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

First edition, one of 200 numbered copies on vélin alfama du Marais paper, the only large-paper copies.
A fine copy, complete with its dust jacket.

Pedigree was first serialized in the Brussels weekly Le Face à Main.

Taken to court by several people who recognized themselves in the novel, Simenon revised it for a new edition in 1948, leaving blank the passages challenged in the lawsuits. The Pléiade edition restored the full text in 2009.

A rare large-paper copy of this autobiographical novel. 

First edition of the German translation by Eveline Passet, published a year after the original French edition.

Publisher's boards, copy complete with its illustrated dust jacket, which bears a tear repaired with adhesive tape.

Autograph inscription signed by Daniel Pennac to his close friend Franklin [Rist], enhanced with an original drawing in black felt-tip pen depicting a little man brandishing an axe and shouting "Rends-moi mon livre, Franklin" [Give my book back to me!" at another, who replies "Niemals !" [Never!] D. Pennac.

An amusing inscription in a volume from the celebrated Malaussène saga.

First edition in book form of The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, published in London by Chapman and Hall in 1837, following its appearance in monthly parts beginning in March 1836. Dickens’s first novel, the work is illustrated with forty-three engraved plates, including a frontispiece and engraved title, by Robert Seymour, Robert William Buss, and Hablot Knight Browne, known as Phiz. The printed title is dated MDCCCXXXVII.

Contemporary full brown calf, spine with false raised bands, decorated with broad gilt fillets, longitudinal gilt tools over the bands, and blind wave tooling; red calf...

First edition, with the beautiful relais wrapper illustrated by Vallotton.

Mounted at the head, an autograph letter of 3pp. and 50 lines to Henri Mazel, concerning the three-act drama La fin des Dieux, with a postscript on Poil de carotte. Mazel was a critic, writer and poet, founder of the review L'ermitage, and would leave a memorable testimony on Renard's work in his essay Le mercure.

Binding signed Pouillet at the top of the first free endpaper, in half carrot-red morocco with corners, smooth spine richly adorned with gilt and blind-tooled compartments and fleurons. Gilt top edge. Original wrappers and spine preserved. Light rubbing along the...

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on pur fil wove paper, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

Introduction and notes by Pierre Caizergues.

First edition of this travel narrative with reproductions of the photographs Jack London took during his voyage, including one in color as frontispiece. Copy from the first printing.

Publisher's light blue binding, with a color depiction of the sailing ship “Snark” on the front cover, title and author in gilt on the front cover, smooth spine with gilt title, author and publisher. Very slight rubbing to the binding, otherwise a very fine copy.

First edition of the French translation, one of 28 numbered copies on Arches wove paper, the only deluxe copies.

Fine copy.

First edition, one of 280 numbered copies on mould-made wove paper, this copy one of 30 hors commerce copies in special wrappers reserved for the 30 private subscribers to all of Paul Valéry's works.

Fine copy.

Decorated with typographical ornaments by René Ben Sussan.*

Precious signed autograph presentation inscription from Paul Valéry to his friend, the bookseller, publisher and bibliophile Ronald Davis: "à Ronald Davis pour sa collection et avec les bons souvenirs de Paul Valéry."

First edition of Marthe Robert's French translation, one of 106 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only large-paper issue.

Spine and boards slightly and marginally faded, as usual.

First edition, one of the review copies.

A very good copy.

Signed presentation inscription from Jean Cocteau to Claude Aveline: "... ce très long métrage et cet oiseau de nuit de tout coeur...

First edition of the French translation by Alexandre Vialatte, one of 148 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only grand papier copies.

Preface by Bernard Groethuysen.

Half gray morocco binding with corners, smooth spine, marbled paper sides, endpapers and pastedowns of marbled paper, original wrappers and spine preserved, gilt top edge, slipcase edged in mouse-gray morocco with marbled paper sides, contemporary binding signed Lévêque.

First edition of Alexandre Vialatte's French translation, one of 205 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the deluxe issue.

Spine and boards slightly and marginally faded, as usual.

First edition, on ordinary paper, of Philippe Jaccottet's French translation.

Very slight, insignificant rubbing to the joints.

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

First collected edition, one of the press copies.

A very good copy.

Signed presentation copy from Paul Claudel to Luc Estang.

