First Editions

First edition of the French translation, one of 26 lettered copies on Lana wove rag paper, issued as part of the tête-de-tirage.

A fine copy.

First edition of the author's third book, with no copies printed on deluxe paper, here a review copy.

Spine very lightly sunned, without seriousness, faint spotting to the board edges.

Rare and desirable presentation copy signed by Patrick Modiano to the woman of letters Christiane Baroche: "Pour Christiane ces boulevards de ceinture avec lesquels elle est bien indulgente. Avec l'amitié de Patrick."

First edition, one of 922 numbered copies on vellum paper.

Bound in contemporary tricolour half-shagreen with horizontal bands, the spine with seven raised bands framed by beige shagreen fillets, the boards in blue and red shagreen with wood-grain patterned panels evoking the white of the French flag; marbled endpapers and pastedowns; original wrappers and backstrip preserved; top edge gilt. Binding signed by Louis Gilbert.

Work illustrated with coloured pochoir plates by Jean Bruller.

A handsome copy in a period patriotic binding for this work of antimilitarist inspiration.

Collective edition, partly original, issued without any deluxe copies.

A pleasing copy.

Author's signed presentation inscription from Elias Canetti to his cousin: "Meiner liebsten Kusine Matica, der einziger, die geblieben ist, was  sie immer war, begabt, klug, offen in Liebe und Freundschaft. Elias Canetti. Paris, September 1962" ("A ma chère cousine, la seule qui est reste ce qu'elle a toujours été, douée, intelligente, ouverte, en amour et en amitié)."

First edition printed on alfa wove paper.

A fine copy.

Inscribed and signed by Jacques Perret to Charles Linder, the presentation augmented with a small drawing depicting a ballot box topped with a tricolour flag.

First edition and complete run of this bi-monthly journal by university students from Brittany.

A unique collection on coloured paper of L'Étudiant Breton, from issue no. 1 of the first year (January 20, 1906) to no. 39 of the third year (February 8, 1908), bound in one volume. The journal continued publication until March 1910 (no. 63), cf. BnF - Catalogue collectif des périodiques, vol. II, p. 537.

Contemporary half marbled calf with corners, smooth spine decorated with two gilt ermines, red morocco lettering piece laid horizontally, gilt fillet borders on marbled paper boards, hand-marbled endpapers and paste-downs, some original wrappers preserved, corners slightly bumped, minor rubbing.

A manuscript note in black ink at the head of the volume states: "Unique series printed on coloured papers, specially made for Dr J. Marly". Each issue is printed on a double leaf except for no. 7 (3 leaves), no. 20 for Christmas 1906 which comprises 6 pages and two wrappers (the first illustrated in two colours and signed H. Gélèbart, December 1907), no. 28 which includes an additional leaf (musical score of a song by Rennes students dedicated to the local police and titled "Saint-Eloi"), and no. 37 for Christmas 1907 which comprises 5 pages and two wrappers (the first printed in green). The wrappers for no. 20 are also mounted at the beginning and end of the volume.

The rarity of this set lies in the variety of printings: - no. 7: 1 copy on beige paper printed in black and 1 copy on thick glazed paper printed in black - no. 19: 1 copy on green paper printed in green and 1 copy on beige paper printed in green - no. 20: copy on white glazed paper printed in black, with wrappers - no. 21: copy on blue paper printed in black - no. 23: 1 copy on blue paper printed in black and 1 copy also on blue paper printed in gold ink - no. 24: 1 copy on pink paper printed in black, 1 copy on pink paper printed in gold ink, and 1 remarkable copy on bicoloured paper (glossy black for the first and last pages and beige for the interior) printed in gold ink - no. 25: copy on green paper printed in black - no. 26: 1 copy on blue paper printed in black and 1 copy on red paper printed in black - no. 27: 1 copy on pink paper and 1 copy on green paper, both printed in black - no. 28: copy on pink paper printed in black - no. 29: 1 copy on green paper and 1 copy on beige paper, both printed in black - no. 30: copy on lilac paper printed in black - no. 31: copy on orange paper printed in black - no. 32: copy on fuchsia paper printed in black - no. 33: copy on brown paper printed in black - no. 34: copy on green paper printed in black - no. 35: copy on brown paper printed in black - no. 36: copy on blue paper printed in black - no. 37: copy on white glazed paper printed in black, with wrappers - no. 38: copy on green paper printed in black - no. 39: copy on blue paper printed in black.

A unique collection.

First edition, one of the review copies.

A pleasing copy.

Signed presentation inscription from Paul Valéry to Germaine Fiévé : "... petit souvenir d'une collaboration sans mauvaises pensées et autres..."

First edition, one of the review copies.

Spine partially and lightly sun-faded without consequence, with a small restored nick at the head of the backstrip.

Author's signed presentation inscription from André Malraux to the diplomat and man of letters Pierre de Boisdeffre.

