First editions and fine papers of poetry collections, lyrical works, poems in verse and prose, calligrams

First collected edition of which there were no grand papier (deluxe) copies, an advance (service de presse) copy.
A nice copy despite a tiny tear to foot of upper cover.
Rare autograph inscription signed by Robert Desnos to Pierre Berger: " ces feuilles déjà bien vieilles..."

First edition, a numbered copy on alfa du Marais paper, this one not included in the justification.
Handsome autograph inscription signed and dated by Aimé Césaire to Raymond Queneau: “Très sympathique hommage de ces bucoliques de sang et de soleil... [a very affectionate homage of these bucolics of blood and sunshine...]”
Covers and spine slightly sunned at edges (but not seriously).

Second edition, first for some parts, one of 100 copies on vergé blanc paper.
Contemporary Bradel half dark-green cloth over marbled paper boards, the spine with gilt fleuron, date and double gilt fillets at foot, upper corners rubbed, covers preserved.

An attractive copy in a pleasant binding.
Handsome autograph inscription from Paul Verlaine to Alice Densmore.

Second complete edition of Krylov's Fables with a preface by the poet and highly regarded literary critic Piotr Pletnev (1792-1866).

Half tan goatskin binding with corners, smooth spine decorated lengthwise in rocaille style in blind with tears and losses, joints fragile, gilt fillet framing the red pebbled paper boards, gilt Cyrillic inscription at the center of the upper cover, grey edges, rubbed corners, chips and losses along the edges, contemporary binding.

Foxing, library stamps and markings.

Prize book "Pour Succès et Bonne Conduite".

Manuscript ex-libris in ink, in Russian, on the front endpaper, dated Vilnius, 6 August 1857, and on the verso in Latin chara

First edition of the French translation with the Arabic text following.

Contemporary half cherry sheep binding with corners, spine without lettering and with five raised bands, marbled paper boards, pink paper endpapers and pastedowns, covers preserved.

The pre-Islamic Arab poet Zuhayr ibn Abî Sulma (530–627) holds a central place in Arabic literature, although his life remains little known. He is the author of one of the seven Mu'allaqât, the canonical anthologies of Arabic poetry.

Rare and attractive copy.

First edition, one of the rare copies printed on laid paper.
This issue comprises 4 pages and features an illustration by Steinlen: "Le plus vexé des trois".
With literary contributions by Alphonse Allais ("Absinthes", dedicated to Adolphe Willette), Rodolphe Darzens with the poem "Le conseil de la chair", Camille de Sainte-Croix ("Paul Margueritte"), Louis Marsolleau ("Villon"), among others.
A handsome copy, despite a small paper flaw at the head of the first page due to a printing defect.
Le Chat noir was a weekly magazine founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897, intended to promote the famous cabaret of the same name, which it soug

First edition, one of the rare copies printed on laid paper.
This four-page issue is illustrated with drawings by Jean-François Raffaëlli.
Contains literary contributions by Alphonse Allais ("Episode"), Georges d'Esparbès ("Délila"), George Auriol ("Chroniques de province"), Rodolphe Darzens ("Pour celle qui boude")...
A handsome copy despite a faint dampstain to the center of the issue.
Le Chat noir was a weekly review founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897 with the aim of promoting the famous cabaret of the same name, of which it served as the living memory. It featured texts recited during performances. The review also stands as an i

First edition, one of the rare copies printed on laid paper.
This issue comprises 4 pages and features an illustration by Steinlen: "Coqs et poule".
Literary contributions by Alphonse Allais with "Le pauvre bougre et le bon génie" dedicated to Henry Somm, François Villon with the poem "Rondel", George Auriol with "Au diable vert" dedicated to Steinlen, Rodolphe Salis...
A handsome copy.
Le Chat noir was a weekly review founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897, created to promote the famous cabaret of the same name and to serve as its memory. It published the texts performed during the shows. More broadly, it constitutes a major literary

First edition, one of the rare copies printed on laid paper.
This issue comprises 4 pages and includes a comic strip by Albert Robida: "Vient de paraître !"
Literary contributions by Alphonse Allais ("La bonne fille"), George Auriol ("La statue de César Dupeauprez"), and Gaston Méry ("Au parc Monceau"), dedicated to Albert Tinchant...
A pleasant copy, with only a few faint marginal spots.
Le Chat noir was a weekly magazine founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897, intended to promote the famous cabaret of the same name, of which it served as a lasting record. It published texts recited during the performances. The magazine stands as a s

