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

First edition of André Gide's French translation of Typhoon, completed in print on 25 June 1918 by the Éditions de la Nouvelle Revue Française, in the small blue-wrapper series devoted in particular to Gide's own works and translations. One of 300 numbered copies on Rives paper, the sole deluxe issue, this copy no. 250.

Half black morocco with bands, signed Creuzevault at the head of the front free endpaper. Smooth spine with longitudinal title, title and top edge in palladium. Original wrappers and spine preserved. Some rubbing to the boards and corners, with slight rubbing to the joints. A rare...

First edition, one of 25 copies on Holland paper, the only large paper copies announced.
Half midnight blue sheep, spine with four raised bands underlined with blind fillets, marbled paper boards, endpapers and pastedowns of hand-made paper, modest modern binding.
Slightly trimmed copy, last two leaves entirely toned, minor foxing to endpapers.

First collected edition, with no deluxe issue; one of the press copies.
Two small tears at head of spine.

Rare and fine signed autograph inscription from Robert Desnos: " à toutes les sirènes de "Fontaine" (quand boirai-je de ton eau ?)..."
 

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued.

A small loss to the upper right-hand corner of the title and half-title pages.

Signed presentation copy from Roland Barthes to the writer, art critic and television personality Max-Pol Fouchet.

First edition, one of 1,050 numbered copies on vélin labeur paper.
Publisher's boards after the original design by Mario Prassinos.
Spine very slightly faded, as usual; a pleasing copy.

First edition, one of 1,050 numbered copies on alfa paper.
Publisher's binding after the original design by Mario Prassinos.
Spine very slightly sunned, as usual, with a small nick to the upper headcap.

First edition on ordinary paper.

Light foxing to the top edge.

A pleasing copy complete with its publisher's belly band.

Signed presentation copy from Georges Perec to the writer, art critic and television personality Max-Pol Fouchet.

First edition of Michel Seuphor's poems with drawings by Ania Staritsky.

Illustrated wrappers slightly yellowed and soiled, a light corner crease to the upper cover.

First edition, one of 415 numbered copies on pur fil paper.
Endpapers lightly browned in places.
An attractive copy.

First edition, one of 950 numbered copies on vélin labeur paper.
Publisher's binding after the original design by Paul Bonet.
A fine copy complete with its original acetate dust jacket.

First edition, one of 260 numbered copies on alfa paper.

Fine copy.

First edition, one of the numbered copies.

Publisher's binding after the original binding design by Paul Bonet.

Richly illustrated.

A fine copy.

First edition, one of 18 numbered copies on imperial Japan paper, the deluxe issue.

A tear at the foot of the front wrapper near the spine, small marginal tears to the wrappers, with a minute loss to the rear wrapper.

An attractive and rare copy, untrimmed and retaining its full margins.

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

Fine copy.

First edition of the French translation.

Contemporary half green chalgrin, spine very slightly faded, with five raised bands ruled in gilt, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, corners very slightly bumped, a minor nick to one edge, speckled edges.

Preface by Emile Bergerat.

First illustrated edition, with original lithographs by Renée André-Piot, one of 600 numbered copies on Vidalon royal wove paper.

Some foxing.

Autograph presentation inscription signed by Joseph Kessel to Jacques Lengrand.

Accompanied by an original Roger-Viollet photograph, with the agency's stamp on the verso, showing Joseph Kessel seated at a table in the La Cloche d'Or restaurant in Paris in 1952, cigarette in hand, beside a young woman.

Creasing to the right-hand margin of the photograph.

Manuscript annotations by Roger-Viollet and two stamps on the verso of the photograph.

First edition, one of 15 numbered copies on Kaji pearlescent Japan paper, the deluxe issue.

As stated in the limitation, our copy is complete with the separately printed facsimile on 18th-century laid paper of a manuscript page specially written by Jean de La Varende.

A few small spots of foxing to some leaves, boards lightly discoloured, otherwise a pleasant copy complete with its chemise and slipcase.

Signed presentation inscription from Jean de La Varende to the bibliophile Maurice Gorrée.

