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

First edition for each volume.

Fine copy of Du côté de chez Swann in first edition, second printing, with all identifying points (front cover dated 1913, table of contents present, no publisher's catalogue at end); copy in first edition bearing the mention "quatrième édition" for À l'ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs (with the correct colophon dated November 30, 1918); although bearing the same colophon dated November 30, 1918, the 128 reimposed copies were not actually printed until a year later, together with the large paper copies of the Swann reissue; for the following 11 volumes...

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

Minor rubbing along the joints. A rare and attractive copy.

First edition dedicated to Louis Jouvet, one of 108 numbered copies on Lafuma Navarre laid paper, reimposed in quarto tellière format, deluxe issue.
Half red morocco-backed marbled boards, spine with five raised bands framed with blind fillets, date gilt at foot, marbled paper sides, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, binding signed by D.H. Mercher.
Premiered by Louis Jouvet at the Comédie des Champs-Élysées on 14 December 1923. The actor also oversaw the staging and set design; in 1933, the play was later adapted for the screen by Roger Goupillières, again starring Louis Jouvet in the leading role.

First edition on ordinary paper.

Small defects skillfully restored at the head and tail of the spine.
Rare inscribed presentation copy signed by Albert Cohen to Denise Mercier.

Third edition, partly original, expanded with 25 poems, along with a lengthy introduction by the poet Théophile Gautier and several articles and letters by Barbey d'Aurevilly, Dulamon, Sainte-Beuve, Charles Asselineau, Custine, Edouard Thierry et Émile Deschamps selected by Baudelaire.
With a steel-engraved frontispiece portrait of the author by Nargeot.
One of the rare first issue copies with the correct date of 1868 on the title and without statement of edition.
This comprehensive edition contains 25 unpublished poems, totaling 151 poems (100 poems in the 1857 edition). Among the new poems, eleven are from Les Épaves.
Although...

First edition printed on vélin d'Angoulême. Complete copy with the six banned poems and the usual misprints.

Half shagreen binding, spine with four raised bands twice ruled in gilt with gilt fleurons, marbled paper boards, marbled pastedowns and flyleaves, contemporary binding. Some foxing scattered foxing.  

First edition, one of the review copies stamped "M.F." on the front cover and numbered in the colophon.

Small restored tears to the spine and upper part of the front cover, slight traces of creasing to the margins of the front cover.

Precious inscribed copy signed by Louis Pergaud to J.H. Rosny jeune, one of the historic members of the Goncourt Prize jury. Pergaud had won the 1910 Goncourt for his collection of short stories De Goupil à Margot.

First edition, with no deluxe paper copies issued.

Half aubergine shagreen binding, spine with four raised bands decorated with triple gilt compartments, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, speckled edges. Contemporary binding.

This collection of poems is followed by essays on Henry Murger by Théophile Gautier, Jules Janin, Arsène Houssaye, and Paul de Saint-Victor.

Our copy is enriched with an autograph note signed by Henry Murger, informing his correspondent that he will visit him soon.

First edition.

Half brown shagreen binding, spine faded with five raised bands, date gilt at foot, marbled paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, marbled edges, contemporary binding.

Minor foxing, mainly at the beginning of the volume.

Signed autograph inscription from the Goncourt brothers to Mr. Simon.

First edition, one of the numbered copies from the special issue reserved for friends, contributors, and subscribers of Les Lettres Nouvelles.

Spine faded, scattered marginal foxing.

First edition on ordinary paper.

Half red morocco binding, spine with five raised bands framed with gilt fillets and decorated with double gilt panels, gilt lettering at the foot of the spine reading "Ex. de Sainte-Beuve", double gilt fillets on the marbled paper boards, small black spots on the covers, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, gilt edges.

Scattered foxing.

Precious autograph inscription signed by Auguste Brizeux: "A Sainte-Beuve, au poète et à l'ami. A. Brizeux."