First edition, one of the rare copies printed on laid paper.
The issue comprises 4 pages and features a comic strip by Godefroy: "Question de cabinet".
Literary contributions by Victor Meusy ("Les prunes de monsieur"), Alphonse Allais ("Le médecin (monologue pour Cadet)"), Rolla ("Tombes de fleurs")...
A faint dampstain along the left margin of the journal, otherwise a pleasing copy.
Le Chat noir was a weekly magazine founded by Rodolphe Salis and Émile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897 to promote the famous cabaret of the same name, acting as its living archive. It published the texts performed during the shows and stands as a major literary and artistic testimony o

First edition, one of the rare copies printed on laid paper.
This four-page issue features a comic strip by Louis-Christian, known as Döes: "La bonne galette".
Includes literary contributions by Francisque Sarcey on "La Terre" by Emile Zola, Charles Cros "Psaume CCCCXXXIV", Alfred Béjot "Épitre à Allais", Georges Auriol "Malabar", among others.
One tear with loss and some light staining to the margins of the covers.
Le Chat Noir was a weekly review founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897, intended to promote the famous cabaret of the same name and to serve as its chronicle. It featured the texts recited during performances and constitu

First edition, one of the rare copies printed on laid paper.
This issue comprises 4 pages and features a comic strip by Steinlen, "Du dernier bien avec le général", as well as drawings by Henry Somm on the facing page.
Literary contributions by Alphonse Allais, "La forêt enchantée" dedicated to George Auriol, Raoul Gineste "Les vieux chats", and José Rolla "A l'église"...
A well-preserved copy, despite a few faint marginal stains.
Le Chat noir was a weekly review founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897 to promote the famous cabaret of the same name, of which it served as a record. It featured texts performed during the shows and stands

First edition, one of the rare copies printed on laid paper.
This four-page issue features a large double-page illustration by Steinlen.
Literary contributions by Alphonse Allais (“Bébert”), Pimpinelli (“Pose de lapin”, dedicated to Albert Tinchant), and Narcisse Lebeau (“Paravent”)...
Some marginal tears and stains.
Le Chat noir was a weekly magazine founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897, intended to promote the famous cabaret of the same name, which it sought to commemorate. It published the texts recited during the performances and stands as a major literary and artistic document of late 19th-century bohemian life and the distinct

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.

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 Lawrenc

First edition of the French translation by Nicolas-Gabriel Vaquette d'Hermilly (1705 or 1710–1778), later revised by La Harpe (Quérard II, 30; Cioranescu, XVIII, 33 926).

Despite its very late date, this was only the second attempt at a French translation of Os Lusiadas (1572), following that of 1735 by Duperron de Castéra, which had failed to convince contemporary readers.

This edition includes 10 copper-engraved plates out of text, and is further enriched with notes and a biography of the author.

Bound in early 19th-century green bottle Russian morocco over pink paper boards, corners reinforced, flat spines with gilt double fillets and black ruling; some surfa

Autograph letter signed by Paul Verlaine to Anatole Baju, one page in ink on a watermarked leaf. Two small discreet adhesive reinforcements to verso. Published in Correspondance Verlaine, vol. III, CDLIII, p. 26–27.

An important letter by Verlaine, the most Decadent of poets, to the editor-in-chief of the journal Le Décadent, which published many of his poems. The poet announces the forthcoming release of a collection entitled Amis, a provocative allusion to the scandalous sapphic poems he had privately printed in 1867 under the title Amies.

New edition printed in 55 copies only (see publisher's foreword).

Only one copy of this edition listed in the CCF (BnF).

Contemporary temporary binding in full cherry paper boards, flat spine without lettering, minor rubbing to the binding.

Foxing, restorations to the head and tail of the spine, lower corners worn, a dampstain to the lower outer corner of the final leaves.

The text of Horace is in Latin only.

This rare folio edition was preceded in 1815 and 1818 by two small-format printings intended for student use.

The aim was to bring together in a single small volume the two principal sources of taste in versification, as upheld by classical pedagog

The first edition, first printing, numbered in the press, with only 23 large paper copies on Hollande paper.
With a frontispiece portrait of Apollinaire by Picasso.
Discreet restorations to spine.

With a chemise of half red morocco over paper boards by Boichot, spine in six compartments, date to foot of spine, identical paper slipcase with red morocco edging.

 
Rare autograph inscription signed by Guillaume Apollinaire: “for Henri Ghéon whose poetry I am fond of, Guillaume Apollinaire”.
This copy also with five manuscript corrections by Apollinaire on pages 71, 77, 92, 110 and 189.
A good copy with a rare autograph inscription by the poet.

New collected edition of the works of this German-born Neo-Latin poet, one of a few copies printed on deluxe Dutch paper (see Brunet III, 1180–1181. Cf. G. Oberlé, "Poètes néo-latins", pp. 134–137; Van Tieghem, p. 91 ff.).

