First editions, fine papers and deluxe printings of French and foreign literature, 16th to 21st century

First edition, one of 105 numbered copies on vélin neige, the only deluxe copies issued after 12 on pur fil.
Handsome copy.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe copies along with a few hors commerce also printed on alfa.
Fine copy.

First edition, one of 137 numbered copies on pure vellum paper, a deluxe issue following 80 copies on Montval paper.

A handsome copy.

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

A fine copy.

First edition, one of 50 copies printed on Madagascar paper, ours being one of 20 hors commerce copies, from the deluxe issue.

A handsome copy.

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, one of 230 numbered copies on Vélin du Marais, the deluxe issue.

A handsome copy.

First edition, one of the review copies.
A very good copy.
Inscribed by Gabriel Matzneff to his friend, the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme: "Pour Pol Vandromme, avec l'espoir de le revoir prochainement en Belgique ou à Paris, amitiés fidèles. Gabriel Matzneff."
 

First edition on ordinary paper, with the printed dedication to Marshal Pétain.

Discreet restorations to the spine.

Our copy is housed in a chemise and slipcase of navy blue half morocco, smooth spine lettered with author, title, and date in palladium, decorated paper boards, grey paper pastedowns, slipcase trimmed with matching navy morocco and decorated paper sides; binding signed by Boichot.

An exceptional copy inscribed by General de Gaulle to Colonel Émile Mayer, his “great friend [...] without whom this book could not have been conceived,” as stated in the author’s own inscription, which continues: “Receive, my Colonel, my deepest gratitude and my profound respect.”

A visionary soldier and theorist whom de Gaulle would later acknowledge as his strategic mentor, Émile Mayer corrected the very proofs of this work, which is here presented to him in these warm lines. Fifteen years before the First World War, Mayer had predicted the trench warfare to come. From the 1920s, de Gaulle frequented the salon of this great thinker of military art, whose Jewish origins and Dreyfusard sympathies had subjected him to calumnious antisemitic attacks and suspension from the army between 1899 and 1907. Both Mayer and de Gaulle opposed the immobile dogma of the French General Staff. Their military prophecies proved extraordinarily accurate concerning the mechanisation of the modern army: “For fifteen years, they confronted the same themes, not without disagreements, and each evolved while enriching the other” (Milo Lévy-Bruhl). At their weekly lunches they exchanged perspectives on the future of corps and tactics, both convinced of the futility of the Maginot Line. Mayer favoured a strategy of aerial and chemical warfare, while de Gaulle advocated the use of armoured divisions. Despite their differences, Mayer actively promoted the ideas of his protégé, and assisted in revising France and Her Army—having been won over, after the shock of the reoccupation of the Rhineland, to de Gaulle’s ambition of creating a professional armoured army. De Gaulle addressed these remarkable words of gratitude to his mentor just two weeks before Mayer’s death on November 28, 1938, which grieved him deeply.

An exceptional presentation copy from General de Gaulle of his essential and visionary work on military strategy—a significant testimonial linking two independent spirits who revolutionised the theoretical understanding of national defence.

New edition bearing a false statement of 128th edition.

Half heather red morocco binding, spine with five raised bands set with black fillets, gilt fillet frame on boards of Africanist-patterned paper, almond green paper endpapers and boards, original wrappers preserved, restorations to boards, top edge gilt, binding signed by Boichot.
Autograph inscription signed by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry on the half-title page: "Pour madame Capietto. En souvenir de quelques passages à Alger et, cette fois ci, d'une semaine bien mélancolique. Et avec toute mon amitié.
Antoine de Saint Exupéry." (For Madame Capietto. In memory of some visits to Algiers and, this time, of a very melancholy week. And with all my friendship. Antoine de Saint Exupéry.)







 

First edition, with no copies issued on deluxe paper.

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

Illustrated content.

First edition on ordinary paper, bearing the correct colophon dated August 25, 1978.

With a printed stamp to the upper right corner of the half-title page; publisher's price sticker affixed to the foot of the lower cover.
A handsome copy.

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued.
A pleasant copy.
Inscribed by Gabriel Matzneff to his friend, the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme: "Pour Pol Vandromme, en amical hommage. Gabriel Matzneff."
 

First edition on ordinary paper.
A well-preserved copy.
Concise yet striking presentation copy, inscribed and signed by Gabriel Matzneff to his friend, the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme: "Pour Pol Vandromme, torero de première classe, amicalement. Gabriel Matzneff."
 

First edition, one of 330 numbered copies on alfa paper.
Pleasant copy.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on China paper, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

A pleasing copy.

