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

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

At the colophon, manuscript signatures in pencil by Micheline Catti and Ghérasim Luca.

A rare and handsome copy.

As stated in the limitation, our copy is complete with the original drypoint by Micheline Catti and the original etching by Ghérasim Luca, both signed by them in pencil.

First edition, one of 300 numbered copies on Arches paper, the only issue after 15 copies on Japan paper and 25 on Holland paper.
Very attractive colour illustrated wrapper and illustrations hors-texte by Francis Picabia.
A handsome copy.

First edition, one of the only issue of 35 numbered copies on handmade "Olive" and "Coquillage" papers, our copy one of the 5 hors commerce copies signed and numbered in pencil by Ania Staritsky.

Original engravings by Ania Staritsky ; entirely hand-set by Arlette Albert-Birot after Ania Staritsky’s original design.

The "Olive" and "Coquillage" papers, as well as the cover, were designed by Georges Duchêne.

Our copy is complete with the original collage by Ania Staritsky, signed by the artist.

A rare and very attractive copy housed in its chemise and slipcase in olive-green cloth.

First edition, one of 56 copies numbered on Arches paper, deluxe issue.

A handsome copy complete with its brown full board slipcase.

As stated in the limitation page, our copy is complete with the metallic frontispiece signed by Nicolas Schoffer.

Foreword by Henri Chopin.

First edition of the French translation by Eugène Guillevic, printed in 35 copies numbered and signed in the colophon on japon ancien, ours one of the 10 hors commerce lettered copies.

Presentation copy, signed and inscribed by Hélène Iliazd to Claude Nardin in pencil in the colophon.

A rare copy complete with its folders and guards made of various papers, its folded parchment chemise with a large outward flap, and its blue cloth chemise and slipcase.

This first edition, conceived and produced by Hélène Iliazd and Ania Staritsky in memory of Iliazd, contains an unpublished poem by the Russian poet, with his autograph Russian manuscript in facsimile along with its French translation by Eugène Guillevic.

The work is illustrated with 6 original copper plates by Staritsky, including 2 double-page plates; the artist also designed the book.

We include the invitation card for the opening presentation of the book by Hélène Iliazd at the Alexandre Loewy bookshop on Tuesday 1 February 1983.

Our copy exceptionally contains a signed autograph letter from Hélène Iliazd to Claude Nardin (two pages with its envelope), concerning the distribution of the work and an invitation to the gallery opening.

First edition of the French translation and adaptation prepared by Edmond Haraucourt, one of 10 numbered copies on Holland paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

Bradel binding in half tobacco percaline, smooth spine decorated with a gilt floral motif, date and double gilt fillet at foot, hazelnut shagreen title label showing some rubbing, marbled paper boards, wrappers with small marginal losses at corners and spine preserved, contemporary binding.

A few small foxing spots.

Music by Gabriel Fauré.

First edition, one of 200 copies numbered on wove paper, the only issue after 25 copies on Normandy vellum.

Spine and boards slightly and marginally sunned, without seriousness.

First edition, one of the numbered copies on offset paper, the only issue after 42 copies on Arches vellum.

A pleasing copy.

First edition printed in 85 numbered copies and 3 hors commerce copies, ours one of the 70 on B.F.K. de Rives paper.

A fine copy complete with its chemise and slipcase in full black cloth, spine of the chemise slightly faded, a small tear at the foot of the lower panel of the slipcase.

Illustrated with 19 original photographs signed in pencil by Henri Maccheroni.

First edition, one of 250 numbered copies on vellum, the only printing after 25 copies on Holland paper.

Spine and boards slightly and marginally faded, as generally encountered.

Autograph inscription signed by Céline Arnauld to the poet Henri Hertz.

First edition, one of 10 copies numbered and signed by Eugène Guillevic and Ania Staritsky in the colophon on Verveine de Puymoyen paper specially designed for this work, ours being one of the few hors commerce copies, from the deluxe issue.

Work illustrated with 5 original copper engravings in colour by Ania Staritsky.