First edition of the French translation, one of 80 numbered copies on alfa paper issued in a special "du monde entier" wrapper, the only deluxe copies together with 35 on pur fil.

A handsome copy.

First edition, with no copies printed on deluxe paper, one of the publisher’s review copies.

Pleasing copy, complete with its publisher’s printed slip.

Autograph presentation inscription signed by Paul Valéry to Germaine Fiévé: "... petit souvenir d'une collaboration sans mauvaises pensées et autres..."

First edition.

A pleasing copy.

Inscribed by Anaïs Nin to her friend, the writer Christiane Baroche: "Vos paroles Christiane Baroche : 'je veux cueillir le feu comme un dernier amant' amitié et concordances. Anaïs Nin."

First edition, exceedingly scarce, of this light-hearted and engaging introduction to the principal ancient myths, prepared for a Polish aristocrat. Annopol (today Anopal) is a locality now situated in Belarus.

No copies recorded in the CCF. A single copy located in WorldCat (National Library of Poland, Biblioteka Narodowa, Warsaw).

Contemporary-style half sheep binding in brown, the smooth spine ruled with alternating thick and thin gilt fillets, marbled paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns; modern binding.

Losses to the title-page expertly filled and restored; the final two leaves also restored.

First edition, one of 35 numbered copies on Rivoli vellum, the only deluxe-paper issue.

A particularly handsome copy

First edition, one of 24 numbered copies on Vélin Rivoli, the only deluxe issue.

A particularly handsome copy.

First edition, one of 36 copies on pure-wire vellum, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

A particularly attractive copy.

First edition of the French translation, for which no deluxe paper copies were issued.

A handsome copy, complete with its photographic dust jacket showing a tiny tear at the head of the spine, with illustrations.

Inscribed and signed by Julio Cortázar to the writer Christiane Baroche: "Pour toi, Chirstiane, avec toute mon amitié. Julio."

Very rare first edition (125 copies printed according to Quérard) of this remarkable exposition of Talma’s dramaturgical principles, still regarded as a “revolutionary” actor despite his immense success (his friendship with Napoleon never wavered); the text was inserted the same year, 1825, at the beginning of the new edition of the Memoirs of Henri-Louis Caïn, known as Lekain (1729–1778), who was still considered in the early nineteenth century as one of the greatest tragedians of the eighteenth century.

See Quérard IX, 333.

Scattered foxing.

Full cherry-red long-grain morocco, smooth spine tooled with gilt fillets, garlands and fleurons, gilt rolls at head and tail, gilt fillet, garland and dotted border together with blind-stamped palmettes on the boards, small black speckling on the front board, blue endpapers and pastedowns, gilt lace border on the pastedowns, gilt fillets on the board edges, all edges gilt, contemporary binding.

A handsomely produced copy in a period Romantic full-morocco binding.

First edition, one of the 81 numbered copies on Holland paper, the only deluxe issue.

A handsome copy.

First edition, one of 65 copies on Arches; our copy is unnumbered but correctly justified "vergé d’Arches" at the foot of the lower cover. One of the only deluxe papers issued.

Two slight sunning marks at head and foot of the spine, which is also lightly pinched at the foot.

A pleasing copy.

First edition.

With press clippings laid in.

Half bronze sheep binding, spine with four raised bands framed with gilt pointillé and decorated with double gilt fillets, red sheep lettering-piece, a few small black spots and a light scratch to the spine, marbled paper boards, cat’s-eye patterned endpapers and pastedowns, contemporary binding.

A pleasing copy.

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

Minor surface scuffs along the margins of the front wrapper.

With a fine signed presentation inscription by Italo Calvino: "A Michel Tournier avec le souvenir de Italo Calvino. Mai 1974."

First edition on standard paper.

A handsome copy, complete with its publisher’s wraparound band.

Fine presentation inscription signed by Milan Kundera: "Paris 1998. Pour Michel Tournier avec l'amitié fidèle de Milan Kundera."

First edition, with no copies issued on deluxe paper.

Backstrip lightly creased, minor corner creases to the covers.

Inscribed, dated, and signed by Marguerite Duras to Yvonne Beaujour.

First edition, with no deluxe paper issue, one of the review copies.

A pleasing copy.

Inscribed, dated and signed by Annie Ernaux to her friend, the writer Christiane Baroche.

First edition of this almanac of the Neue Dichtung published by Kurt Wolff, featuring the first book-form appearance of Kafka’s short story "Vor dem Gesetz" (pp. 126-128). Covers sunned, tear to spine not lacking paper, chipping to spine-ends, and corners rubbed.

First edition of the short story "Vor dem Gesetz" (Before the Law), later published verbatim in Kafka’s masterpiece "Der Proceß" (The Trial). 

First edition on ordinary paper.

A vertical crease along the right margin of the upper cover, which also shows a tiny blemish at the head; a complete copy retaining its publisher’s wraparound band.