The first volume includes a portrait of the author.

Full ivory vellum bindings, spines with five raised bands richly decorated with gilt floral and ornamental rolls, red morocco title labels, gilt dentelle frame to covers, gilt plaques with the legend "Minerva Dordracena" at the center of each board, sprinkled edges, red silk ties (mostly missing), contemporary bindings.

A fine edition according to Brunet, who notes: “There are copies on Du

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.

Deluxe edition superbly illustrated with 3 engraved titles, a portrait, a frontispiece and 72 figures, 4 vignettes and 66 tailpieces, all by Le Barbier, and engraved by Alix, Baquoy, Dambrun, Delignon, Gaucher, Giraud le jeune, Godefroy, halbou, Langlois jeune, Le Beau, Lépine, Le Villain, de Longueil, Pauquet, Petit, Ponce, Taxier, Thomas, Trière and Viguet. The first plates are numbered and within frames with captions in the lower margin, the following ones bear pagination indications. Some plates are dated, from 1782 to 1792. Fine printing on vellum. 

Contemporary full green morocco binding. Smooth spine decorated with 4 cornucopia tools, and roulettes. Frame roulette on the boa

First edition, one of 1,000 copies on Hollande paper, the only printing along with 50 on Japan paper.
Frontispiece portrait of Paul Verlaine by Philippe Zilcken.
Spine slightly sunned, upper cover with minor marginal toning, otherwise a well-preserved copy.

First edition, with no deluxe copies printed.
Publisher's full illustrated boards.
Illustrated with drawings by André François.
Joints slightly rubbed and darkened at head and foot, as often; discreet blue ballpoint pen note at the top of the lower cover; a pleasant copy.

First edition, one of the 300 numbered copies printed on red “bouffant” paper, the only deluxe issue alongside 5 copies on hollande. Covers slightly and marginally soiled, two initials in red ink in the upper left corner of the front cover.

Illustrated with a “portrait de crotte de bique et couillandouille par eux-mêmes” [portrait of goat-dropping and dick-and-drumstick by themselves.]

Very famous work from the Dadaist canon, written by Pansaers one year before his untimely death — the

First edition of the French translation by Victor Largeau, presented in 1844 to the Geneva archaeologist Gustave-Philippe Revilliod (1817–1890) by Moors with whom he had become close.

Contemporary binding in brown half sheep with corners, spine with five raised bands and no lettering, marbled paper sides, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, soiled original wrappers preserved, modern binding.

Some occasional foxing.

An explorer—he attempted twice to cross the Sahara, the first time in this same year, 1875—Victor Largeau (1842–1897) later became a colonial administrator. He was the father of General Victor-Emmanuel Largeau (1867–1916), one of the founders of Chad.

New edition of the Fables, more complete than previous ones, illustrated with a hand-coloured vignette on the title page and 110 hand-coloured half-page illustrations in the text, for a total of 111 engraved and coloured plates (cf. Rochambeau 305. Després, p. 142, no. 63).

Full olive calf binding, spine with gilt fillets, numerously tooled in gilt, gilt tooling to spine-ends, boards framed in gilt, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, inner gilt dentelle on pastedowns, all edges gilt, 20th-century binding.

Spine and covers faded, some foxing, a snag at head of rear cover. Lower right corners of pp. ix-xi restored.

An exceptional and finely watercoloured copy of

New edition and the last early collected edition of Ronsard's works, comprising volumes IV, V, VI, and VII. Engraved portraits of Charles IX and Henri III (the same used twice), and two vignette headpieces with a medallion portrait of Ronsard. Royal arms on all four title pages. Tables at the end of each volume.
Contemporary limp full vellum binding. Smooth spine. Volume numbers and date in black ink manuscript. The volume number on the first title page was pencilled in. Endpapers detached from the boards. A good copy.

First edition.

Contemporary Bradel binding in grey cloth-backed marbled boards, smooth spine decorated with a gilt floral motif, gilt date and double fillet at foot, brown shagreen label, original wrappers preserved; a contemporary binding executed for Léon Vanier with the binder's ticket pasted ton front pastedown "Reliures Léon Vanier 19 quai Saint-Michel Paris" .

Our copy exceptionally contains a faded original photograph by Otto Wegener depicting Paul Verlaine standing with a cane and wearing a top hat; exceptional signed autograph inscription by Paul Verlaine in the lower right margin of the print: "A Léon Vanier son édité et ami. P. Verlaine." (To Léon

Complete set of the first quarter issues (11 April-12-19 July 1886) of the symbolist journal La Vogue, the most important literary review of the late nineteenth century, containing the first appearance in print of Rimbaud’s Illuminations. Issues 1-12, published weekly, were gathered under a quarterly wrapper and offered for sale in September 1886. No deluxe copies were issued for this first quarter of the journal, which had a very limited print run. Copy as published, spine restored, upper corner of the second cover lacking.