First edition, in two volumes, of the series Commentaires sur la guerre des Boches. Copies numbered on Arches laid paper for both volumes, from the tirage de tête.

Printed wrappers lightly soiled, spine and margins of the front cover of the first volume sunned, slight tears to the spine ends, corner creases to the leaves, and an ink stain in the margin of the first volume. A few passages highlighted in pencil in the first volume. The second volume is untrimmed, with full margins throughout.

Autograph inscription, dated and signed "S." from André Suarès to Ventura García Calderón, on the front free endpaper of the first volume: "A Mr. V...

Extremely rare first edition of this poem composed to mark the capture of Ulm (15–20 October 1805), during the Austrian campaign.

No copy recorded in the CCF. 

The only copy we have located is held by the Biblioteca musicale Gaetano Donizetti in Bergamo.

Francesco Zacchiroli (1750–1826), a native of Ferrara, is best known for his Description de la galerie royale de Florence (1783), although he was also a prolific writer of both verse and prose.

Traces of a label to the upper left corner of the front wrapper, a few minor spots of foxing.

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued, of this children’s book designed in the form of a tourist postcard from the Baladar Islands to be sent to friends.

Publisher’s pictorial boards.
Illustrated with drawings by André François.

Inevitable rubbing to the spine, owing to Jacques Prévert’s practice of sending inscribed copies of this work through the post; a small dampstain to the right-hand margin of a few leaves.

Signed and dated presentation inscription in felt-tip pen by Jacques Prévert: "Vive l'amitié Jacques Prévert Paris de printemps 1958" enhanced with an original drawing in green, yellow and red coloured pencil depicting a flower accompanied by...

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued.

Richly illustrated. A fine copy.

Precious dated and signed presentation inscription from André Malraux: "Pour Fanny et D. Galanis leur vieil ami André Malraux dec.47."

First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on vat-made vellum reserved for the Société bibliophilique des XX, this copy being that of Georges Calmann-Lévy, from the hors-commerce deluxe issue.

Manuscript signature of the Comtesse de Noailles beneath the limitation statement.

Below, a signed autograph presentation inscription from the president of the Société bibliophilique des XX.

Rare and handsome copy, preserved in sheets under double wrappers and spine, housed in a chemise and slipcase of full mauve moiré silk.

As usual, some rubbing to the joints of the chemise and to the slipcase.

First edition, one of the press copies.

Important signed autograph inscription from Marcel Jouhandeau to André Malraux: "Pour André Malraux avec mon souvenir affectueux. Marcel Jouhandeau."

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued.

A vertical crease to the front wrapper.

Signed presentation inscription from Paul Ricoeur to Jean-Luc Drouin.

First edition, one of 80 numbered copies on Lana Ingres laid paper, this copy No. 1, the only deluxe issue.
A fine copy despite two yellow scratches to the right-hand margin of the rear cover.

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued.

A fine copy, complete with the publisher's promotional wraparound band.

Signed presentation inscription by Virginie Despentes on the title page.

First edition of Mademoiselle Fifi, published in Brussels by Henry Kistemaeckers in 1882. The volume brings together seven stories previously published in Gil Blas between December 1881 and March 1882, then revised by Maupassant for their first appearance in book form. The edition comprised 2,000 copies on laid paper and a further 50 on Japan paper; the present copy is from the regular issue on laid paper. Etched portrait of Maupassant by Just as frontispiece. Untrimmed.

Half raspberry...

First edition of the French translation, one of 41 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the sole large-paper issue.

Spine and boards slightly and marginally faded, as often; two small spots of foxing in the left margin of the front board.

Original edition illustrated with 85 drawings by Benett, with a world map at the end of the volume. General publisher's catalogue in fine, DS.
Publisher's tan pictorial cloth binding with the two elephants and fan design, signed Souze and bound by Lenègre. Spine type D, back board type n. A very fine front board with well-struck gilt; a crease to the upper right corner. Minor touch-ups to the colour at the head, tail and corners, with some stiffening of the cloth. Spine sound, with an area of soiling to the right of the title extending onto the front board. Diffuse dark marks on the back board. Scattered foxing to the first two leaves, sparse thereafter except in the catalogue...