Fine presentation inscription signed by Pascal Quignard: "Pour Michel Tournier cette terrasse à Rome, avec mon meilleur souvenir. Pascal Quignard."

First edition, issued without any deluxe paper copies.

Occasional marginal tears to upper part of front cover, small lacks of paper to spine-ends, lack of paper to the lower left corner of the lower cover, and a small snag to lower part of lower cover.

Exceptional presentation copy from one woman writer to another, addressed by Georges de Peyrebrune to Jane Catulle Mendès: "pour mon exquise confrère / pour ma charmante amie / Madame Catulle Mendès / En souvenir / Peyrebrune".

First editions by Peyrebrune and even more so her inscribed copies are decidedly scarce: "it is still very difficult to find Peyrebrune's books nowadays" (Sophie Ménard).

First edition on ordinary paper.

Pages 10–11 lightly sunned owing to the presence of a newspaper clipping.

Fine presentation inscription signed by André Pieyre de Mandiargues: "à  Michel Tournier en très cordiale sympathie. André PM."

First edition, one of 1050 numbered copies on alfa paper.
Two very slight sunning without gravity to head of boards, handsome copy.
Paperboard binding after Mario Prassinos' original design.

First edition, with no deluxe paper issue.

A handsome copy, with the promotional leaflet loosely inserted; the verso is creased and shows a tear.

Fine dated and signed presentation inscription from Annie Ernaux to the writer Christiane Baroche: "Pour Christiane,qui m'a fait "naître" dans le bonheur il y a dix ans. Annie. 3/02/84."

First edition, one of 12, 13, or 14 numbered copies on Whatman paper depending on the volume, the only deluxe paper copies. The first three volumes had no limited deluxe paper issue and are from an edition of 3,000 copies each. The Whatman copies are as follows:
- 12 copies for volumes seven, eight, nine, twelve, and thirteen,

- 13 copies for volumes four, five, six, ten, and eleven,

- 14 copies for the final four volumes.
Half dark brown morocco with bands, smooth spines, author, title, and volume numbers tooled in palladium, vellum-style boards, plain endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved for every volume, top edges in palladium (uncut for the Whatman copies), bindings signed by René Kieffer (binder’s stamp and label on the first endpaper of each volume). Head of vol. 2 lightly rubbed.

Copy belonging to Charles Péguy’s collaborator André Bourgeois, administrator of the Cahiers de la quinzaine (literary magazine which published this novel). It exceptionally contains valuable bound-in manuscript notes by Romain Rolland and Péguy.

This exceedingly rare set in first edition is handsomely bound by the great René Kieffer. It contains every volume issued on deluxe paper - these being "deuxième exemplaire de souche", i.e. name copies of the administrator after Charles Péguy's copy and before the printer's.

First edition of the French translation.

Our copy is issued in its original state, preserved in a blue paper temporary wrapper and housed within a double chemise and slipcase in navy half-shagreen, smooth spine, marbled-paper boards; a modern binding signed by Devauchelle.

A rare and appealing copy.

Recorded in the CCF only at the BnF.

Sole edition of this theatrical jeu d’esprit, which bears little relation to China despite the purported setting of the action: "La scène se passe à Pé-King, l’an du monde 100, 857, et de Con-Fou-Tsée 6550". In reality, it is a play about the destructive nature of gambling, for which there was no real need to summon China as a pretext; moreover, the characters speak and behave like perfectly typical French petits bourgeois."

First edition, one of the review copies.
Spine just lightly rubbed.
Inscribed and signed by Patrick Modiano to the writer Christiane Baroche.
 

First edition, with no deluxe paper issue.

A small stain to the upper-left margin of the front cover; an attractive copy nonetheless.

Fine dated and signed presentation inscription from Annie Ernaux to the writer Christiane Baroche : "Voilà Christiane, je ne pouvais réellement écrire autre chose... Avec amitié AErnaux 6/01/88."

First edition of the French translation, one of 25 numbered copies on pur fil, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

Blood red morocco binding, gilt title lenghtwise, black stingray boards framed in morocco, gilt decorative paper endleaves, original wrappers preserved, top edge gilt, an elegant binding signed Boichot. Front free endpaper slightly toned, otherwise a handsome untrimmed copy.

Illustrated with original woodcuts by Jean-Gabriel Daragnès.

First edition on ordinary paper.

A pleasing copy, with only a few insignificant spots at the foot of the spine.

Warm presentation copy signed by Jean Echenoz to his friend, the writer, screenwriter, and filmmaker Jérôme Beaujour, also a specialist in Marguerite Duras’s cinema: "Pour mon cher Jérôme avec ma vive affection, Jean. 2.VI.10"

First edition, with no deluxe paper issue.

A fine copy.

Dated and signed presentation inscription from Annie Ernaux to the woman of letters Christiane Baroche: "Pour Christiane, très amicalement. Annie. 24/03/93."