A rare and pleasing copy, complete with its chemise and slipcase in almond-green full cloth, the spine of the chemise slightly yellowed.

As stated in the limitation notice, our copy is indeed complete with the original collage by Ania Staritsky and the six-line autograph manuscript poem signed by Eugène Guillevic, and, exceptionally, with a full suite of all the engravings by Ania Staritsky.

First edition of the French translation, one of the numbered copies reserved for the friends, collaborators and subscribers of "Lettres Nouvelles".

Spine very slightly sunned, a pleasant copy.

First edition.
Publisher’s full brown grained sheepskin binding, orange top edge, smooth spine ruled in gilt.
Richly illustrated.
Copy complete with its dust jacket, acetate wrapper and soft slipcase.
Acetate wrapper slightly yellowed.

First edition printed in 35 numbered copies on B.F.K. de Rives paper, signed by Michel Seuphor and Ania Staritsky at the colophon, our copy one of the few hors commerce.

Illustrated with original engravings by Ania Staritsky.

A rare and pleasing copy, complete with its chemise and matching brown cloth slipcase.

Our copy, like the first 10 copies, is exceptionally enriched with an original collage signed by Ania Staritsky, a 9-line manuscript text signed by Michel Seuphor,  a suite of all the engravings by Ania Staritsky, and finally, in pencil, an autograph inscription signed by Ania Staritsky: "Le manchot inspiré à son bras dévoué. Staritsky."

First edition printed in a small number of copies, being the seventh booklet of the first series of the Cahiers de l'Ecole de Rochefort.

A rare and pleasing copy.

Valuable autograph inscription signed by Maurice Fombeure to Jean Follain.

First edition on ordinary paper.

Spine and boards slightly and marginally sunned.

Inscribed, dated and signed by Tony Duvert to Alain Veinstein.

First edition, one of 70 numbered copies on Holland paper, deluxe issue after 30 on Japan paper.

A handsome copy.

Illustrated work, with a frontispiece portrait of Joseph Delteil by Mariette Lydis.

First edition of this poetry collection, which was awarded the Cholmondeley Prize on publication, complete with its dust jacket illustrated by Leigh Taylor.

Publisher's binding in brown half-cloth, title, author's name and publisher's device gilt to spine, bronze-coloured glossy paper to boards. To recto of rear endpaper, a manuscript quotation in black pen by a celebrated English poet: "the mind can only repose on the stability of truth... Samuel Johnson."

Head of spine very slightly pushed. To the dust jacket, head of spine and upper left corner slightly chipped, old crease to head of upper board, a tiny tear to lower board, price clipped.

First edition of this work published by the Société du Bout-du-Banc, the celebrated literary salon presided over by Mademoiselle Jeanne-Françoise Quinault and the Comte de Caylus. This intimate circle, originally comprising eight members, would gather on Mondays at dinner to exchange ideas and to write; at the close of each meal, every distinguished guest was required to set down a few lines — whether in the coarse poissard style or in a more refined vein — on paper. It was in this context that Les Fêtes roulantes, ou les regrets des petites rues came into being, in the wake of the celebrations held in Paris in honour of the Dauphin's second marriage, to Marie-Josèphe de Saxe.

Pastiche binding in plum half-shagreen, spine with five raised bands framed by gilt dotted fillets and six compartments decorated with gilt fillets and fleurons, marbled paper boards, gilt top edge, pastedowns and endpapers in shell-pattern marbled paper.

Some minor rubbing to the paper of the lower board, corners slightly bumped.

A further compilation bringing together several successes of the troubadour from Sète, including "Le temps ne fait rien à l'affaire", "Dans l'eau de la claire fontaine", "La traîtresse", "La ballade des cimetières"; "La complainte des filles de joie", "Tonton Nestor - La noce de Jeannette", "Le temps passé" and "La fille à cent sous".

A pleasant copy despite very slight rubbing to the margins of the sleeve.

A name and an initial in blue ballpoint pen at the head of the second panel of the sleeve.

Manuscript signature of Georges Brassens in the left margin of the front panel of the sleeve.

