War 1939-1945: historical archives, pamphlets, leaflets, Resistance testimonies, collaboration documents, war memoirs

Fourth draft of the screenplay.

Printed wrappers worn, reinforced at the spine with adhesive tape, soiling, corner creases, small tear to the front cover, otherwise good internal condition. The mentions of the third draft printed on the front cover and title page are struck through and corrected in ink - "quatrième version" [fourth draft].
Newspaper clippings, brochures, and documents relating to the film and its screenings are laid in. A few pencil annotations on pages 22, 23, 105, and 108.

An intermediate draft of the screenplay for Louis Malle's classic film recounting a traumatic episode from his childhood during the Occupation.

First edition, one of 1,000 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe issue after 69 copies on Holland paper.
A fine copy, complete in five volumes.

Rare first edition of the French translation, one of 350 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe issue after 50 copies on pur fil.

Spine and boards very slightly and marginally sunned, of no consequence.
Rare and attractive copy.

New edition published in the same year as the first, one of 425 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only large-paper copies after 65 copies on pur fil.

Fine copy, with full margins.

Illustrated with a frontispiece drawing by Jean Oberlé.

Dated and signed presentation inscription from Pierre Bourdan to Monsieur Prin.

First edition, one of 65 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

Illustrated with a frontispiece drawing by Jean Oberlé.

First edition, one of 450 numbered copies on Marais pur fil paper, the only deluxe issue announced.

Fine copy, with full margins.

Signed presentation copy from Pierre Bourdan to Monsieur Prin, conveying his best wishes for the year 1946.

First edition on ordinary paper.

A very good copy.

Signed presentation copy from Jorge Semprun to Sylvie Genevoix.

Album of postcards depicting the châteaux of the Loire, probably dating from the late 1930s. 

A precious and moving inscription by General de Gaulle, on the verso of the album's title page, containing seventeen views of châteaux in the Loire valley: "Offered by my dear niece Geneviève", signed with his initials. It is with these very words that he presented her his war memoirs: "To my dear niece Geneviève, who was, at once, to the very end, on the brink of death, a soldier of Free France, and whose example has served me."

First public edition of this text by Jean Guéhenno, written under the pseudonym Cévennes, one of 60 numbered copies on Madagascar paper, from the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

Deluxe first edition on Oikos paper, limited to 200 copies, this copy being one of 5 presentation copies signed by the publisher and enriched with unpublished documents relating to the discovery of the manuscript.

Swiss binding with exposed stitching, smooth cloth spine, illustrated boards and slipcase.

Original French translation of the last manuscript recovered from a deportee assigned to the Sonderkommandos.

Marcel Nadjary (1917-1971), a Greek Jew from Thessaloniki, deported to Auschwitz in the spring of 1944, was assigned to the Sonderkommando. He wrote a...

First edition on ordinary paper.

Half black long-grain morocco binding, smooth spine tooled in palladium with author, title, and date, anthracite-grey paper boards, original wrappers and spine preserved (the latter with two small stains at head and foot), endpapers and pastedowns of anthracite-grey paper, binding signed Thomas Boichot.

Precious and exceptional signed presentation inscription by Louis-Ferdinand Céline: "A Mac Orlan son admirateur et ami fidèle. LFerd"

First edition, with no deluxe paper copies issued (except for No. 7) for each volume.
Our complete set comprises:
Céline Notebooks 1: Céline and the Literary Scene 1932–1957.
Céline Notebooks 2: Céline and the Literary Scene 1957–1961.
Céline Notebooks 3: Semmelweis and Other Medical Writings.
Céline Notebooks 4: Letters and Early Writings from Africa 1916–1917.
Céline Notebooks 5: Letters to Female Friends.
Céline Notebooks 6: Letters to Albert Paraz 1947–1957.
Céline Notebooks 7: Céline and Current Events 1933–1961.
Céline Notebooks 8: Progress followed by Works for Stage and Screen.
Illustrations.
Rare complete set.

First edition, with no copies printed on deluxe paper.

Minor spots to the covers, not affecting the condition.

Inscribed and signed by Georges Didi-Huberman to a friend named Annick.

First edition, of which no copies were issued on deluxe paper.

Illustrated, complete with the two folding maps at the end of the volume.