A rare first edition, of which no subsequent reprint exists, complete with all his Neo-Latin poems, chiefly composed in Rome. The volume also contains two Greek poems at ff. 60 and 62, together with a poem which inspired the celebrated sonnet Happy he who like Ulysses.

Modern binding in full limp vellum, smooth spine, red edges, white pastedowns and endleaves.

Some defects within: discreet restoration to inner margin of title verso; small tear without loss at foot of ff. 2-3; dampstaining to lower margin of ff. 25-28 and 45-48; minimal marginal defect to f. 44, not affecting text.

Published in March 1558, this precious copy contains four books of Latin poems - Elegiæ, Varia Epigr[ammata], Amores [Faustinae], Tumuli - written by Du Bellay in Rome and Paris between 1553 and 1557. The collection, also referred to as Poemata or Œuvres latines, appeared in the same year as three other works from his Roman period: Les Regrets, Divers Jeux Rustiques, and Les Antiquitez de Rome.

First edition, with no deluxe paper issue.

A well-preserved copy.

Fine dated presentation inscription signed by Annie Ernaux to the writer Christiane Baroche: "Pour Christiane, avec notre vieille amitié, de tendre pensées 'fraternelles' AErnaux 16/01/92."

First edition, one of 70 numbered copies on Arches wove paper.

Our copy is enriched with the autograph signatures of Jacques Prévert — who signed as Jacques Rêve-vert (with the word “vert” highlighted in green) — and of André Pozner, each accompanied by two small drawings: a little cat for Jacques Prévert and a camel’s hump for André Pozner.

A fine copy, complete with its slipcase.

First trade edition, one of only 50 numbered copies printed on alfa paper, the only deluxe issue.
Rare and very attractive copy in original condition.

First edition, printed on Vélin d’Angoulême, with the usual typographical errors, and containing the six proscribed poems; one of the few copies presented to the author and "intended for friends who render no literary services".

Full claret morocco binding, spine with five raised bands richly decorated with multiple gilt- and blind-tooled fillets; third-state covers; boards framed with multiple blind-tooled fillets; marbled endpapers; gilt turn-ins; all edges gilt; marbled paper slipcase with morocco border; signed binding by Semet & Plumelle.

Precious copy, enhanced with an autograph dedication in ink by the author on the dedication page, addressed to Paul Meurice, playwright, journalist, and close collaborator of Victor Hugo, « à Paul Meurice, témoignage d'amitié. Ch. Baudelaire » ["To Paul Meurice, in token of friendship. Ch. Baudelaire"]. Featuring twenty autograph corrections by the author to the printed dedication and four poems:

- At the dedication: two pencil corrections to the last words of the first line. Baudelaire adds a plural to “es langueS françaiseS,” “es” being, in fact, the contraction of “en les.” A surprising syntactical correction, sacrificing coherence, which the author later amended in 1861 to “Magicien es Lettres Françaises”.

- “La muse vénale”, p. 29: one ink correction to the final word of the last line of the first tercet, “Guère S,” one of the earliest misprints corrected by Baudelaire, which had nevertheless escaped him on the proofs, as with the following.

- “Le chat”, p. 110: one ink correction in the second line of the sixth quatrain, “au” logically changed to “un.”

- “Don Juan aux enfers”, p. 43: three ink corrections to the third line of the third tercet. The first, a simple misprint, “errant S,” had already troubled Baudelaire on the proofs, but its earlier correction had not been carried over.

The other two, “leS rivageS,” are not orthographic corrections but represent one of the very first poetic variants, absent from most presentation copies, foreshadowing the forthcoming complete revision of Les Fleurs du mal and the new original edition of 1861.

-"Le reniement de Saint Pierre", p. 217: a pencil correction on the fourth line of the second quatrain. The “D” replacing the “C” in “Cieux” is underlined three times. Curiously, the proofs reveal the exact opposite: “Les Dieux” was then corrected with a “C,” equally emphatically underlined. Anti-clerical remorse or altered alliteration? This correction, found in only a few copies, drew the poet’s attention to another misprint, still intact in our copy, later corrected in subsequent presentation copies: “au X doux bruit.”

-Baudelaire also inscribed a large “C” in pencil on pp. 52, 73, 91, 187, 191, and 206, at the head of the six poems condemned on 20 August 1857 for removal from copies in circulation. He transferred the same “C.” to the table of contents, opposite the six incriminated titles: Les Bijoux, Le Léthé, À celle qui est trop gaie, Lesbos, Femmes damnées: À la pâle clarté, and Les Métamorphoses du Vampire.

In total, twenty autograph interventions by Charles Baudelaire.

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 collected edition of the works by the author of Les Étourdis ou le Mort supposé, a comedy that enjoyed great success just before the Revolution.

The set includes a portrait frontispiece in the first volume, four engraved plates, and ten engraved headpieces.