First edition.
Contemporary half red shagreen over marbled paper boards, (a few discreet repairs), spine in six compartments, date to foot, marbled paper-lined endpapers and pastedowns, covers preserved, top edge red.
A very handsome autograph inscription signed by Victor Hugo to Alphonse Daudet.
Mrs. Daudet's collection stamp to first endpaper.

Victor Hugo represented for Alphonse Daudet, as for the other writers of his generation, the incontestable master of the Pantheon of the arts. His benevolent attention runs through Daudet's work, often listed side by side with Rousseau, Byron, Sand and Delacroix.
If during Daudet's childhood and youth, Hugo, an...

First edition, one of 42 numbered copies on Japan Barjon paper, one of the deluxe issue, with 8 additional copies on Japan reserved for the author.

Introduction by Francis Scarfe and preface by Jean-Jacques Mayoux.

Rare and attractive copy of Kenneth White’s first book, complete with two photographs by Marie-Claude White.

First edition on ordinary paper.

Bradel binding in half grey percaline, smooth spine decorated with a central gilt ornament, gilt double fillet and date at foot, brown shagreen title-piece, cat's-eye patterned paper boards, blue paper endpapers and pastedowns, contemporary binding.

Precious signed autograph inscription from Jean Richepin to Léon Deschamps.

First edition, of which there were no large paper copies.

Complete with dj (slightly sunned at edges of spine and covers), small tears to head of upper cover. 
Handsome autograph inscription, signed and dated by Canetti to Raymond Queneau : " Für Raymond Queneau aus Freude über eine unerwartete Begegnung, Juni 1951 [for Raymond Queneau, the pleasure of an unexpected meeting, June 1951]".

First edition printed in 245 numbered copies, the only printing after 10 copies on heavy paper.

Bradel binding in half blue cloth, smooth spine decorated with a gilt floral motif, double gilt fillet at foot of spine, red morocco title label with a very small defect, marbled paper boards, wrappers preserved, contemporary binding.

Inscribed and signed by Paul Fort.

First edition, large octavo, illustrated with 78 engravings together with 12 chromotypographic plates by George Roux and 2 coloured maps.
Publisher’s binding by Hetzel in full red cloth signed A. Lenègre, with the "portrait collé" design: the upper cover signed Souze, polychrome, depicting various means of transport (balloon, locomotive, ships), with a sepia-toned portrait of the author mounted at the centre, and various navigational instruments highlighted in gilt in the foreground; lower cover of type "e" as recorded by Jauzac; spine decorated with several gilt and coloured illustrations; original blue endpapers; one upper corner slightly crimped; all edges gilt. HF catalogue at the...

First edition, one of the review copies.

Slight sunning at head and foot of spine, without seriousness.

Precious signed presentation from Francis Ponge: "Pour Marthe et Henri Calet leur ami. Francis Ponge."

First edition on ordinary paper.

Half black shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands framed by gilt garlands, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt top edge.

Scattered foxing, a few reading marks in red and blue pencil in the margins of certain paragraphs, printed stamp of the Armand Colin bookshop on the title page.

First edition, of which no copies were printed on deluxe paper.

Half black shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt garlands, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards, combed paper endpapers and pastedowns, gilt top edge, original wrappers preserved.

Scattered foxing, some reading marks in red and blue pencil in the margins of certain paragraphs, ink stamps of the Etienne Vion bookshop and stationery in Amiens on the title page, a library shelfmark at the head of the title page.

First edition, one of 100 numbered copies on Holland paper.

Some minor foxing, two tears and slight losses to the spine.

Paul Léautaud’s handwritten signature beneath the colophon.

First edition on ordinary paper.

Half black shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt garlands, gilt date at foot, a small tear at the foot of the spine, marbled paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt top edge.

Scattered foxing.

Partly original edition, with no mention of a deluxe paper issue.

Half black shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands tooled with gilt garlands, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt edges, contemporary binding.

Pleasant copy.

First edition.

Bound in black half shagreen, spines with five raised bands decorated with gilt garlands, gilt dates at foot, marbled paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt edges.

Some foxing, mainly at the beginning and end of the volumes.

Preface by Prosper Mérimée.

