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

First edition, one of 90 numbered copies on pure wove paper, curiously the smallest deluxe paper issue prior to the 109 reimposed in-quarto tellière copies.
A handsome copy.

First edition, one of 80 numbered copies on Montval paper, the deluxe issue.
A handsome copy with wide margins.

First edition, one of 75 numbered copies on Montval paper, the deluxe issue.
A pleasing wide-margined copy.

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on Holland paper, the deluxe issue.
Front cover vertically creased.

First edition, one of 56 strictly non-commercial, personalised numbered copies on Saint-Amand laid paper, the only deluxe issue alongside 32 copies on Holland paper.
A fine copy.

Our copy was specially printed for Eddy Marnay and bears this signed autograph inscription by Joseph Kessel beneath the limitation statement and his name: "... ou le zombie son ami Jef."

Born Edmond Bacri, he was a French lyricist and singer who wrote approximately 4,000 songs, including Les Amants de Paris for Edith Piaf,

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Japon paper, the deluxe issue.
Illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of the author by Christian Bérard.
A pleasing copy despite a slight shadow to the spine.

 New edition with some parts in first edition, expanded with a new preface.

Minor tears at the head and foot of the spine, a few small stains and marginal tears to the covers.

Presentation inscription signed by Marguerite Yourcenar to Jane Bathori, the French mezzo-soprano, choral conductor, teacher, theatre director and film-maker, enriched with a Greek epithet used to describe to the Emperor Hadrian, the "supremely musical sovereign": "βασιλευς Μουσικοτατος", as a tribute to the dedicatee's artistry.

First edition, one of 300 numbered copies on alfa paper reserved for the press service.
A few spots of foxing, chiefly affecting the endpapers and edges, small tears to the boards at the edges, a small loss at the foot of the spine, which also shows slight sunning at the head.
Presentation inscription signed by Marguerite Yourcenar to Mr. Van Melle.
 

The first Paris edition, published simultaneously with the Brussels edition.

Most of the volumes bear a statement of fourth, seventh, or eighth edition.

Some foxing to several volumes.

Contemporary half tawny speckled sheep bindings, smooth spines decorated with double gilt fillets, red sheep lettering-pieces lettered "Oeuvres de V. Hugo", sky-blue sheep title and volume labels, volume label lacking from the fifth volume, three others partially lifting, marbled paper-covered boards, decorative endpapers and pastedowns.

First edition.

Beige half half contemporary bindings, flat spines, elaborate gilt tooling beneath the black calf title labels, volume numbering stamped at foot, upper joint worn on vol. I, rubbing to edges, corners and boards, headband loose on vol. I, combed paper pastedowns with small loss to lower board of vol. I, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, all edges marbled.

First edition of the debut novel by English feminist and abolitionist Harriet Martineau, a pioneering work in raising public awareness of gender equality and public health.

This handsomely bound copy once formed part of the library of her contemporary Lady Tyrconnel at...

First edition, one of 1,040 numbered copies printed on Navarre alfa paper.
Publisher's paper-covered boards after Paul Bonet's original design.
Endpapers fully shaded throughout, as often encountered.

First edition, one of the press service copies.

Spine sunned and lightly soiled.

Exceptional and highly desirable signed autograph presentation inscription from Louis de Vilmorin to her lover, the French sport shooter, businessman and politician Jean de Beaumont: "A Jean de Beaumont T(endrement) F(idèlement) T(on) A(imée), (the calligraphic capital letters enclosing the remainder of each word) Louise". 20 June 1960. I am leaving for Switzerland today. I shall be staying in Geneva with Sacha de Manziarly. If by any chance you should happen to pass through... Afterwards you will find me with the André family from 23 July until 10 August...

First edition, one of 350 numbered copies on alfa paper reserved for the press.

Spine slightly cocked.

A touching and highly desirable signed autograph inscription from Louise de Vilmorin to her lover, the French sports shooter, businessman and politician Jean de Beaumont: "à mon Jean chéri que j'aime toujours davantage sa mendiante de baisers. Louise", enhanced with a drawing of a four-leaf clover enclosing the name Louise.

First French edition, one of 35 numbered copies on pure wove paper, the only deluxe paper issue.
A fine copy.

First edition.

Contemporary half brown shagreen bindings, spines with four raised bands framed by blind fillets, gilt floral tools at head and tail, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, bookplates mounted at the head of the pastedowns, sprinkled edges.

A few minor spots of foxing, with press cuttings loosely inserted and leaving offsetting to the front endpapers of the first volume.

Signed autograph presentation inscription by Jules Claye, the printer of this work, to Ferdinand Taillefer on the front of the first volume: "... souvenir typographique à mon ancien et excellent collaborateur..."