Bound in contemporary full polished and mottled brown calf, gilt decoration, smooth spines with six false raised bands highlighted with gilt fillets and repeated gilt floral tools, gilt fillet frames on covers bordered with a garland roll, gilt tooling to head- and tailpieces, green morocco spine labels, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt edges on boards, marbled edges, contemporary bindings.

Some foxing to a few leaves of volume IV and to the endpapers, with minor surface abrasions to the covers.

Poet and playwright F.-G.-J.-S. Andrieux (1759–1833) was for a time drawn to politics under the Consulate.

He is remembered for his famous retort to Bonaparte, who reproached him for his opposition in the Tribunate: « Citoyen Premier Consul, on ne s'appuie que sur ce qui résiste ».

In literature, however, his ultra-classical tastes prevented him from recognizing the genius of Balzac, of whom he said, after hearing Cromwell: « Ce jeune homme doit faire quoi que ce soit, excepté de la littérature ». A splendid copy in Bradel-Derome le jeune bindings (cf. Coligny, Bradel-Derome, type A-T2), bearing a printed label on the pastedown of the first volume and, beneath it, the bookplate of the library of Vicomte E. de Bourbon-Busset (1799–1863).

"New edition, with parts in first edition, incorporating an unpublished preface; the first edition had appeared in 1927 in Tokyo at the close of Claudel’s ambassadorship in Japan (1921–1927) and was issued in three fan-shaped quarto volumes. Work illustrated with Japanese characters calligraphed by Ikuma Arishima. Composed between June 1926 and January 1927, this essay (blending traditional calligraphy, haiku, and short Western-style verse) bears witness, among Claudel’s other creations, to the influence of the Far East on his poetic practice.

Moving and exceptional presentation inscription, signed and dated by Paul Claudel to his eldest daughter, Marie Claudel, known as "Chouchette" (1907–1981), and to his son-in-law Roger Méquillet, written at the head of the front endpaper and in pencil on the flyleaf: "A mes chers enfants Roger et Chouchette de tout mon coeur. claudel. Paris 30 juin 1942 Paul."

First edition printed on ordinary paper.

A pleasing copy.

Affectionate signed presentation inscription from Jean Echenoz to his friend, the writer, screenwriter and filmmaker Jérôme Beaujour, also a specialist of Marguerite Duras’s cinema: "Pour Jérôme je t'embrasse, Jean. 6.XI.15"

First edition, one of 26 copies on pure wove paper, the only deluxe-paper issue.

A rare and handsome copy.

Antoine Tudal was the son-in-law and close confidant of Nicolas de Staël, who confided to him a few days before his death: "Tu sais, je ne sais pas si je vais vivre longtemps. Je crois que j'ai assez peint. Je suis arrivé à ce que je voulais..."

First edition on ordinary paper.

A pleasing copy.

Fine signed presentation inscription from Jean Echenoz to the writer, screenwriter, and filmmaker Jérôme Beaujour, also a specialist in Marguerite Duras’ cinema: "Pour Jérôme (qui m'a donné quelque chose p.109 à Pondichéry) et pour Elisabeth avec toute mon affection, Jean."

New edition, revised, corrected, and considerably enlarged.

Contemporary bindings in half mottled fawn calf over corners, smooth spines gilt with fillets, morocco title and volume labels, brown paper-covered boards, sprinkled edges.

Some minor rubbing to the spines, a few corners slightly bumped.

L'Esprit des lois occupies volumes I to IV; La Défense de l'Esprit des lois volume V (with a general index); Lettres persanes volume VI; volume VII gathers the Considérations and related pieces; volume VIII contains the posthumous works.

This collected edition of Montesquieu's works offers no particular bibliographical peculiarities in its contents but constitutes a very rare Zweibrücken printing bearing the false Saarbrücken imprint: Deux-Ponts was in fact an autonomous and conveniently located printing centre (by virtue of its proximity) for introducing into France titles that could not otherwise evade censorship.

First edition of the French translation, one of the scarce lettered copies printed on pur fil for private circulation, ours bearing the letter A, the only deluxe-paper copies together with 25 numbered copies on pur fil.
Wide-margined copy, boards and spine lightly and marginally sunned, a few scattered foxmarks affecting some leaves and deckle edges.

Two works bound in one volume: first edition of Principia philosophiae fol­lowed by the first Latin edition of Spec­imina philosophiae. Complete with blank leaves b4 and 2Q4.

Printer's mark representing Minerva and her owl, as well as the motto “Ne extra oleas” on the title page. Numerous in-text engrav­ings.

Bound in full calf, spine with five raised bands framed in gilt, elaborately decorat­ed in gilt, gilt arms of the Society of Writers to the Signet at center of boards framed in blind, marbled endpapers, speckled edges. Library shelfmark glued to the pastedown endpaper, additional penned shelfmarks on the pastedown, and a manuscript ex-libris of the Signet Library, “Ex Lib: | Bibl: Scribar | Sig: Reg:” on the title page. Joints, spine-ends and corners restored, more foxing on the first six leaves, on the title page of the Specimina and the last four leaves of the volume. Some spots to the boards. Unusual paper defect around the author's name on the title page of Princip­ia, present in other copies (Library of Con­gress, BnF), small wormhole to the lower margin of this same page, burrowing to p. 129 of the “Specimina”. A few faded letters on 4 lines where two pages were joined together (pages 296–297).