Inscribed by René Grousset: "A monsieur Benoist-Méchin en témoignage de profonde reconnaissance" and additionally signed by Geneviève Grousset.

Accompanied by a one-page autograph letter signed by René Grousset to Jacques Benoist-Méchin, in which he thanks him for his interventions on behalf of his son-in-law and daughter, whom he saved.

First edition, one of 265 numbered copies on alfa paper.

A handsome copy, notwithstanding a small marginal tear to the lower cover.

First edition, one of 150 numbered copies, the only copies on deluxe paper.

Inscribed and signed by Jean-Pierre Abel to Paul Devivat.

Rare and handsome copy with full margins.

First edition published under the pseudonym Cévennes and completed under oppression in Paris on August 1, 1944.

Pleasant copy.

First edition illustrated with original photographs by Robert Doisneau, Marcel Arthaud, Pierre Jahan, Jean Roubier, Pierre Roughol, René Zuber, and Suzanne Laroche.

Publisher’s binding in full tricolour boards, smooth spine without lettering, slightly faded, upper cover decorated with a celebrated photograph by Robert Doisneau, minor spotting to the boards.

A pleasing copy.

First edition printed in 2,000 numbered copies, ours preserved in its original wrappers with Gallimard's resale label.

Fine autograph inscription signed by Jules Roy: "A Jean-Paul Bonnafous ces vieux chants d'un temps de misère, cordialement, Jules Roy."

First edition, one of 45 numbered copies on Vélin du Marais, ours one of 15 lettered copies not for sale, the only copies on deluxe paper.

Attractive copy despite a faint shadow along the margin of the upper cover.

First edition, one of 160 numbered copies on pur fil, the only deluxe paper issue.

Half red shagreen binding with corners, spine with four raised bands framed by black fillets, gilt date at foot, boards covered in moiré-effect paper, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.

A handsome copy in an attractive binding.

First edition, no copies printed on deluxe paper.
Illustrated, a pleasant copy

Precious and very fine autograph inscription, dated and signed by Samuel Mbajum: "Paris, 30 June 2014, au ministre Bernard Kouchner, avec ma sympathie pour votre combat humanitaire, en espérant que vous m'aiderez à plaider le plus largement possible la cause de ces oubliés de l'histoire franco-africaine, et aussi des débats sur la commémoration de la Grande Guerre."

First edition of the French translation, one of 31 numbered copies on pur fil, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

Spine and covers slightly and marginally faded, a pleasant copy.

First edition, no deluxe copies on fine paper were issued.

Spine and rear cover slightly soiled; a clean and attractive copy internally.

Illustrations.

Valuable signed presentation copy from General Gambiez: "A monsieur J. Debu-Bridel en bien cordial hommage cet envoi de synthèse sur la libération de la Corse cette île qui nous est si chère. Château de Vincennes 26 septembre 1974."

A moving relic of the Resistance and Gaullist legacy.

Rare and fragile original French satirical leaflet dated August 1944.
Vertical and horizontal folds.
This rare document begins by stating sarcastic titles and last wishes of Adolf Hitler:
“Hitler, known as Adolphe to the Nazis and Dodofe to the Gretchens of my former Reich of Krauts, declares the following:On the verge of vomiting my soul to the devil, afflicted with dysentery accentuating the brown color of the flaps of my shirt, having my buttocks in disarray (the result of the kicks up my arse picked up on all the fronts of Europe)...”
This mock testament, written in August 1944, delivers a sarcastic commentary on the Axis powers' imminent downfall...

First edition, one of the review copies.

Spine and covers faded, small chips to the corners of the covers and margins of some leaves, brittle and yellowed paper, front free endpaper detached, a delicate copy.

Exceptional and moving signed autograph inscription by Raymond Guérin: "Pour vous mon cher Calet ces Poulpes où vous savez tout ce que j'ai mis de foi et de désespoir. avec l'admiration et l'amitié du grand Dab. R. Guérin 11.5.53. P.S. Nous sommes au Madison jusqu'au 15 mai, puis, du 29 mai au 5 juin. R.G."

First edition, one of 55 numbered copies on Rives vellum, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy with wide margins.

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe copies.

Spine very slightly faded, a pleasing copy.