Illustrated with plates by Louis Dunki.

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.

 

First edition, one of the 100 numbered copies on Holland paper, the only deluxe copies ("grand papier").
Very nice copy.

First edition, one of 10 numbered copies on Madagascar paper reserved for the author, the smallest limitation on deluxe paper after the 2 copies printed on pure rag paper, also hors commerce, printed for Jacques Hébertot.
A very handsome copy.

First edition, one of 40 copies printed on Crèvecoeur du Marais paper, the only copies on deluxe paper.

A pleasant copy, despite a faint sunning at the foot of the spine.

First edition on regular paper.
Pleasant copy.
Inscribed and signed by Jean d'Ormesson to Jacqueline Rendoing.




 

First edition, with no copies printed on deluxe paper.
Minor creases to the front cover, without consequence.
Amusing signed inscription by François Cavanna to a friend named Paul: "Pour Paul, ces galopardes, ces galipettes dans les coins noirs de l'histoire. Cavanna."
 

First collected edition of the French translation, one of 50 numbered copies on vélin alfa, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

A handsome copy, with only a few insignificant foxing spots to the edges.

New edition, one of the review copies.
A handsome copy.
Lengthy signed autograph inscription from Gabriel Matzneff to his friend, the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme: "Pour Pol Vandromme que j'aimerais beaucoup revoir à Paris ou lors d'un de mes prochains séjours en Belgique, ce roman qui s'est, en onze ans, bonifié, comme le vin, avec mon très amical et fidèle souvenir. Gabriel Matzneff."
 

First edition, one of 450 numbered copies on Alfa paper, after only 17 on Hollande and 22 on pur fil.

Spine and covers slightly and marginally sunned, as usual, otherwise a pleasing copy.

First edition on ordinary paper.
Pleasant copy despite some minor foxing to the edges, publisher's wraparound band preserved.
Inscribed by Jean d'Ormesson to the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme: "Bon noël ! cher Pol Vandromme, Bonne année ! et beaucoup d'amitiés de Jean d'Ormesson"



 

First edition, one of the review copies.

A handsome copy, complete with the wraparound band: "Les rois mages racontés par Michel Tournier".

Inscribed and signed by Michel Tournier to the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme: "Pour Pol Vandromme en toute amitié."

First edition on ordinary paper.
A handsome copy despite a few tiny spots on the front cover, with the promotional band preserved.
Inscribed by Jean d'Ormesson to the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme : "... les baisers les plus affectueux de Casimir et l'amitié reconnaissante de J.O."



 

First edition of the French translation, one of 44 numbered copies on pur fil, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

Spine very slightly sunned without consequence, bookplate affixed to the verso of the front cover, a handsome copy.

Collective edition, partly original. It is illustrated with 3 frontispiece titles and 23 figures by François Chauveau. The three frontispiece titles dated 1660, the title page of the second volume with the date 1664, the other two title pages dated 1660. In the second volume, the privilege is also dated 1664, while the other two volumes have the privilege dated 1660. The second volume is therefore the 1664 reprint, identical in every respect to the 1660 edition, with the exception of the collation of the preliminary pieces. The three discourses as well as the examinations of each piece appear for the first time.

Binding in full 20th-century chocolate morocco signed Alix at the bottom of the endpapers. Spine with raised bands decorated with 4 grotesque panels, author, title, volume number, and date in gold. Large and rich interior border. Triple fillet border on the boards. Gilt edges. Minimal traces of rubbing. Volumes of great purity, with paper of beautiful freshness. Slipcases edged with chocolate morocco covered with old laid paper.

Magnificent copy.

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.

First edition, one of 80 numbered copies on Hollande paper, the deluxe issue.
Fine copy.

First edition, one of 450 numbered copies on Corsican paper.
A pleasant copy, despite the spine and covers being slightly and marginally toned, as often.

First edition, no deluxe copies printed.
Handsome copy.
Important presentation copy inscribed by Claude Lévi-Strauss to Jean-François Revel.
 

First edition on ordinary paper, with a mention of the fourth edition.
Bradel binding in green almond half percaline, smooth spine slightly faded and decorated, gilt fillet at foot, brown shagreen label, marbled paper boards, original wrappers preserved, extremities very slightly rubbed, contemporary binding.
Inscribed and signed by Guy de Maupassant to Paul Hervieu.
 

First edition, one of the review copies.

A pleasant copy despite a repaired tear at the foot of one joint.

Inscribed and signed by Blaise Cendrars to Georges Le Cardonnel.