First edition, one of 2,000 numbered copies on alfa paper.

Manuscript initials at the head of the upper cover and of the title page serving as an ex-libris.

A pleasant copy.

First edition on ordinary paper.

Manuscript initials at the head of the upper cover and of the title page serving as an ex-libris.

A pleasant copy.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Arches wove paper, the only deluxe paper issue.
A fine copy despite a few spots of foxing in the right margin of the first free endpaper.

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

One joint slightly pinched along its length, otherwise a pleasant copy.

Autograph inscription signed by Colette to Michel Corday.

First edition, one of 100 hors commerce copies printed on deluxe paper, this copy specially printed for Louis Barthou.

A pleasant copy despite two sunning marks to the head and foot of the spine and to the margins of the rear board.

Henri Bergson's handwritten signature beneath the limitation statement.

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

A pleasant copy.

Valuable signed autograph inscription from Susan Sontag to her friend Sonia Rykiel: "pour Sonia avec mes amitiés Susan Sontag 26 septembre 1995 Paris."

First edition, one of 100 numbered copies on vellum.

A small chip at the foot of the spine, a few foxing marks to the endpapers, otherwise a pleasant copy.

First edition, one of 119 numbered copies on edition paper, the only issue after 1 on chine, 10 on japon and 20 on hollande paper.

Contemporary half hazelnut shagreen with bands, smooth spine slightly faded, boards covered with wood-patterned paper, light rubbing to the corners and to the right margin of the upper board, wood-patterned endpapers and pastedowns, covers preserved and slightly discoloured at the margins.

A pleasing copy internally.

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

A very fine copy.

First edition, one of 16 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the deluxe issue.
A very good copy despite a tiny stain on the upper cover beneath the printed title.

First edition, one of the press review copies.

Precious signed autograph inscription by Eugène Guillevic: "à Tristan Tzara, ces trente et un sonnets qu'il n'aime pas, avec espoir quand-même et affection. Guillevic."

First edition of a play regarded as historically significant, performed for the first time nineteen days before the execution of Louis XVI, which set all of Paris and then France ablaze to the point of interrupting the King's trial, by a constitutional monarchist playwright.

Nineteenth-century Bradel binding in half brown percaline, smooth spine decorated with a gilt fleuron, red morocco lettering-piece, pebble-pattern marbled paper boards, edges lightly red-speckled.

Corners bumped.

Discreet scattered foxing. 

Minor printing flaw on p. 7.

First French edition, issued in Paris on 3 April 1862, simultaneously with the Belgian edition, here including the very rare suite of 20 engraved plates by Castelli and Neuville on heavy wove paper. This scarce suite was produced to illustrate the first edition of Les Misérables. It was sold separately, as a supplementary set, and is only very rarely encountered bound together with the volumes.
A particularly interesting copy, as it is composite, and perfectly illustrating the publisher’s commercial strategy, which divided publication into three issues (the first two volumes on 3 April, the following four on 15 May, and the final four on 30 June), as well as the story of the phenomenal success of the most important novel of the nineteenth century, which compelled publishers to undertake multiple reprints less than ten days after the release of each part.
Here, volumes 1, 3, 4, and 5 bear the designation seventh or eighth edition; all other volumes carry no edition statement but have interim title-pages printed in red and black.
Contemporary half brown morocco bindings, spines with four raised bands ruled in gilt; some rubbing to the spines, scattered foxing. A good copy.

First edition, at one time attributed to Bernard Le Bouyer de Fontenelle, on the loves of a shepherd of illustrious lineage: Mirtil, son of Venus and Adonis. Complete copy with its engraved title page by Louis Legrand and its six plates drawn by Hubert François Gravelot and engraved by Louis Legrand.

Half marbled calf binding, spine with five raised bands decorated with dotted gilt fillets, five compartments richly gilt with fillets and fleurons, pebble-pattern marbled paper boards, red edges, pastedowns and endpapers also in pebble-pattern marbled paper, pastiche binding in fine condition.

A few discreet marginal dampstains.