First Latin edition of the Discourse on the Method containing the first oc­currence of the famous “cogito ergo sum”.

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 illustrated edition with 85 drawings by Benett and a world map at the end of the volume. Publisher’s catalogue DS bound in at the end.
Publisher’s royal-blue cloth binding with the “two elephants with a fan” design, signed Souze and bound by Lenègre. Spine type D, lower cover type n. Head- and tailcaps and edges slightly rubbed, with tiny splits at the ends of the spine. A fine, bright front cover with brilliant gilt. Spine evenly darkened. Two small tears along the lower margin of the rear cover and a dark one-centimetre stain. Gilt edges perfect. Scattered foxing. A well-preserved and uniform copy.
Handsome copy, scarce in this colour.

Very rare first edition of the Japanese translation, accompanied by Taiichi Ogawa’s annotated commentary.

Illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of Alphonse Daudet.

Spine with two tears at head and foot, soiling to the wrappers, a few minor spots internally.

First Japanese edition of Alphonse Daudet’s masterpiece. Harshly received in Provence upon its publication in 1872, despite the support of Frédéric Mistral, the novel soon came to be regarded as one of the landmarks of French literature, and the character of Tartarin became the emblem—and finest ambassador—of the city of Tarascon.

First and only Franco-Chinese edition, illustrated with six etchings reproduced by Frédéric Chevalier.

A single copy recorded in the CCFr (Bulac).

Sole edition of this contemporary curiosity born of the French vogue for all things Oriental: born in 1831, Tin-Tun-Ling (or Ding Dunling) was a Chinese scholar from Shanxi and a political exile in France. Théophile Gautier met him in Paris, grew fond of him, and hired him to teach Chinese to his daughter Judith. Steeped in Far Eastern culture, she delighted in presenting herself as the reincarnation of a Chinese princess. Tin-Tun-Ling then lived in a pavilion built in the Chinese style, set in the garden of the Pré aux Oiseaux – Judith’s home in Saint-Enogat. After Gautier’s death in 1872, Tin-Tun-Ling married a Frenchwoman, Caroline Julie Liégeois, who later accused him of bigamy (he was in all likelihood already married in China); following a trial in 1873, he was nevertheless acquitted. A triple photographic portrait of Tin-Tun-Ling by Nadar survives, taken in 1874, one year before the publication of this work.

This copy is preserved in its original state, in flexible yellow cloth wrappers showing small spots and, as often, minor marginal tears.

Parisian first edition published simultaneously with that of Brussels. Seventh edition statement. Title pages in red and black.
Contemporary half black shagreen binding. Spine with raised bands decorated with blind compartments, series of bold fillets. Some scattered pale foxing on well-white paper. Handsome series agreeably bound.
 

First edition, one of 24 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe issue.

With sections devoted in particular to Cesare Pavese and Alberto Moravia...

A rare and attractive copy of Dominique Fernandez’s first published work.

First edition, printed on thick wove paper.
Bound in contemporary half brown shagreen, smooth spines decorated with black typographic motifs, marbled paper boards, hand-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, modern slipcase edged in brown morocco with matching marbled paper sides and olive-green felt lining. 
Some occasional foxing, the note "Henri Beyle" in black ink at the upper corner of the title page of the first volume, final catalogue leaf present at the end of the second volume, small corner restorations to four leaves of the first volume.
"Very rare and extremely sought after. Usually quite simply bound at the time. Often foxed" (Clouzot). "This work is of great rarity in fine condition" (Carteret).
A handsome and very rare copy, large-margined and attractively bound at the time, of this masterpiece by Stendhal—rarer still than Le Rouge et le Noir.

First illustrated edition, with a frontispiece portrait of the author and a plate of music inserted at the end.

Not listed in Schwab.

Contemporary binding in half polished Havana calf, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets, chain motifs and floral tools, saffron paper boards, marbled edges.

Joints split at foots and slightly at heads, a pleasant copy overall.

An important work by the renowned Austrian orientalist (1774–1856) devoted to ancient Persian poetry, containing a large number of extracts translated into German and an extensive index.

The work, dedicated to the great French orientalist Silvestre de Sacy, was carefully printed in Gothic type; the Persian translations are presented in two columns.

A handsome, large-margined copy in a period binding.

First edition on vélin d'Angoulême (laid paper), complete with all six condemned pieces, with the usual typographical errors.
Contemporary red half sheepskin binding, spine with four raised bands framed in gilt adorned with gilt fleurons, red percaline boards,  marbled endpapers , speckled edges.