First edition of this issue devoted entirely to dreams, one of 300 numbered copies on bibliophile wove paper, this copy out-of-series and without limitation statement.

A pleasing copy despite a very lightly sunned spine, of no real consequence.

Literary contributions by André Breton, Michel Leiris, Paul Eluard, Xavier Forneret, Gisèle Prassinos, Benjamin Péret...

Illustrated with works by Max Ernst, Yves Tanguy, Alexei Remizov, Giorgio de Chirico, André Masson, René Magritte, Salvador Dalí, Oscar Dominguez, Man Ray, Maurice Henry...

First edition on ordinary paper.

Bound in half red shagreen with corner pieces, spine with four raised bands ruled in blind and gilt, a few rubs to the spine, marbled paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, upper cover preserved, corners lightly bumped.

An exceptionally rare complete collection in six issues of this important Dada journal, including the very rare sixth no. of July 1921 entitled "Invention et proverbe".

Contributions by Paul Eluard, André Breton, Céline Arnauld, Tristan Tzara, Philippe Soupault, Louis Aragon, Jean Cocteau, Francis Picabia, Jean Paulhan, Maurice Raynal, Georges Ribemont-Dessaignes, Jacques-Emile Blanche, Théodore Fraenkel, among others.

One of the most significant Dada journals published at the height of the movement with its very rare subscription leaflet.

Undoubtedly the finest example of poetic parody conceived by the Dadaists as a radical response...

First edition on ordinary paper.

A crease to the lower right corner of the upper cover, a library shelf-mark to the upper left corner of the half-title page, which also bears, at its foot, a library stamp overprinted with the word "cancelled".

On the same half-title page, a signed autograph inscription by Alain: "A Monsieur Prulhières et vivent les lions ! Alain. Le 5 juillet 1935."

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Montval paper, the deluxe issue.
A small chip at the head of the spine, otherwise a pleasant copy.

Illustrated by Pierre Devaux.

First edition, one of 49 numbered copies on deluxe pure wove paper, the only deluxe paper issue.
A fine copy.

First edition, one of 15 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

A rare and handsome copy.

Edition limited to 100 numbered copies on laid paper.

Bradel binding in half vellum-style paper boards with corners, smooth spine very lightly toned, black date lettered at foot, blue paper-covered boards with a few small stains, endpapers partially foxed, pasted bookplate.

Original edition of Marcel Schwob's introduction and facsimile reproduction of the Stockholm manuscript.

First edition, issued without any edition statement.
Contemporary half mottled fawn sheep bindings, smooth spines ruled in gilt with double fillets, red sheep lettering pieces bearing the author's name "Works of V. Hugo", sky-blue sheep title and volume labels, marbled paper-covered boards, decorative endpapers and pastedowns.
Some occasional foxing, small holes at the head of the half-title leaf of the first volume.
Widely regarded as Hugo's masterpiece in the realm of fiction, a dark and baroque work in which his poetic style, built upon antitheses and oxymora, is carried to its furthest limits, anticipating qualities later embraced by the Surrealists.

First edition, one of the press service copies.

Sun-faded spine, boards marginally faded and sunned, as is usually the case.

Precious signed autograph inscription by André Malraux: "A Pierre Mac Orlan, introuvable, en témoignage de gratitude et de vieille sympathie."
 

First edition, one of 85 numbered copies printed on Arches wove paper, this being one of the 15 deluxe copies issued with an additional suite of the 7 original drypoints and 8 rejected drypoints on Auvergne paper, all individually numbered and signed in pencil by Brigitte Simon, from the deluxe issue.

The upper cover lightly and uniformly sunned.
Fine copy, complete with its original grey cloth chemise and slipcase.
Illustrated with 7 original drypoints by Brigitte Simon.
Claude Esteban and Brigitte Simon's handwritten signatures beneath the limitation statement.

Signed autograph inscription from Brigitte Simon to the...

First edition, one of 500 numbered copies printed on Rives wove paper.

Illustrated with 1 original colour lithograph and 6 line drawings by Fernand Léger.

Three small spots of foxing to the spine, foxing to the lower cover, internally in pleasing condition.

First edition, one of 46 numbered copies on pure wove paper.

Minor tears at the head and foot of the spine, a pleasant copy with full margins.

First edition, one of 35 numbered copies on pure wove paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

A handsome copy.

Inscribed and signed by Alain Jouffroy to Monsieur Marchaux: "... en plein vol jusqu'au prochain..."

First edition, one of 52 numbered copies on Holland paper, the deluxe issue.

A handsome copy.

First edition illustrated with a photographic portrait of Paul Valéry as frontispiece.