First edition of a work by an Illuminist author, also a barrister at the Parlement, known for his licentious and libertine writings, including L'Histoire de Dom Bougre, portier des Chartreux. This work was also at one time attributed to Pierre Lambert de Saumery, who published under the pseudonym "de Mirone."

Midnight blue half morocco with corners, spine with five gilt raised bands decorated with compartments richly gilt with arabesques, fillets and small stars, marbled paper boards framed with gilt fillets, pastedowns and endpapers in combed-pattern marbled paper, pastiche binding signed on the verso of the first free endpaper "Cuzin." Loosely inserted bookplate at the front of the volume, bearing the intertwined initials "DP."

Spine slightly sunned.

Discreet scattered foxing. 

Title page printed in red.

First edition, one of 500 copies, dated 1867 on the wrapper.

3/4 brown morocco binding, spine with four raised bands framed in gilt and decorated with double gilt compartments adorned with small gilt tools at the corners and a large central floral tool at centre, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved with two minor restorations to the upper cover, gilt top edge, elegant binding signed by Bernasconi. A few minor foxing spots, slightly more pronounced on the first leaves.

Rare and precious autograph presentation inscription signed by Paul Verlaine to Emile Piau.

The first and most sought-after book of poems by Verlaine, with two of his most important creations in first edition: Mon rêve familier [My Familiar Dream] et Chanson d'automne [Autumn Song]. 

First edition, containing 23 tales by Andersen translated by David Soldi, together with a biographical essay by Xavier Marmier.

Illustrated with 40 vignettes by Bertall, engraved by Jacques G. J. Midderich and Alphonse Minne.

Full blue cloth binding, flat spine, gilt-stamped title, faint rubbing to the joints, light scattered marks to the boards, contemporary binding.

A very rare copy of this collection of Andersen's tales, "the first translation of Andersen's tales into French directly from the Danish, which long remained the finest [...]. This translation achieved wide circulation and continues to be published to this day" (Poul Høybye, H.C. Andersen og Frankrig). 

First edition of the French translation, one of 100 numbered copies on Arches wove paper, the only deluxe paper issue, our copy justified at the colophon by Raymond Mason as an artist’s copy, the sole large-paper issue.
Illustrated work, with an original engraving by Raymond Mason, signed and justified by him as an artist’s copy as frontispiece.
A scarce and pleasing copy.

First edition of the French translation of the Hao ch iu chuan, a novel by an anonymous author from the Ming period, regarded as one of the most celebrated works of imperial Chinese fiction.

Guillard d'Arcy was one of the pupils of Stanislas Julien.

Minor losses to the head and foot of the spine, a few foxing spots.

First edition of the catalogue for the exhibition of works by Claude Monet held at the Galerie Bernheim-Jeune in Paris from 28 May to 8 June 1912.

Preface by Octave Mirbeau.

Bradel binding in half fawn morocco, smooth spine, date gilt at foot, minor rubbing to spine, boards of marbled paper framed with a gilt fillet, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, wrappers (a pink stain at the foot of the lower wrapper) and spine preserved, top edge gilt; contemporary binding signed L. Bernard.

The paintings were exhibited four years after Claude Monet’s sole journey to Venice.

Illustrated catalogue with 9 reproductions of paintings by Claude Monet.

First edition, one of the copies printed on alfa paper.

A small split to the spine, a few light foxing spots.

Manuscript signatures of Joseph Kessel and Hélène Iswolsky.

New edition.

Illustrated with engravings by Jean Hugo.

A pleasing copy.

Fine signed autograph inscription from Anaïs Nin to the woman of letters Christiane Baroche: "Your poems should be in a book one can keep nearly and read now and then for substance. Anaïs Nin."

First edition on ordinary paper.

Contemporary Bradel binding in red half morocco with corners, smooth spine, date gilt at foot, covers of marbled paper framed with blind fillets, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt; an attractive period binding signed Bernasconi.

Occasional foxing, chiefly affecting the opening leaves.

Signed autograph inscription from Claude Farrère to M. Briquet.