First edition clandestinely printed in 175 copies on laid paper, each individually numbered.
 
Bound in full mint green morocco, spine with five raised bands framed by black fillets, subtle restoration to spine colour, date gilt at foot, endpapers and pastedowns of combed paper, gilt fillet border on pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, all edges gilt, chemise edged in mint green morocco, covers of cat's eye paper, white felt interior, an elegant binding signed by Alix.
 
A very rare and handsome copy bound by one of the most distinguished binders of the second half of the twentieth century.

 

Very rare first edition of this excellent grammar.

A few occasional spots, otherwise a pleasing copy.

Contemporary-style binding in half forest green morocco-grained shagreen, spine with five raised bands, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers, binding signed by Laurenchet.

The third part contains fables, tales, and poems in both Wolof and French.

Abbé David Boilat (Saint-Louis, Senegal, 1814 – Nantouillet, 1901), a missionary in Senegal, left behind a significant body of work: this grammar, the Esquisses sénégalaises, and several unpublished manuscripts.

Second edition, partly original, with 14 poems appearing here for the first time.

Bound in fawn half morocco with corners, spine very slightly darkened without consequence, marbled paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved.

Illustrated with a frontispiece by Félicien Rops.

A handsome copy, attractively bound.

First edition, one of 45 numbered copies on pur fil, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

A handsome copy.

First edition, one of 515 copies.

The set of 8 issues is housed under two half-oasis black folders, flat spines, gilt dates at foot, decorative paper boards, lined in green paper, set signed by Atelier Laurenchet. Minor lacks of paper and tears to some spines and boards, some spines with slight r

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 (Bruxel

First French edition translated by Abdelmalek Faraj.
Spine and boards marginally discolored and sunned, handsome interior condition.
Very fine autograph inscription signed by Pierre Dermenghem, on two pages, to Henry de Montherlant enriched with an autograph inscription signed by Abdelmalek Faraj.
Manuscript annotations by Henry de Montherlant, in blue ink, on the back board.
 

Autograph poem by André Pieyre de Mandiargues signed A.P.M. and dated June 5, 1974 entitled "Le plus libre graveur" and which he dedicated to Joan Miro.
Written in black ballpoint pen on a sheet, the poem, of 44 lines, contains some crossings-out and manuscript additions as well as an addition of a cut and pasted sheet in the lower right corner of the poem.
This text celebrating the painter Joan Miro and his style was published in the review XXe siècle in December 1974:
"Feu d'air ou feu de terre
 Feu de feu ou feu d'eau
 Le haut feu de Miro
 Se fait esprit de sel
 Acide ardent fumant
 Machoîre du dieu ivre
 Qui va mordre le cuivre...
...
Parf

Autograph letter in German signed by Rainer Maria Rilke to actress Else Hotop, to whom he writes under her stage name, Elya Maria Nevar. 2 1/2 pages written on a bifolium watermarked “Sackleinen”. Autograph envelope enclosed, addressed to ‘Else Hotop’ bearing postmarks dated November 3, 1918.Published in Freundschaft mit Rainer Maria Rilke, 1946, p. 35.

A precious piece of Rilke’s correspondence, reflecting the delights of an enchanted afternoon spent during WW1 with the actress Elya Nevar, one of his most fervent admirers.

Manuscript note by Philippe Soupault, 22 lines in mauve ink on a sheet, headed with this inscription: "Les séances", devoted to the famous "sleep" sessions conducted in André Breton's studio consisting of oneiric writings or texts dictated by a dreamer.
The manuscript notes contain three deletions and corrections.
Philippe Soupault considers his attempts questionable and even labels them as imposture, distancing himself from any active participation in these practices: "Neither Aragon nor I participated actively in the experiments called sleep sessions, while Breton accepted with great interest Crevel's suggestion to engage in experiments he had discovered among fri

Autograph poem signed by poet François Coppée entitled "Lied".
Light foxing to left margin of the leaf.
The signed poem, 14 lines in black ink on one leaf, was included in the collection "L'exilée" published in 1877 under the same title:
"Rougissante et tête baissée,
Je la vois me sourire encor.
Pour le doigt de ma fiancée*
Qu'on me fasse un bel anneau d'or.
Elle part, mais bonne et fidèle ;
Je vais l'attendre en m'affligeant.
Pour garder ce qui me vient d'elle
Qu'on me fasse un coffret d'argent.
J'ai sur le coeur un poids énorme ;
L'exil est trop dur et trop long.
Pour que je me repose et dorme
Qu'on me fass