Contemporary forest green half morocco over marbled paper boards with corners, spine faded and with four raised bands, boards slightly faded at the margins, marbled and gilt paper-covered boards, moiré-effect endpapers and pastedowns, wrappers and spine preserved, bookplate mounted on a pastedown, signed binding by Lagadec.

Signed autograph inscription from Paul Valéry to Louis Barthou on the title page: "... ces propos subversifs, son confrère et ami..."

First edition, one of the press review copies.
Trimmed copy, joints soiled and restored, stain to the lower cover.
Humorous signed autograph inscription by Paul Morand: "Cher Caracalla, j'apprends que vous n'avez jamais reçu mon Fouquet ; en juin dernier je vous l'envoyais avec ma fidèle pensée. Que le diable patafiole le facteur ! Je vous renouvelle ici ma très amicale sympathie. Morand."

First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on alfa mousse paper, the only deluxe paper issue.
A pleasing copy.

Signed autograph inscription from Jean Freustié to Micheline Amar: "... this Marthe ou les amants tristes to which she will owe much..."

First edition, one of 24 numbered copies on Lana laid paper, the only deluxe paper issue.
A pleasing copy.

First edition of each of the 9 issues of this important literary magazine published in Carcassonne by Joë Bousquet and René Nelli.

Contributions by Joë Bousquet, André Cayatte, Paul Éluard, Max Ernst, Henri Féraud, Benjamin Fondane, Ferdinand Alquié, Pierre and Jean Audard, André Gaillard, Abel Gance, Marcel Jouhandeau, Michel Leiris, Georges Malkine, René Nelli, Claude-André Puget, Zdenko Reich, André de Richaud, Carlo Suarès, Gilbert Trolliet, André Gaillard, among others...

A few minor, inconsequential tears to the foot of the spine on some issues, a few spines slightly sunned; a handsome set.

A rare complete set of the literary and poetic periodical...

First edition, one of 24 numbered copies on pure wove paper, the deluxe issue.

Spine showing two small areas of sunning at the head and foot.

A rare and pleasing copy of this novel set against the backdrop of the French collapse during the Second World War.

First edition, one of the numbered copies bound to Paul Bonet's original design.
Publisher's full cream cloth, smooth spine lightly sunned, lacking its illustrated dust jacket.
Profusely illustrated.
Inscribed, dated and signed by André Malraux to Nicole Briquet.
 

First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on pure wove paper, the only deluxe paper issue.
Spine and boards lightly sunned.

First edition, without the mention “oeuvres complètes de Victor Hugo” (see Clouzot).

Contemporary red polished half calf bindings, spines slightly mellowed and decorated with four raised bands framed by gilt garland tools and gilt quintuple rules, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, marbled edges.

Very slight rubbing to the spines, a pleasing copy, lacking the preliminary preface leaf, attractively bound in a contemporary Romantic-style binding.

First edition, one of the numbered copies on vélin d'archers, the only large paper issue.

First endpaper, half-title and title pages slightly shadowed, with a few pencil annotations and reading marks in the margins of some leaves.

Rare and pleasing copy.

French first edition, one of 155 numbered copies on pure vellum, ours being one of the 75 reserved for the Club de l'édition originale, the only large paper issue after 20 Holland.
Pleasant copy despite the spine being very slightly sun-faded, without significance.

First edition, one of 500 numbered copies on white vellum,  after 1 copy on Japan paper, 13 on Arches paper, and 22 on marsh vellum.
A pleasing copy.

First edition, one of 175 numbered copies on alfa paper, being the only large-paper copies after 23 on pure laid and 155 on vellum.
A fine copy despite two small tears at the head and foot of the spine.

Autograph presentation inscription signed by Hervé Bazin to Robert Géry, accompanied by a small drawing of a viper with its forked tongue extended.

First edition, one of 210 numbered copies on Sirène, the only large-paper copies.
A fine copy.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on velin alfa paper, the only large-paper copies.

Boards with light, marginal tanning; pleasant interior condition.

Autograph presentation inscription signed by François Nourissier to Maurice Marchaux.

First edition, one of 35 numbered copies on hollande paper, top-of-edition issue.

A very fine copy.

First edition on standard paper.
Minor tears of no consequence to the margins of the boards, spine slightly sunned with minor wear.
Signed autograph inscription by Léo Ferré to Caro Mame.

 

First edition, illustrated with drawings by the author.

Publisher’s binding in full white boards, smooth spine, illustrated front cover, copy complete with its original insertion slip.

Amusing autograph inscription signed by Claire Brétécher to a friend named Richard: "A Richard baisers maniaco-dépressifs. Claire."

Very rare first edition, with second edition statement on title page.