Facing the limitation page, this copy is enriched with an original watercolour signed by Henri Leclerc depicting the heroine of the work leaning against a ship’s bulwark, her suitor standing slightly behind.

First edition, one of 70 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

Bound in blue-grey half morocco, spine in five raised bands, date gilt at foot, marbled paper boards, blue-grey endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and sun-faded spine preserved, top edge gilt, an elegant binding signed Boichot.

Valuable autograph inscription signed by Joseph Kessel, in violet pencil, on the front free endpaper: "A Charles Maurras cet exemplaire plus digne de lui" enhanced with the manuscript signature of Georges Suarez.

A fine copy, attractively bound

First edition of the French translation, one of 200 numbered copies on white wove paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

Bound in full mouse-grey shagreen, spine with five raised bands ruled in black, covers framed with a single black fillet, endpapers and pastedowns in cat’s-eye patterned paper, wrappers (with a small loss at the foot of the lower cover) and spine preserved, top edge gilt.

A pleasing copy.

First edition, with no deluxe paper issue stated.

An attractive copy, complete with its publisher’s wraparound band; "Moi, dit Pierrot, je les mettrais pas entre toutes les mains..."

A few scuffs to the band.

Rare signed autograph inscription from Bertrand Blier to Germaine Beaumont.

Two years later, Bertrand Blier adapted his novel for the screen, starring Patrick Dewaere, Gérard Depardieu, Miou-Miou, Jeanne Moreau and Brigitte Fossey in the leading roles. 

First edition, one of 12 copies numbered on Montval laid paper, the deluxe issue.

Light foxing to the upper cover and endpapers, with a small nick to the lower right corner of the rear cover.

First edition, one of 42 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

Minor, unobtrusive foxing to the foot of the upper cover, otherwise a pleasing copy.

Preface by Thierry Maulnier.

First edition on standard paper.

Spine very slightly sunned, without significance.

Rare signed autograph inscription from Fereydoun Hoveyda to Henri Brunet.

First edition of the French translation, one of 350 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

A fine copy, despite a small area of sunning at head and tail of the spine.

First edition, printed in 300 copies on wove vellum.

Contemporary full caramel calf binding, smooth spine lavishly gilt with decorative tools, upper joint split at the head, upper cap shaved, brown morocco title label, gilt roll tooling to the caps, triple gilt fillet frame with gilt corner fleurons on the boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt roll tooling to the board edges, rubbed corners; binding of the period.

Bookseller’s description label pasted onto a flyleaf, a few pencil annotations in the margins of certain paragraphs, occasional foxing.

First edition, one of the publisher’s review copies.

Spine and boards very slightly and marginally sunned.

Fine dated and signed autograph inscription by Pierre Bost: "à Jean-Paul Sartre qui a connu le tiroir - et qui a même déjà lu ce livre. Avec l'amitié de Pierre Bost dec.45."

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on vélin de renage, most limited deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Renage vellum, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

First edition.

Original wrappers, complete with its color illustrated dust jacket.

Association copy, signed and inscribed: "A mon cher Georges Hugnet en souvenir de cette petite AMERICA '57 et de son ami Orfeo Tamburi / Paris 8.5.'68" [To my dear Georges Hugnet in remembrance of this little AMERICA '57 and his friend Orfeo Tamburi / Paris 8.5.'68]

Fine copy of this journey through the United States, with 37 illustrations by Tamburini from his travels to New York, Brooklyn, Chicago, New Orleans, Harrisburg, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Providence.

Hugnet and Tamburi collaborated on several artists' books: La Morale à Nicolas (1964), and Le Buveur de rosée (1970), a collection of 25 poems for which Tamburi created 5 lithographs.

First edition printed in a small number of copies.
Half red morocco binding with corners, smooth spine decorated with a gilt panel and floral tools, enhanced with a grey mosaic morocco onlay, gilt date at foot, gilt fillet framing on the marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, gilt top edge, binding signed Charles Lanoë.
Illustrated with a fine frontispiece drawn and engraved by Félix Bracquemond.
An attractive copy, handsomely bound.