First edition on ordinary paper.

A fine and rare copy.

First edition, with no deluxe copies printed.
Publisher's full sand-coloured cloth, smooth spine, complete with the illustrated dust jacket.
Illustrated with photographs by Glasberg.
A fine copy.

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on Marais paper, the only deluxe issue.

Fine copy.

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued.

Spine sunned, a small stain at the head of the front wrapper.

Warmly inscribed and signed by Kateb Yacine to theatre director and radio producer Lucien Attoun: "A Lucien Attoun son frère maghrébin. Kateb Yacine."

First edition, one of 100 numbered copies on Holland paper, the only deluxe issue.

Contemporary half aubergine morocco over marbled-paper boards, with corners, spine very slightly faded, four raised bands, decorated with green morocco onlays, blind-stamped fleurons and arabesques, date gilt at foot, gilt fillet borders to the boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt, others untrimmed, original wrappers and spine preserved, binding signed Zendel.

A handsome wide-margined copy in an attractive contemporary binding.

First edition, without edition statement, published simultaneously with the Paris edition issued by Pagnerre.

Contemporary red half-morocco bindings, flat spines twice ruled in gilt, large rule in blind and gilt floral tools, gilt roll-tooling at head and foot, slight rubbing to two headcaps, red cloth boards decorated with blind-stamped floral motifs, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, a few corners slightly bumped, a few minor nicks to some edges, contemporary bindings.
Some foxing and pale marginal staining, as usual, a small black ink stain in the margins of one gathering in the second volume, a slight loss to the upper right-hand corner of the first leaves of the sixth...

First edition, one of 15 numbered copies on Holland paper, the only deluxe copies after 5 on Japan paper.

Contemporary red half morocco over corners, spine slightly faded, with five raised bands ruled in blind, date gilt at foot, marbled-paper boards, combed-paper endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, others untrimmed, binding signed in blind by Vermorel.

Endpapers uniformly toned.

First edition, one of 200 numbered hors commerce copies on alfa paper, reserved for review copies.

Fine copy, complete with the publisher's review slip.

Signed presentation copy from Marcel Pagnol to Jacques Jaujard.

First edition, one of 85 numbered copies on Arches wove paper, the deluxe issue.

Two minute losses to the upper right corners of the endpapers.

Red half shagreen over marbled paper boards with corners, spine with two slender raised bands decorated with gilt cross-hatching and black fillets, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.

First edition, one of 15 numbered copies on Montval paper, the deluxe issue after 6 copies on nacré Japan paper.

A few minor foxing spots, chiefly affecting the edges.

Complete with the duplicate wrappers and spines.

First edition, one of 212 numbered copies on pur fil paper, constituting the deluxe issue.
Occasional light foxing, chiefly affecting the edges.

Accompanied by a newspaper clipping and a photographic postcard reproducing a portrait of Georges Bernanos by Laure Albin-Guillot.

Half red morocco over marbled paper boards, with morocco corners, spine with four raised bands outlined in black, minor abrasions to the bands professionally restored, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt with the original deckle edges preserved, original wrappers and spine bound in.

A handsome copy in an attractive binding.

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 deluxe copy of this autobiographical novel. 

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, 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 the press copies.

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

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...

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, 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 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 collected edition, one of the press copies.

A very good copy.

Signed presentation copy from Paul Claudel to Luc Estang.

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, 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 35 numbered copies on Madagascar paper, the deluxe issue.

A rare and fine copy, with full margins.

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

A fine copy.

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 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 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.

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, with no deluxe copies printed.

A pleasant copy.

Precious dated and signed presentation inscription from Jean Raspail: "A M. Marcel Jouhandeau de son ancien élève toujours fidèle. en respectueux hommage. Jean Raspail. 27 X 66".

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.

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, with no deluxe copies issued, bearing the correct July 2010 colophon.