First edition, illustrated with an allegorical frontispiece and 34 half-page engravings by Sébastien Le Clerc.

Contemporary full red morocco binding with elaborate dentelle gilt decoration. Spine with raised bands, richly tooled in gilt with onion flower motifs. Red morocco title and volume labels. Wide gilt dentelle border on the covers, executed with small tools. Gilt edges. Headcaps, joints, and corners restored; gilt decoration on the headcaps renewed. Noteworthy: the engraving on p.125 has been printed in reverse.

Bookplate with the armorial bearings of Pierre de Laussat, apparently reaffixed to the front endpaper.

First edition, one of 62 numbered copies on madagascar paper, deluxe copy.
Some light foxing affecting mainly the edges.
Half dark blue morocco binding, spine with five raised bands, cat's-eye paper boards, combed paper endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, binding signed by Devauchelle.
Handsome copy beautifully executed.

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 of the French translation, one of 150 numbered copies on pur fil, the only deluxe copies issued after 25 copies on Holland paper.

A fine copy with all edges untrimmed.

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 - only published issue of this journal of the Resistance.
Minor rubbing at head and foot of spine, slight tears in margins of covers.
Anonymous texts by Claude Bourdet, Maurice Clavel, Jean-Louis Curtis, Yves Gandon, Flavien Monod and Maximilien Vox, who was the magazine's director.
This single issue was put together between December 1943 and March 1944, but La Revue noire could not be published during the Occupation. The final press proof was given on 15 February 1944 and the imprint is dated 15 February 1945.
A rare and pleasant copy.

First French edition of the translation, with no copies printed on deluxe paper.

A handsome copy complete with its illustrated dust jacket, which shows minor tears to the head of the spine and panels.

The book was adapted for the screen in 2006 by Tom Tykwer, starring Ben Whishaw and Dustin Hoffman.

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

A handsome copy.

First edition, printed in 105 copies on Rives wove paper, this copy being one of the 60 with an original etching signed in pencil by Annie Proszynska.

Colophon signed in pencil by both Guy Rohou and Annie Proszynska.

Illustrated with 15 original etchings by Annie Proszynska, including a frontispiece, a full-page plate, a double-page plate, and 12 in-text illustrations.

A fine copy, complete with its original Siena moiré cloth chemise and slipcase.

First edition, untrimmed with wide margins, very rare and highly sought-after (see Clouzot, "Le manuel du bibliophile français", p. 257).

Some occasional foxing.

Illustrated on the title pages of both volumes with two engraved vignettes by Porrêt. This copy contains the publisher’s notice leaf in the first volume and the author’s note leaf in the second volume.

Contemporary red half calf over marbled boards, calf corners, spines ruled in gilt with double gilt panels decorated with typographic gilt tooling, black calf title and volume labels, some minor rubbing to joints, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, lower corners a bit worn, bookplate pasted on the front pastedown of volume one, contemporary bindings.

A very rare and desirable copy, entirely untrimmed and preserved in a handsome contemporary binding - an even rarer feature. As noted by Clouzot: "les reliures de l'époque sont le plus souvent assez simples. Donc ne pas se montrer difficile sur la qualité."  ['Contemporary bindings are most often rather plain; one should not be overly particular regarding their quality.']

First edition, one of 41 numbered copies on Hollande paper, the leading issue.

A fine copy.

First text: first edition, with no copies issued on deluxe paper; second text: first edition in part.

Publisher's full grey cloth binding, flat spine, complete with the original dust jacket.

Illustrated with photographs by Tony Armstrong-Jones.

A small stain to the lower part of the front endpaper, otherwise a pleasing copy.

Inscribed and signed by Paul Morand: "A maître Chérier, ce tunnel sous la manche, très fidèlement Morand."

True first edition, with no deluxe paper copies issued.

Half red morocco over marbled boards, corners in morocco, spine with five raised bands adorned with gilt fillets and double gilt compartments, date stamped in gilt at foot, minor rubbing to the bands, gilt fillet border on the marbled paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and backstrip with a few minor losses preserved, a light scratch to an upper corner, contemporary binding signed by C. Septier.

Inscribed by one of the authors on the half-title page, to Marcel Gropiot.

A handsome copy attractively bound in a period binding for this work, which was awarded the Prix Goncourt upon its first reissue in 1906.

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 on ordinary paper.

Small loss and a stain to the lower left margin of the lower cover, folding marks to the right margin of the upper cover.

Preface by Jacques Laurent.

Inscribed and signed by Antoine Blondin: "Pour Philippe Patrice Cazenave leur ami Antoine Blondin".