First edition, one of 125 numbered copies on B.F.K. de Rives, including an additional suite of the illustrations on pure rag paper.

A few minor spots on the covers, a pleasant copy overall.

Two light marginal dampstains on the slipcase, slightly rubbed at the corners.

Signed by Sacha Guitry at the beginning of the first volume.

First edition, one of 18 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe copies.

Bound in navy blue half shagreen with corners, spine with four raised bands, gilt-effect paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.

A handsome copy in an elegant binding.

Inscribed and signed by Benoîte and Flora Groult to Maurice Gorrée (Benoîte signing on Flora’s behalf).

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies printed on Corvol l'orgueilleux, the only copies on deluxe paper along with a few hors commerce copies on the same paper.

A handsome copy.

Inscribed and signed by Armand Lanoux to Maurice Gorrée: "voici le commandant Watrin histoire d'hommes de bonne volonté," with an original drawing of a flower.

First edition, one of 100 numbered copies on pur fil, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

A handsome copy, uncut.

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only large paper copies along with a few hors commerce also printed on alfa.

A fine copy of this work dedicated to the memory of Simone Weil: "qui, si elle était morte assassinée, aurait consacré son dernier instant à prier pour ses bourreaux."

Partly first edition, revised and corrected, of which no deluxe copies were issued; one of the review copies.

Spine and covers slightly and marginally sunned, as usual.
Rare and valuable signed presentation inscription from Robert Antelme to Geneviève Hirsch.

"Il n'y a pas d'espèces humaines, il y a une espèce humaine. C'est parce que nous sommes des hommes comme eux que les SS seront en définitive impuissants devant nous."
["There are no human races; there is only one human race. It is precisely because we are men like them that the SS will ultimately be powerless against us."]

This seminal work on the Nazi concentration...

First edition, one of 110 numbered copies on Marais vellum, ours unnumbered but duly justified at the foot of each spine "Marais" and watermarked, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

A tear to the upper right corner of the rear cover of the last volume.
Handsome complete set in 6 volumes; the author deliberately halted the writing of this work, which deals as much with history as with military history and was originally intended to comprise ten volumes.

First edition, one of 25 copies printed on pure wove paper, the only copies on deluxe paper.

A rare and handsome copy.

First edition, one of 135 numbered copies on pure wove paper, the only deluxe copies.
A handsome copy.
Signed autograph note by José Cabanis on the half-title.

First edition printed in small numbers at the author's expense. This book exists only in proof state with blank wrappers and was never commercially sold. There were no deluxe copies printed.

The author distributed to his friends this set of printed proofs, with blank wrappers. The first cover, also blank, bears a printed stamp "proofs".

Foxing to covers, joints lightly rubbed.

Exceptional presentation copy: "to Monsieur Mauge this clandestine book most cordially Jacques Chardonne."

First edition of the French translation, one of 50 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe issue.
Attractive copy, with minor foxing to the spine.

First edition, one of 158 copies printed on pur fil paper, following only 45 on Hollande.

A fine copy.

First edition, with no copies issued on deluxe paper.

Two unobtrusive creases to the front cover, a well-preserved copy.

Illustrated content.

First edition, one of the advance review copies.

Spine and covers slightly and marginally sunned, internally clean and well-preserved.
Work for which Patrick Modiano was awarded the "Prix Goncourt" in 1978.
Rare inscribed copy, signed by Patrick Modiano to Jean-François Revel.
 

First edition on ordinary paper.

Spine creased as often, otherwise a pleasant copy.

Illustrated.

Inscribed and signed by Jean Marais to Madame Romanini.

First edition, one of 15 copies on Japan paper, the deluxe issue.

Minor foxing to the edges of the covers, otherwise a desirable and uncommon copy with all edges uncut.

Rare example of this propaganda leaflet published by the Nazi Occupier, which became the most iconic image of the Resistance. This smaller version of the famous Affiche Rouge features the poster on the recto and a paragraph on the verso castigating « l'Armée du crime contre la France » ("the Army of Crime against France"). It opens with accusations against the « rêve mondial du complot juif » ("the global dream of the Jewish conspiracy") and claims that « si des Français sabotent, pillent et tuent (...) ce sont toujours des juifs qui les inspirent » ("if Frenchmen sabotage, loot, and kill (...) it is always Jews who inspire them").
A...

