Notes pour comprendre le siècle[Notes to Understand the Century]
First edition; one of the press copies.
A pleasing copy.
Signed autograph presentation inscription from Pierre Drieu la Rochelle to Germaine Fiévé.

First edition; one of the press copies.
A pleasing copy.
Signed autograph presentation inscription from Pierre Drieu la Rochelle to Germaine Fiévé.
First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on alfa paper, our copy lettered "A" among the 8 hors commerce lettered copies, the only deluxe paper issue.
A tear at the foot of the spine at the level of the sewing supports, otherwise a pleasant wide-margined copy.
Dated and signed autograph presentation by the publisher beneath the print statement: "Affectueusement reservé à mon admirable collaboratrice Suzanne qui est aussi la plus charmante & la plus précieuse des filleules - que dis-je ? la seule filleule qui compte ! Paris 18 octobre 1942."
First edition, for which no copies were issued on deluxe paper, this being one of the publisher’s review copies.
A small tear at the head of the upper cover, a crease at the foot of the lower.
A pleasing copy, complete with its promotional band.
Dated and signed autograph inscription by René Depestre to the writer Christiane Baroche.
First illustrated edition with 19 original lithographs by Miklos Bokor, printed in 175 numbered copies on Arches vellum, this copy being one of the 15 artist’s proofs signed and justified by the artist.
Autograph signatures of Yves Bonnefoy and Miklos Bokor at the colophon.
Signed autograph inscription by Yves Bonnefoy to a couple of close friends.
A fine copy, complete with its chemise and slipcase.
First collected edition of Paul Celan’s German translation of the poems of Ossip Mandelstam, whom he deeply admired.
Publisher’s original full white cloth, smooth spine, a copy complete with its dust jacket, which shows a few small tears at the head of the spine.
Valuable dated and signed autograph inscription from Paul Celan to his friend, the poet and translator of his works Lydia Kerr: "Für Lydia Kerr, herzlich, 12.2.1963. Paul Celan."
Later edition.
A pleasing copy, despite slight rubbing to the joints.
Rare dated and signed presentation inscription from Paul Celan to his friend, the poet and translator of his works Lydia Kerr.
First edition entirely hand-painted by Jacques Capdeville and printed in 30 numbered copies on vellum, with a small number of hors-commerce copies also issued.
Rare and fine copy, complete with its full flexible paperboard slipcase and with the musical setting of the poem by John Supko, on tracing paper.
Handwritten signatures of Philippe Denis and Jacques Capdeville in the colophon.
First edition illustrated with 12 full-page plates by Françoise Gilot, one of only 115 numbered copies on Arches vellum, the deluxe issue.
Our copy is indeed accompanied by an original lithograph by Françoise Gilot on a separate leaf.
A very good copy.
Paul Éluard’s handwritten signature on the limitation page, lightly and partially shaded as on the facing page.
New compilation of the celebrated songs by the troubadour from Sète, including "La mauvaise réputation", "Le parapluie", "Le petit cheval", "Le fossoyeur", "Le gorille", "Corne d'auroch", "La chasse aux papillons" and "Hécatombe".
Inevitable creasing and light rubbing along the margins of the record sleeve.
A small ballpoint pen doodle in blue ink on the lower cover.
Autograph signature of Georges Brassens in the lower right margin of the upper cover.
New edition.
A handsome copy.
Fine inscribed copy, signed by Anaïs Nin to the writer Christiane Baroche: "Christiane Baroche my last novel before I began to edit the diaries and be drowned in them. Perharps because I had arrived at humor and could bear to make the journey backwards. Anaïs Nin."
First edition printed on regular stock.
Small tears to the head and foot of the spine.
Fine presentation inscription, signed by Henri de Montherlant to Georges Bataille.
First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Holland paper, being the only large paper issue.
Bradel binding with decorative paper featuring red and gold motifs, flat spine, small restorations to spine-ends and joints, brown shagreen title label with a corner skilfully restored, endpapers and pastedowns of blue paper with gilt motifs, soiled soiled covers and spine preserved, gilt top edge on deckle, contemporary binding.
Exceptional and precious presentation copy signed by Claude Farrère: "Pour Max-Anély que j'admire et pour mon ami Segalen. Claude Farrère." [For Max-Anély I admire and for my friend Segalen. Claude Farrère]
Later edition (the first was published three years earlier in 1906).