Bradel binding in half blue-grey percaline, smooth spine decorated with a central gilt fleuron, double gilt fillet at tail, title label lacking, cat's-eye paper boards, original wrappers preserved with angular losses and discolouration, corners slightly rubbed, period binding.

Foxing, front wrapper and first free endpaper clumsily restored, small tears repaired on the first three leaves.

Rare presentation copy inscribed by Louise Michel: "... à de méchants amis que l'on aime quand même et toujours. LMichel." [to...

First edition on ordinary paper for the second volume; statement of 1000th edition on the first volume.

Minor foxing to the top edges.

A handsome set, housed in a white paper covered chemise and slipcase.

Exceptional presentation copies signed by Marcel Pagnol to Maurice Druon on each volume: "à Maurice Druon, écrivain véritable, hommage du romancier amateur, son ami, MarcelPagnol. 1958" [to Maurice Druon, true writer, homage from an amateur novelist, his friend, Marcel Pagnol] and "Cher Maurice, puisque ça te plaît, voilà la suite. Mais rassure-toi, il n'y en a plus qu'un ! affectueusement, Marcel." [Dear Maurice, since you liked it...

First edition, one of the press copies.

A few spots of foxing to the centre of the spine.

Presentation inscription signed by Raymond Queneau to Marcel Mithois.

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

A copy complete with its illustrated dust-jacket, which, as is often the case, shows a few small marginal tears; wrappers lightly soiled.

Rare presentation copy by Georges Brassens to Michel Soulié.

Rare first edition. First volume published on 6 May 1867, the second on 27 July and the third the next year (28 January 1868). All of 18° format are first editions of Verne's novels.

Contemporary brown half shagreen bindings, spines with four raised bands ruled in black and decorated with double black panels featuring central gilt floral tools, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, two upper corners slightly bumped, speckled edges, contemporary bindings.

A handsome copy attractively housed in its contemporary bindings. In Search of the Castaways is the very first Verne novel to be adapted for the cinema. predating even...

Rare first edition. This first appearance of the text in book form was Jules Verne's preferred format, as Jauzac notes, instead of the more famous gilded publisher's bindings.

Contemporary brown half shagreen binding, spine with four raised bands ruled in black and decorated with double black panel compartments featuring central gilt floral tools, marbled paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers, speckled edges, a few small abrasions to one edge, contemporary binding.

A small black ink stain to the lower right margin of the opening leaves.

A handsome first edition copy attractively housed in a contemporary binding. This founding novel is considered one of, if...

Rare first edition. The first volume dated 4 August 1876, followed by the second volume published on 6 November with Un drame au Mexique bound in. All first editionswere published in 18° format. 

Half brown shagreen bindings, spines with four raised bands ruled in black and framed in black with with central gilt fleurons, marbled paper boards, paste-down endpapers and flyleaves of hand-marbled paper, sprinkled edges, contemporary bindings.

A handsome first edition copy of this celebrated Siberian adventure, attractively bound in contemporary bindings.

This first appearance of the text in book form was Jules Verne's preferred format, as Jauzac...

First edition, one of the press review copies.
Spine with a small waterstain at the foot.
Signed autograph inscription from Jorge Semprun: "A Mr Pierre Pain, a good bookseller like good bread, in memory of a signing day and of a shared memory far richer. With warm regards. JSemprun."

 

First edition, one of the press service copies.

A faint waterstain affecting the centre of the final leaves.

Bradel binding in patterned paper-covered boards, smooth spine, black oasis morocco lettering-piece, wrappers and spine preserved.

Precious presentation inscription signed by Jean Genet to Claude Romain, who created the role of Maurice in this play: "à Claude Romain petit gamin et déjà grand comédien. Ton pote, Jean Genet."

High Surveillance was first performed in Paris at the Théâtre des Mathurins on 26 February 1949, directed by Jean Marchat, with Tony Taffin, Claude Romain, Robert Hossein and Jean-Marc Lambert in the cast.

Claude...

First edition, one of a limited issue for which no deluxe paper copies were produced.

Small stains to the lower left corner of the upper cover and to the top edge.

Presentation copy by Mohammed Khaïr-Eddine : "à M. Maurice Genevoix, écrivain et pêcheur comme moi, ces images d'un Maroc étrange, en hommage fraternel. Khaïr-Eddine."

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Arches wove paper, the sole deluxe issue.

Spine slightly sunned.

A rare and pleasing copy.

First edition, one of 38 copies printed, this being one of the 30 copies issued with a wash drawing by Marcel Dumont.

A fine copy.

Illustrated with an original wash drawing by Marcel Dumont.

Manuscript signatures of Marcel Dumont and François Cheng in pencil on the colophon.