Rare and sought-after first edition.
 
Half-black shagreen binding, spine in four compartments, marbled paper boards, pebbled endpapers and pastedowns, speckled edges, contemporary binding.
Some occasional light foxing as usual.
 
Rare copy in strictly contemporary binding.

First edition of this periodical, the inaugural volume of which appeared in 1776. Publication continued until 1789 and ultimately comprised 112 volumes; sets are consequently very difficult to assemble, particularly in uniform bindings.

Copy bearing unidentified arms.

Contemporary full brown sheep. Smooth gilt-decorated spine. Red morocco lettering-piece and volume label. Upper cover stamped with armorial devices. Headcaps defective in five places. Various abrasions. A few early cracks at the head of the joints.

First edition, one of 45 numbered copies on Holland paper, the deluxe issue.

Full chocolate-brown morocco binding, spine with five raised bands framed with black fillets, date gilt at foot, gilt rolls on the caps, marbled paper endpapers and doublures, gilt double fillet borders on the doublures, gilt fillets along the edges, original wrappers and spine preserved, all edges gilt, slipcase edged with matching chocolate morocco, sides in marbled paper, interior lined with grey felt. A splendid binding signed by Semet & Plumelle.

A very handsome copy, perfectly bound in full morocco by Semet & Plumelle.

First edition, one of 100 numbered copies on Outhenin-Chalandre pure wove paper for each volume, the only deluxe paper issue after 10 copies on Japon and 30 on Hollande.

In original wrappers. Very good overall condition; two covers show a few minor surface marks.
Pleasant and uncommon set, untrimmed and with full margins, complete in 27 volumes.

First edition, one of 40 numbered copies on Ingres paper, deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

First edition, one of 500 copies on ordinary paper.
This copy has a chemise and slipcase.
A little light spotting, not serious, nice copy.
Retaining its advertising band and slip.
Handsome autograph inscription signed by René Char: “à Man Ray au voyant carnassier de tout cœur R. Char.” (“To Man Ray to the carnivorous fortune teller, with all my heart, R. Char.”)

First edition, with no deluxe-paper copies printed.
Illustrations.

A handsome copy despite the slightly faded spine.

Precious and fine signed presentation copy from Louis Aragon to Maurice Druon: "A Maurice Druon, pour qu'il sache que de temps je m'égarée dans Césarée. [sic] Louis".

First collective edition on ordinary paper.

Pleasing copy.

Valuable presentation copy signed by Louis Aragon: "A Maurice Druon, pour n'en pas perdre l'habitude. Louis."

 

First edition of this important account of Buffon, providing insights into his private life, his character, and his relationships with those around him; it also contains numerous references to his scientific work (cf. Quérard I, 119: "Lyon, Grabit, 1788"; Dureau, "Notice sur Joseph Aude," p. 15).

Half vellum binding, smooth spine with a red morocco title label in vertical layout, marbled paper boards, slightly rubbed corners, sprinkled edges.

Stains in the margins of the title page and final leaf.

The memoirs proper end on page 55.

The following pages contain the poems announced in the title.

The rarity of this volume was already noted by Dureau in 1868...

Chevalier Aude (1755–1841), a prolific dramatist and former secretary to Caraccioli, had also served as Buffon’s secretary and resided, in the manner of an “Eckermann,” with the great naturalist at his estate in Montbard.

Armorial bookplate "Sapere Aude" pasted on the verso of the front board, likely belonging to a descendant of the Chevalier.

First edition, printed in 200 numbered copies not for sale.

A fine copy.

First edition of the French translation by Georges Sautreau, review copy punch on the lower cover.

Spine slightly sunned, otherwise a pleasant copy.

Signed autograph inscription by Georges Sautreau, in Norwegian, to the philologist and literary historian Gunnar Fougner Høst, wishing him a joyful winter solstice: "Til Gunnar Høst glaedelig Jul Georges Sautreau Paris Nöel 1932;"

Rare and sought-after first edition, first issue.

Includes the subscribers' list and the foreword, which were omitted when the remainder of this edition passed into the hands of another publisher, Dion-Lambert. It also retains the pagination error in volume two: page 164 instead of 364. With a letter from the author, bearing his autograph signature, written and dated 14 April 1839, in the hand of his secretary. One page written in black ink on a leaf. Slightly darkened at the upper edge, with occasional foxing, and the usual folds from postal handling.

Our copy is enriched with an exceptional, prophetic and macabre letter by François-René de Chateaubriand: "mais moi je suis mort, absolument mort et s'il me fallait écrire un mot dans un journal, j'aimerais mieux être enseveli à mille pieds sous terre." ["but I am dead, utterly dead, and if I were required to write a single word in a newspaper, I would rather be buried a thousand feet underground."]