One of the rare first-proof copies bearing the following printed notice on the rear wrapper: "Premières épreuves non corrigées, dont le contenu ne peut en aucun cas être repris ou reproduit, en tout ou partie (y compris de courts extraits), sur tous supports, sans accord préalable et exprès de l'attachée de presse. / Attachée de presse : Soizic Molkhou / tél : 01 40 51 30 36 / [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) / Mise en vente indicative du 8 septembre 2010."*

With a manuscript correction to the printed notice: the words "premières""non" have been struck through, and the...

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 50 numbered copies on pur fil wove paper, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

Introduction and notes by Pierre Caizergues.

First edition, illustrated with drawings by the author.

A very good copy.

Our copy is further enhanced with a dated original drawing by Georges Wolinski depicting two figures; the first confessing "J'avoue que ma femme me rend heureux", the second replying: "toi aussi ? "

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 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, 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 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 outer...

First edition, one of 15 numbered copies on hollande, the only large-paper copies.

Full vellum binding with fore-edge flaps, spine decorated with a foliate design painted in gold and black, date in black at foot, front cover illustrated with an original allegorical composition painted in gold and black, wrappers preserved, contemporary binding.

Boards and spine soiled, a few small tears to the margins of certain deckle edges.

Presentation copy to Philippe Gille.

A rare copy with all margins, superbly bound in a contemporary black and gilt vellum binding.

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 collected edition, one of 110 numbered copies on Lafuma-Navarre laid paper, specially imposed in quarto tellière format, forming the deluxe issue.

Newspaper clipping laid in, causing slight overall offsetting to the first free endpaper; occasional foxing.

Signed autograph inscription by Léon-Paul Fargue: " à Willy Michel que je pensais bien rencontrer un jour ou l'autre. avec amitié..."

First edition, one of the copies from the first issue numbered at the press, with the spurious statement of second edition.
Modern Bradel-style binding in ochre half cloth, smooth spine decorated with a central gilt fleuron and double gilt rule at foot, navy morocco lettering-piece, marbled paper boards.
Signed autograph presentation inscription from Louis Pergaud to Louis Chaffurin.

First edition.
Contemporary Bradel binding in full Empire-green cloth, smooth spine decorated with a gilt fleurion, date and double gilt fillet at foot, black morocco lettering-piece with a small marginal loss, original wrappers preserved, corners very slightly rubbed, without consequence, contemporary binding signed Durvand.

Precious signed presentation copy from Alphonse Daudet to the distinguished historian of the Napoleonic era and fellow member of the Académie française, Frédéric Masson.

Provenance: from the library of Émile Henriot, with his manuscript ex-libris beside the binder's name at the head of an endpaper ; on the facing page appears...

First edition, one of 70 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the deluxe issue after 25 hors commerce copies on Holland paper reserved for the Cercle lyonnais.

Rare and fine copy.

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 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...

Partly original edition, one of 25 numbered copies on Holland paper, the deluxe issue.

A few small creases to the margins of the boards, otherwise a fine copy.

Our copy is housed in a grey half-morocco chemise, with a flat spine and date at foot, lined with suede lambskin, and a grey paper-covered slipcase, signed Elbel and dated 2020.

First edition on ordinary paper.

A very good copy.

Signed presentation copy from Jorge Semprun to Sylvie Genevoix.

First edition.

Half brown-red chagrin binding, brown marbled paper sides, spine with four raised bands, blind-tooled panels between the bands, gilt author and title, green marbled paper doublures. Binding rubbed, with surface losses and abrasions, headcap torn away, spine sunned, leaves browned at the margins, occasional foxing.

Valuable autograph inscription signed by Maxime Du Camp to Charles de La Rounat on the half-title: "à Charles de la Rounat son tout dévoué Maxime Du Camp".

Long, rancorous manuscript note, dated October 1871 and signed C. de la Rounat, on a front free endpaper.

First edition, one of 105 numbered copies on wove paper, the only large-paper copies after 35 on Holland paper.

Press clippings laid in, having left a slight offset on the colophon page at the end of the volume.

A pleasing copy.

Signed presentation inscription from Louis Aragon to Jean-Pierre Lecointre, further enhanced by Elsa Triolet's autograph signature.

First edition, one of 35 numbered copies on imperial Japan paper, this copy no. 1, from the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.