First edition, partly original, of the author's complete works.

Our copy retains the engraved frontispiece portrait of Madame de Staël by Müller, present in the first volume.

Some minor foxing, rare minor scratches on a few covers, holes at the bottom of the last marbled paper flyleaf in the ninth volume.

Full pinkish-red glazed calf bindings, smooth spines with richly decorated double gilt compartments, title and volume labels in green morocco, double gilt fillets framing the covers stamped in their centres with gilt coats of arms, gilt-rolled leading edges, marbled endpapers and endboards, gilt lace framing on pastedowns, all edges gilt, very elegant english bindings of the period.

According to Clouzot, this is the first, most sought-after, and by far the finest edition of the complete works of Madame de Staël.

Compiled by Baron Auguste-Louis de Staël-Holstein (1790–1827), her eldest son, and the Duke Achille-Charles-Léonce-Victor de Broglie (1785–1870), her son-in-law, this collection of the Complete Works is well composed, carefully printed and error-free. Compiled with genuine filial piety and a respectful family spirit, it presents, from a literary point of view, the best text of the definitive version of each of the Baroness's complete works.

A very fine copy in a perfect decorative binding with arms and in full glazed calfskin of the period.

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, with no deluxe paper copies issued.

Slight, insignificant tears to the foot of the covers.

A handsome copy.

First edition of this theatre programme for Jean-Paul Sartre's adaptation of Alexandre Dumas's Kean, staged at the Théâtre Marigny in 1988, directed by Robert Hossein and starring Jean-Paul Belmondo in the title role.

A fine copy. Illustrated throughout.

Boldly signed by Jean-Paul Belmondo in black felt-tip pen on the cover.

First edition, one of 15 numbered copies on tinted antique Japan paper, ours being one of 5 hors commerce lettered copies, comprising the deluxe issue.

Minor spotting to the half-title and following leaf, otherwise a fine copy with full margins.

First edition, one of 515 copies.

The set of 8 issues is housed under two half-oasis black folders, smooth 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 restorations. The eighth issue has marginally soiled boards and a detached engraving, occasional foxing mainly affecting the sixth issue, part of the first issue being almost detached, some rare lacks of paper in the margins due to its innate fragility.

First edition on ordinary paper of the French translation by Philippe Jaccottet.

A handsome copy of this work, which was adapted for the screen by Volker Schlöndorff in 1966.

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

Small tears to the spine and along the left edge of the front cover.

Rare signed autograph tribute by Boris Vian on this text.

First edition, this one the no. 1 of 25 numbered copies on Japon, most limited deluxe issue.

Bound in grey half morocco, smooth spine, marbled paper boards, mould-made endpapers, original wrappers preserved, pastedown bookplate, top edge gilt, contemporary binding signed by L. Pouillet.

A rare and handsome copy in an attractive contemporary binding.

First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on Japan paper, the smallest issue of the deluxe edition, along with 20 on Arches.

Spine and covers marginally faded and sunned as usual, with minor paper losses at the flaps.

Illustrated with 8 original lithographs by Georges Annenkoff.

As with all copies from the deluxe issue, this copy includes the complete double suite of illustrations on vellum and on China paper.

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.

First edition, one of the review copies.

Spine very slightly sunned, not affecting legibility.

Fine signed presentation inscription from Emmanuel Berl to a friend named Françoise: "A Françoise, belle, charmante comme une fée... son ami..."

First edition, one of the review copies.

Spine very slightly sunned, not affecting legibility.

Inscribed by Emmanuel Berl to a friend named Françoise.

First edition, one of 35 numbered copies on Holland paper, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

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.
 

First edition, one of the Service de Presse (advance) copies.
Spine slightly sunned.
Handsome autograph inscription dated and signed by Eugène Dabit to Pierre Lièvre: "... J'ai reçu ces jours-ci "l'Education des filles", et votre dédicace me touche. Je viendrai un soir : choisissez-le. Je vous envoie ce livre qui est, en quelque sorte, mon premier roman. Je souhaite qu'il m'aide à garder votre confiance. Je fais miennes beaucoup de vos idées (dans votre préface à l'extravagante) Est-il possible de le sentir ici.  Fidèlement. Eugène Dabit." ("... I received 'l'Education des filles' these past few days, and your dedication touches me. I will come one evening: you choose when. I am sending you this book which is, in a way, my first novel. I hope it will help me keep your confidence. I make many of your ideas my own (in your preface to 'l'extravagante') Is it possible to feel it here. Faithfully. Eugène Dabit.")