Signed with the author’s faltering hand, this apparently unpublished letter was penned by his secretary: "Vous connaissez la main de [Hyacinthe] Pilorge que j'employe pour remplacer la mienne souffrante de la goutte" ["You will recognise the hand of [Hyacinthe] Pilorge, whom I employ to replace my own, suffering from gout,"] the author explains in the introduction to the letter.

Black half-morocco bindings, smooth spines with double gilt fillets and double blind-stamped compartments, black paper boards, slight superficial rubbing to some boards, marbled paper pastedowns and endpapers, sprinkled edges; contemporary bindings. Sparse foxing.

First edition, printed in a small number of copies, of this offprint from issues 314 and 318 of the Revue africaine (1923 and 1924).

Half black shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers, original wrappers and spine preserved, contemporary binding.

Illustrated with 4 plates, including a frontispiece portrait. Tailliart 592.

Rare copy of this meticulous monograph (later reissued under the Champion imprint), documenting the journey Daudet made to Algeria from 21 December 1861 to 25 February 1862, accompanied by his cousin Reynaud.

Drawing on a wealth of sources, the author succeeded in reconstructing the writer’s exact itinerary; the purpose of the work was to respond to Degoumois’s claims in L’Algérie d’Alphonse Daudet : Essai sur les sources et les procédés d’imitation d’A. Daudet (Geneva, 1922), in which he asserted that most of the Algerian descriptions found in Lettres de mon moulin, Tartarin de Tarascon and Contes du lundi were merely borrowed from Eugène Fromentin.

Our copy is enriched with an autograph letter signed by Jules Caillat, dated Paris, 7 June [1924?], most likely addressed to the publisher (bifolium of 4 pp. in-12), sent together with three original photographic plates (those used for the book’s illustrations) and a roll containing a proof of each.

Caillat also discusses the desired print run (350 copies, of which only 300 were available for sale) and the typographical changes required in the transition from periodical articles to book form.

First edition of the French translation prepared by Jean-Nicolas Jouin de Sausseul (see Quérard VII, 330, who erroneously lists 4 parts; Cioranescu XVIII, 59 618; not in Sabin).

Full mottled fawn calf binding, smooth spines divided into compartments and decorated with gilt fleurons, some rubbing, light brown morocco title labels, green morocco volume labels, gilt rolls slightly faded at the headcaps, single gilt fillet framing the boards, gilt fillets along the edges, bumped corners, red edges, contemporary bindings.

Two small patches of missing leather to the lower cover of the second volume.

The original English edition appeared in 1781 under the title Emma Corbett.

One of the earliest English novels inspired by the loss of the American colonies; it enjoyed great success in Britain. Samuel Jackson Pratt (1749–1814) was a prolific man of letters whose works achieved a popularity comparable to that of Mme Cottin, a writer of a similar period and sensibility.

First edition of the French translation, of which no deluxe paper copies were issued.

A fine copy.

Preface by Salman Rushdie, the work illustrated with drawings by the author.

Signed autograph inscription from Glen Baxter to Michel Crépu.

First edition, one of 750 numbered copies on vélin paper, this not justified, the only printing along with 50 on Japan.

A good copy.
Aesthetic Surrealist autograph inscription by Benjamin Péret: '...Pourquoi la chevelure, me direz-vous? Oui, pourquoi? Parce que les cheveux remplacent les parapluies...' to his friend Léo Malet.

First edition of this magazine led by Ivan Goll, uniting French surrealists then in exile in the United States with their American peers.
Several contributions including those from Saint-John Perse, Roger Caillois, William Carlos Williams, Alain Bosquet, Ivan Goll, André Breton, Aimé Césaire, André Masson, Henry Miller, Kurt Seligmann, Denis de Rougemont, Julien Gracq, Eugène Guillevic, Robert Lebel...
Illustrations by George Barker, André Masson, Wifredo Lam, Yves Tanguy.
Pleasant and rare collection despite a small piece missing at the foot of the spine on the double issue 2 & 3.
Complete collection in 6 issues and 5 deliveries (numbers 2 & 3 being double) of this important magazine that offers a panorama of the Surrealist movement in exile and provides an insight into the influence of the contributors on the New York art scene.

First edition, one of 52 copies printed on Montval paper, ours being the second of 12 hors commerce copies, a deluxe issue.

Half anthracite-grey long-grained morocco, smooth spine lettered with the author’s name, title, date, and the palladium-stamped inscription “EXEMPLAIRE J. KESSEL”, abstract patterned paper boards, dove-grey paper endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, binding signed by Thomas Boichot.

Some light foxing mainly affecting the first and last leaves.

Exceptional and deeply moving full-page signed presentation inscription from Maurice Druon to Joseph Kessel: “Il fallait bien, mon grand Jef, que le premier livre que je t'envoie depuis que tu es Immortel soit les mémoires de Zeus. Je remercie les Destins de m'avoir donné un tel oncle et d'avoir permis que nous nous aimions si bien. Je t'embrasse. Maurice Mai 1963.”