Bradel binding with marbled paper boards, smooth spine with some parts lacking paper, brown morocco lettering piece with some loss to margis, one joint split, handmade paper endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, contemporary binding.
Exceptional copy signed and inscribed on a mounted stub by Auguste Gilbert de Voisins to his celebrated writer friend and traveling companion on Chinese roads and rivers: "to Victor Segalen in thanks for speaking to me of the Orient. AGilbert de Voisins."
Rare and sought-after first edition, first issue, with exceptionally added plates from the first illustrated edition, published that same year. 34 full-page engravings after Demoraine, Gagnier, Staal and engraved by F. Delannoy.
Includes the subscribers’ list and the foreword, which will be removed for the second issue when the remainder of this edition was bought by another publisher, Dion-Lambert. It also features the pagination error in volume two: page 164 instead of 364.
With a scribal letter b
First edition, one of 45 numbered copies printed on Rajasthan jute paper, the only deluxe issue.
Manuscript signature of Emil Cioran at the colophon.
Spine very slightly faded, of no significance.
Rare and fine copy, complete with the three tantric paintings reproduced hors-texte in colour on cream paper.
First edition, limited to 59 numbered copies on Arches vellum, signed in pink pencil by André Masson beneath the limitation statement.
Rare and fine copy.
Illustrated with two original etchings by André Masson, printed full-bleed and issued hors texte.
First edition, one of 100 copies numbered on Arches wove paper, the only deluxe issue.
This exhibition catalogue devoted to the painter’s work at the Pierre Matisse Gallery in New York, marking his sixtieth birthday, is illustrated with three original lithographs (two double-page and one single-page) together with numerous black-and-white and colour reproductions.
Offsetting from the lithographs visible on the facing text leaves.
Autograph signature by Joan Miró, dated at the colophon number.
As stated in the limitation, this copy indeed includes its original lithograph, dated and signed by Joan Miró.
First edition, one of 200 numbered copies on “light green paper,” the only deluxe paper issue announced.
Turquoise half morocco binding, smooth spine, date in gilt at foot, marbled paper boards, endpapers, and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt; an elegant contemporary binding signed by G. Gauché.
A very handsome copy, finely bound by Georges Gauché and complete with its publisher's prospectus.
Signed presentation inscription by René Crevel: "My dear Georges, here, in its finest form: Diderot’s Harpsichord, if you can help him play his music? With all my affection. René" (our own translation)
Edition partly original, one of 90 numbered copies on hollande paper, the only issue following 10 on japon, 2 on Chapelle and 2 hors-commerce copies. Volume illustrated with 8 woodcuts by Manolo, four of which are full-page.
Manuscript signatures of Manolo and Pierre Reverdy on the colophon.
A
First edition of the French translation, issued without any large-paper copies.
A handsome copy, complete with its original promotional band: "Calvino et la préhistoire-fiction."
Inscribed, dated, and signed by Italo Calvino to Pascal Pia.
First edition of the French translation, with false statement of second edition.
Full green cloth Bradel binding, flat spine decorated with a central gilt ornament, beige sheepskin title label, original wrappers preserved, contemporary binding signed in blind by Pierson. Some light foxing.
Very rare presentation copy dated and signed by Ivan Turgenev to Anatole France: "Monsieur Anatole France / hommage de l'auteur / 1876".
First edition, with no deluxe copies printed.
Pleasant copy, which is uncommon given the fragility of this book, often handled without care.
Inscribed and signed by Serge Gainsbourg to a recipient named Georges.
First edition on ordinary paper.
A fold mark at the foot of the lower cover, otherwise a well-preserved copy.
With a fine signed autograph inscription by Tristan Bernard: "A Charles Cuvillier cette oeuvre capitale qui absorba quinze ans de ma vie. Bien affectueusement Tristan Bernard."
First edition, with no copies printed on deluxe paper.
A pleasant copy.
On the half-title page, autograph inscription signed by Jean-Claude Carrière to the writer, essayist, and pianist Catherine David: "... qui m'ouvrît avec grâce la lourde porte du temps, je m'incline sur son passage avec amitié."
On the front endpaper, autograph inscription signed by Umberto Eco to the same recipient.