First edition.
Former owner's name on upper left corner of title page, spine wrinkled.
Our copy exceptionally contains signatures of several members of the editorial committee of the Association des déportées et internées de la Résistance or former deportees to the Ravensbrück camp, including: Renée Mirande-Laval, Jacqueline Souchère-Richet, Hélène Renal, Rose Guérin, Jacqueline Rigault, Simone Gournay, Marie-Antoinette Allemandi-Clastres, some of whom have added their deportee registration number below their signatures.

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued; one of the review copies.

Spine and covers lightly and marginally sunned, a crease mark to the lower right corner of the rear cover, complete with the publisher's review slip.

Signed presentation copy from Jehan Laurent Gheerbrandt to the writer Jean Henri Guillaumet.

First edition, one of 200 numbered copies on Lafuma pur fil paper, the only deluxe issue after 125 copies on alfa paper and 25 on Hollande.

A few minor rubs to the slightly sunned spine.

Important signed presentation inscription from Lise Lamarre to the eminent Resistance figure Jacques Debû-Bridel: "Puisse ce livre vous aider à conserver le souvenir de Lise Lamarre, française de bonne souche, dont le coeur et l'esprit surent dans la pire adversité dominer les évènements..."

This presentation inscription alludes to the ordeal endured by Lise Lamarre and her husband, who were accused of collaboration and imprisoned despite having themselves...

Autograph manuscripts, signed, comprising two humorous tales and three poems, written in blue ballpoint pen and violet ink, on both sides of a single sheet of ruled paper.

A few cancellations and ink smudges; minor soiling.

Autograph postcard, signed "Alain", addressed to Lucien Daniaux in Papeete, Tahiti, written on the reverse of a photographic portrait of a smiling young Polynesian woman. Stamp of Australian Papua, postal marks, English censorship stamp ("passed by censor").

Sent a few months before his death, this postcard documents the final journey of the French traveller, undertaken amid the hostile climate of the Second World War.

First edition, no deluxe copies issued.

A few minor black specks to the boards, one stain to the lower edge, otherwise a pleasing copy.

Illustrated.

Presentation copy inscribed by Martin Gray: "A Astoria la vie sans amour n'est rien..." [In Astoria life without love amounts to nothing...]

First edition of this poem by Paul Eluard, lithographed after his manuscript, accompanying the seven gouaches by Jean Hugo reproduced in pochoir. One of 948 numbered copies on vélin pur fil.

Wrappers with turned-in flaps, in loose gatherings. Wrappers slightly soiled with a few instances of foxing, shallow wormholes to the front cover.

Autograph presentation inscription signed by the author to Jacques Coutant: "à Jacques Coutant dans Paris délivré mais encore convalescent" ["To Jacques Coutant, in Paris - liberated, yet still convalescent"].

First illustrated edition with twelve full-page plates by Gérard Vulliamy, one of a thousand numbered copies on cream laid paper.

Original wrappers with flaps. Wrapper very slightly creased, otherwise a fine copy. Ex-dono inscription on the half-title.

First public edition of this foundational text of the intellectual Resistance.

Handwritten ownership inscription recording the volume as a gift, small tears and one snag to the spine, rear cover creased along the right-hand edge.

First edition, one of 70 named and numbered copies on Madagascar paper.

Faint marginal crease marks to the lower right-hand corner of the front wrapper.

Illustrated with a frontispiece drawn and wood-engraved by Vassily Photiadès.
Signed presentation inscription from Joseph Kessel to Emmanuel Arago, for whom this copy was specially printed.

First edition, one of 56 hors commerce name copies on Saint-Amand, the only deluxe issue with 32 copies on hollande.
A fine copy.

Name copy printed for Kessel's friend Eddy Marnay signed and inscrbied by Joseph Kessel beneath the limitation statement and his name: "... ou le zombie son ami Jef."

Born Edmond Bacri, he was a French lyricist and singer who wrote approximately 4,000 songs, including Les Amants de Paris for Edith Piaf.

First edition, one of 24 numbered copies on pure wove paper, the deluxe issue.

Spine showing two small areas of sunning at the head and foot.

A rare and pleasing copy of this novel set against the backdrop of the French collapse during the Second World War.