First edition, one of 605 numbered copies on pur fil d'arches, this copy being one of the 20 hors commerce lettered name copies, including an additional suite on papier à la main du moulin Richard de Bas.

A few minor foxing spots to the front wrapper; slipcase and chemises split at several joints.

17 woodcuts engraved with a knife by Lucien Jacques.

Our copy is complete with its additional suite of the 17 illustrations on papier à la main du moulin Richard de Bas.

Signed and dated 1968 by Jean Giono to Monsieur Lachaud.

First edition, one of 35 copies on Holland paper, the limited deluxe issue following 19 on China paper.

A fine copy, with a visiting card tipped in on a blank leaf bearing the manuscript note: "de ton beau-frère, un échantillon des éditions suisses".

Illustrated with headpieces and tailpieces by Marcel North.

First edition, one of 56 numbered copies on Arches laid paper, after only 11 on China paper and 14 on Japan paper.

Bradel binding in half navy blue morocco, smooth spine slightly faded, gilt date at foot, marbled paper sides, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, bookplate pasted to one pastedown, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.

Upper cover illustrated with a wood engraving by Pierre Lissac.

First edition, one of 200 numbered copies on Holland paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

Shadowed endpapers.

Half chocolate-brown morocco binding with corners, smooth spine decorated with gilt panels enhanced with black morocco onlays, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards, handmade paper endpapers and doublures, original wrappers and spine preserved, bookplate pasted to an endpaper, top edge gilt on untrimmed leaves, an elegant binding signed Pierre-Lucien Martin at the foot of the spine.

A fine, wide-margined copy beautifully bound by Pierre-Lucien Martin, one of the most gifted bookbinders of the second half of the twentieth century.

First edition, one of the numbered copies on laid paper, the only issue after 1 copy on large Arches vellum, 50 on Japan paper, and 10 hors commerce.

The upper cover slightly and marginally toned; a pleasing copy.

Illustrated with wood engravings by Raoul Dufy.

First edition of the French translation prepared by Jacques Schiffrin and André Gide, one of 80 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe paper issue, with a further 45 copies on pure rag.

A rare and fine copy.

First edition, illustrated with in-text and full-page black-and-white and colour drawings by Albert Robida.
Publisher’s original illustrated cloth binding in full green percaline, signed Engel, smooth spine, featuring a large polychrome illustration heightened with gold and palladium by Souze extending across the spine and boards; the original front cover in colour preserved; all edges gilt.
"Ceci qui va suivre sous un titre ambitieux pris simplement comme une étiquette en chiffres, n'est, bien entendu, pas une histoire, ni un tableau, ni un résumé, c'est une série d'esquisses, de croquis à la plume et à la mine de plomb, de portraits familiers de notre Siècle à différentes époques de sa vie tourmentée. [...] ce Siècle, s'il nous a fait connaître des jours noirs, a eu de bons moments et des rayons de gai soleil. Ce livre est une revue à grandes lignes des périodes sombres ou joyeuses de la pièce à grand spectacle qui s'est jouée sous nos yeux, des évènements importants et des menus faits, des hommes et des choses, des types naissant, prospérant et disparaissant, des modes et des caractères, — un voyage en somme ou plutôt une croisière de cent années sur le fleuve éternel de la vie." (préface)

Some light foxing to the endpapers, otherwise a very fine copy.
Copies in the publisher’s original illustrated bindings are scarce and sought after.

First edition, standard issue.

Spine lightly faded as usual; some leaves with brittle margins resulting in minor losses.

Signed autograph inscription from Raymond Queneau to Yvon Belaval.

First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on Japan paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

Bound in full burgundy morocco, spine with five raised bands ruled in black, gilt rolls to the headcaps, moiré-effect paper endleaves and doublures, inner boards framed with gilt fillets, dotted tools and corner fleurons, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt on witnesses, double gilt fillets to the turn-ins, slipcase edged in burgundy morocco with sides covered in moiré-effect paper, contemporary signed binding by Vauthrin-Pezet.

A fine, beautifully executed copy.