First edition, no copies printed on deluxe paper.
Publisher's full red boards, flat spine, complete with the illustrated dust jacket.
Illustrated with numerous photographs.
Fine signed autograph inscription by Daniel Pennac to his friend Franklin Rist on the title page, each group of words enclosed in a comic strip-style speech bubble: "Nemo par Pennac et POUR FRANKLIN / nom d'un chien / avec / mon / amitié / de toujours / et d'aujourd'hui. Je t'embrasse Daniel"; the inscription is completed with a drawing of a little figure in the style of the Titan Atlas, carrying a fountain pen.
First edition of Pierre Drieu la Rochelle's first book, one of 150 numbered copies on Hollande laid paper, the only deluxe copies.
Precious autograph inscription signed by Pierre Drieu la Rochelle : « to Charles Maurras this anxious testimony. Pierre Drieu la Rochelle ex. sergeant in the 146th Infantry. October 1st, 1917. »
Important testimony of the young Drieu la Rochelle's admiration – then in full intellectual development – for the « master of Martigues » to whom he sends this copy of his war poems composed in 1916 after being wounded at Verdun.
Demobilized and disillusi
First edition on ordinary paper.
Autograph inscription signed, in pencil, by Sacha Guitry to madame Simone Gerbert.
First edition, one of the numbered copies on vellum, the only printing.
Publisher's binding executed after the original design by Paul Bonet.
Rich iconography.
Handsome copy complete with its illustrated dust jacket.
Precious autograph inscription signed by André Malraux: "Pour Georges Bataille André Malraux."
First edition on ordinary paper despite a mention of twelfth edition.
Paper yellowed and slightly brittle at the edges, a small insignificant lack at the head of the leaves of the first gathering which was poorly cut.
Beautiful autograph inscription signed by André Malraux on the half-title page: "A André Germain - cet ancien portrait de moi-même où je ne me reconnais guère que par endroits - avec le fidèle souvenir et la sympathie d'André Malraux." (To André Germain - this old portrait of myself in which I hardly recognize myself except in places - with faithful memory and the sympathy of André Malraux.)
First edition printed in small numbers of this offprint from the Mercure de France published on May 15, 1920. OCLC does not locate any copies in North America and only three in Europe (Bnf, Bibliothèque Doucet, Universitätsbibliothek Basel).
Covers with frayed margins, second cover partially shaded, one small piece of paper missing from the right margin of a page due to the fragility of the paper.
Signed and inscribed copy to painter Bernard de Blois: “En sympathie de voisin de logis et d'esthétique. Canudo 1922.” [”In sympathy as a neighbor of lodgings and aesthetics. Canudo 1922.”]
Extremely rare first edition of the libretto of t
First edition, a Service de Presse (advance) copy.
Foreword by Raymond Queneau.
Light dampstains to spine, some staining to board margins.
Rare autograph inscription signed by Boris Vian to the actress Jacqueline Pierreux, mother of Jean-Pierre Léaud, and to her husband the novelist and screenwriter Pierre Léaud: "Pour monsieur Léaud et mame Pierreux avec une bise (pas pour lui). Boris Vian." (For Mr. Léaud and Mrs. Pierreux with a kiss (not for him). Boris Vian.)
In April 1948, Jacqueline Pierreux created the role of Judy in the theatrical adaptation of "J'irai cracher sur vos tombes" at the Verlaine theatre, directed by Alfred Pasquali.
First edition on ordinary paper, bearing the correct imprint dated 6 May 1959, with the false statement of second edition.
Spine very slightly sunned.
Signed and inscribed by Eugène Ionesco to the stage director, playwright, and writer Simone Benmussa on the half-title.
First edition on ordinary paper.
Handsome copy.
Autograph inscription signed by Patrick Modiano to the stage director, playwright and writer Simone Benmussa and her companion the actress Erika Kralik.
Literary advisor to the Compagnie Jean-Louis Barrault - Madeleine Renaud, then, in 1957, editor-in-chief of the Cahiers Renaud-Barrault, Simone Benmussa also directed, from the Odéon theatre, the cultural service and the Cahiers of the Renaud-Barrault company. She adapted for the theatre works by her friend Nathalie Sarraute, Pierre Klossowski, Jean Cocteau, Gertrude Stein... She was the companion of the actress Erika Kralik.