacques Chardonne offers a final and no less curious piece of advice, filled with ironic false candor: "Je vous recommande spécialement le Chardonne. Il m'a surpris par sa constance, dans une certaine voie. A vous. JC." ["I especially recommend the Chardonne. He surprised me with his consistency, in a certain way. Yours. JC."]
This certainly refers to his last work published in 1966 by Grasset: "Propos comme ça".

First edition.
Important work containing virtually everything that can be found about the Gascon language with numerous variants and spellings. An indispensable working tool for all those studying the Occitan language.
Handsome copy

First edition illustrated with 55 figures in the text and one plate.
Unlettered spine.
Rare and handsome copy.

Signed autograph letter of Jacques Chardonne, 32 lines in blue ink on letterhead.
Folding inherent in enveloping.
Speaking to an unidentified recipient, Jacques Chardonne shares his thoughts on " Royan [...] this amazing city ", almost completely destroyed during the Second World War: " There is here a unique social phenomenon I believe in France: a whole city ​​in "co-ownership". Which allowed to draw it with so much boldness and taste. I think that little has been said about this French curiosity. "City intimately linked to the childhood of the author, Royan gives off an atmosphere of mystery that strikes Chardonne:" I do not recognize the Charentais in this prodigality and this spirit of association. [...] Finally, there are many things to see and unravel; too obscure for me. "

Very rare first edition, illustrated with 8 plates including 3 of coins.
Contemporary marbled brown sheep binding. Decorated spine with raised bands. Havana morocco title label. The last compartment is missing but has been placed inside the work. Wormholes at head. 2 corners slightly bumped. Foxing on several plates but the whole relatively fresh. Some rubbing.
According to the "Publisher's Notice", these dissertations, presented to the Academy of Bordeaux, were published by J.-B. de Secondat [Montesquieu's son], perpetual secretary. Extract from the Journal des scavans, February 1775: "...The light that these scholarly and painstaking researches shed on the history of the Roman empire, on that of France and England, makes them no less precious to lovers of Antiquity & to those who apply themselves to medals, than to those who wish to know the particular history of Bordeaux."

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on vergé paper d'Arches paper, the tirage de tête.
With a frontispiece water-color by Yvette Gin-Marvaud.

First edition.
Half caramel cloth binding, smooth spine decorated with blind fillets, joints rubbed, one joint cracked at head, marbled paper boards with tears and scratches, corners slightly bumped, modest and damaged contemporary binding;
Handsome interior condition.

New edition.
Full marbled brown sheep binding, smooth spine decorated with fleurons and richly ornate gilt compartments, red sheep title-label, headcaps worn, some minor scuffing to boards, corners slightly bumped, yellow edges, contemporary binding.
Pleasant interior condition.

First edition.
Half navy shagreen binding, smooth spines showing traces of rubbing decorated with romantic arabesques and double gilt fillets, upper headcaps worn, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, some tears of no great consequence to the leading edges, contemporary bindings.
Work illustrated with 287 plates hors-texte including 3 in color. Some foxing. Rare.

First edition printed in a small number of copies.
A good copy.
A rare copy.

First edition with no mention of deluxe copies.
Autograph inscription by Henri Gadeau de Kerville.
Work illustrated with 77 heliogravures made almost entirely from the author's photographs.
Spine and boards uniformly sunned, handsome interior condition.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

Bilingual first edition in Gascon with French translation on facing pages.
One joint slightly cracked at head and foot, minimal marginal spotting to front cover, handsome interior condition.
Rare.

First edition.
Half hazelnut shagreen binding with corners, spine with five raised bands set with double black fillets, slight rubbing traces on spine, gilt fillet frame on marbled paper boards.
Work illustrated with an engraved frontispiece and 570 coat of arms.
Some minor foxing of no consequence.
Rare.

First edition.
First cover marginally soiled, foxing on the covers and inside the pamphlet.
Rare.

First collected edition.
Two tiny lacks to foot of spine, otherwise handsome copy.
Rare.

The first edition, published in a small number of copies, of this offprint from the bulletin of the Natural History Society of Toulouse.
Work illustrated with figures in the text and complete with its 3 folding plates at the end.
Handsome copy.

First edition printed in 550 numbered copies on Annonay laid paper.
Some spotting affecting mainly the first cover, light traces of adhesive tape on endpapers, handsome interior condition.

First edition printed in a small number of copies of this offprint.
Brochure presented in plain temporary wrappers, slight lacks at head and foot of the unlettered spine, author's name written in ink on the front cover, small corner lacks to covers, copy almost free of foxing.

First edition of this thesis submitted for the degree of doctor of letters.
Work enhanced with tables and diagrams.
Unlettered spine, marginal worming without gravity to the first cover, handsome interior condition.

First edition.
Split spine with lacks, corner damage to boards, Henry de Salles library bookplate pasted to head of front board.

First edition.
Work illustrated with 150 heliogravure photographs.
Handsome copy.

First edition.
Rare and interesting study on the city of Royan.
Spine faded, small marginal lacks to boards, scattered foxing.

First edition.
A very good copy.

First edition of this offprint printed to a small number of copies.
A fine copy.

First edition published in a small number of copies.
Autograph inscription signed by Lesfargues.
About 'Rosières', 'Gougandines', simply virtuous women and honest courtesans.
Spine and boards marginally faded, minor angular lacks to rear board, handsome interior despite small foxing to endpapers.
Rare.

Offprint of a paper presented to the Société Médicale de Pau on January 13, 1927.