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on Imperial Japanese paper, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

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

A rare and fine copy, with full margins.

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

Introduction and study by Jean Bloch-Michel
A fine copy despite two slight areas of sunning at the head and foot of the spine. 

First collected edition, one of the numbered copies on alfa paper.

An attractive copy.

Signed autograph presentation inscription by Jean Cocteau on the half-title.

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

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

First edition, one of 210 numbered copies on Lafuma Madagascar paper, this copy unnumbered.

A fine copy.

Fine presentation copy, warmly inscribed and signed by Paul Valéry to his friend Ronald Davis, bookseller, publisher and bibliophile: "A Ronald Davis, échange, selon le Magicien d'Aladin, d'une vieille lampe contre une neuve ! Paul Valéry."

First edition, one of the numbered copies on bouffant alfa calypso paper.

Publisher's full blue cloth binding after the original design by Massin, smooth spine, complete with its original acetate dust jacket and wraparound band.

A fine copy.

Signed presentation inscription from Marguerite Yourcenar to Mr Steiner: "... ces temps troublés comme les nôtres..."

First edition of the French translation, one of 25 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe issue.

Faint, light foxing to spine, rear wrapper and final endpaper, otherwise a pleasant copy.

First edition, one of 80 numbered copies on Lana Ingres laid paper, this copy numbered 1, the entire deluxe issue.
A fine copy.

First edition illustrated with drawings by Jean-Jacques Sempé.

A pleasing copy.

Presentation copy inscribed by Jean-Jacques Sempé to a woman named Bernadette, with an original drawing depicting a street corner and a traffic light turning green.

Dear Sempé, as in a sentence by Proust, one does not immediately see where your drawing is heading, until suddenly some microscopic detail becomes the most important thing on the page and illuminates the whole with a prodigious clarity. The mountains you scribble (traffic jams, crowds, buildings, shops) are placed at the disposal of mice (grandmothers...

First edition on ordinary paper.

A few small stains to the bottom edge, otherwise a pleasant copy.

Signed presentation inscription from Jean Raspail to Monsieur Patrier, dated 12 November 1973.

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

A fine copy.

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

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

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

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

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Marais Crèvecoeur paper, issued as part of the publisher’s deluxe limitation.

Spine and boards faintly sunned and toned as usual, with a small spot to the lower outer corner of the front board.

As stated in the limitation, this copy includes its original etching by Jacques Villon, signed in the plate.

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."

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, 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.

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...

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 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 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, 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...

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 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 lengthwise, gold 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.

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...

First edition, printed on vélin d’Angoulême, with the usual typographical errors, and containing the six banned poems; one of the few author’s copies “intended for friends who render no literary services”.

Full bordeaux red 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.

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...

"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...

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...

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.

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"

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 –...

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, without the final catalogue leaf 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...

First edition of Joseph von Hammer's major history of Persian belles-lettres, published in Vienna in 1818 by Heubner und Volke. Large quarto, XII and 432 pages, with an engraved portrait of the author as frontispiece, a plate of music bound between pages 272 and 273, and an index. The work is dedicated to Silvestre de Sacy.

Contemporary half polished tan calf, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets, chain tools and floral ornaments, saffron-coloured boards, marbled edges. Joints split at foot and more slightly at head. A handsome copy with generous margins.

Hammer's...

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.

Paris, Ernest Flammarion, 1932-1946. Twenty-seven octavo volumes.

First edition, one of 100 numbered copies on Outhenin-Chalandre pure wove paper, the third deluxe paper after 10 copies on Japan paper and 30 on Dutch handmade paper, preceding 1,000 copies on alfa wove.

Volumes I-XVIII and XXV-XXVII are first editions. Volumes XIX-XXIV, first published in New York between 1941 and 1944 by the Éditions de la Maison française during Jules Romains’s wartime exile, are present in their Paris reissues of 1945 and 1946, uniformly printed on the same pure wove paper and incorporated into...

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...

Rare and sought-after first edition, first issue.

Includes the subscribers' list and the foreword, later removed when the remainder of this edition passed into the hands of another publisher, Dion-Lambert. It also features the pagination error in volume two: page 164 instead of 364. 

Black half-morocco bindings, smooth spines with double gilt fillets and double blind-stamped compartments, black paper boards...

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...

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.