First edition, one of 1,000 numbered copies on offset.

A fine copy.

Illustrated with 10 drawings by René Magritte.

Partly first edition.

Half black shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt garlands, date gilt at foot, marbled paper boards, combed paper endpapers and pastedowns, gilt edges.

Some scattered foxing.

Edition largely original.

Half black shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt garlands, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt edges.

Some foxing, chiefly at the beginning and end of the volume.

First edition, one of 60 numbered copies on pure wove paper, the only deluxe copies after 17 on Hollande.

Bradel binding in full beige cloth, smooth spine, red morocco title-piece, upper wrapper preserved, sprinkled edges, modest binding.

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on alfa vellum, the only copies on deluxe paper.

Slight sunning at the foot of the spine.

A handsome copy.

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on alfa vellum, ours being No. 1, the only copies on deluxe paper.

Rare and handsome copy.

First edition, one of 13 numbered copies on pure rag Rives vellum, the tête-de-tirage.

Rare and handsome copy.

Partly original edition, entirely revised.

Some foxing.

Rare copy preserved in its original wrappers.

First edition published under the pseudonym Cévennes and completed under oppression in Paris on August 1, 1944.

Pleasant copy.

First edition.

Illustrated with 16 drawings by Georges Adam.

A superb copy of this rare booklet by Louis Aragon, a true "anti-clerical, anti-capitalist, anti-colonialist, anti-patriotic" (Pierre Juquin) catechism for the children of the exploited working masses.

"On June 25, 1932, the Imprimerie centrale completed printing for the Bureau des éditions et de diffusion, 132, Faubourg Saint-Denis, Paris, a beautiful pamphlet, now a bibliophilic rarity [...] On the cover, a large red star - an important and recurrent image in Aragon's work - appears imprinted on children's brains. Sixteen quatrains, droll and didactic, punctuated for ease of...

First edition, an advance (service de presse) copy.
Covers and spine very skillfully repaired.
Handsome autograph inscription from Pierre Drieu La Rochelle to Henri Béraud.

First edition, one of the review copies.
Bradel binding in full wood-patterned boards, smooth spine, red morocco title-piece, covers and spine preserved, binding signed by Thomas Boichot.

A fine copy, handsomely bound.
Precious autograph presentation signed by Jacques Chardonne to Henri Béraud.

First edition.
Elegant half navy blue morocco over marbled paper boards by Pierre-Lucien Martin, spine in six compartments with gilt fillets to bands and geometric decoration of red morocco onlays, date gilt at foot of spine, gilt fillet to boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt dentelle frame to pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.

A very good copy in a handsome binding. 
Exceptional autograph inscription from Claude Farrère : "A Pierre Louÿs son très petit disciple [To Pierre Louÿs, his very humble disciple]", along with Chinese ideograms.

First edition, one of 1,200 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only large paper copies after 50 on Marais.

Spine very slightly faded as usual.
Handsome autograph inscription signed by Henri Michaux to Raymond Queneau.

First edition, one of 150 numbered copies on offset, only print after 20 numbered copies.
Title vignette glued on the first board.

Text in French, English and German.
Illustrated with 14 photographs of the author performing different kinds of suicides.

First edition published in the author’s collected works.
Some occasional foxing.
Half black morocco shagreen binding, smooth spine decorated with triple blind fillets and gilt fleurons, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, contemporary binding.
Signed autograph inscription by George Sand : "to my friend Charles Fournier."
Handwritten note by George Sand beneath the title on the title page: "suite de Flamarande" published the same year and by the same publisher as "Les deux Frères".
 

First edition on ordinary paper, with the correct colophon dated 23 February 1926.

A pleasant copy.

First edition, one of 10 numbered copies on imperial japon, ours one of 3 hors commerce lettered copies, a deluxe issue following 6 on chine.

Bound in full sienna morocco, flat spine, gilt date at foot, moiré-effect endpapers and pastedowns, gilt fillet border on pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved (spine restored and backed), gilt edges, chemise edged in sienna morocco, slipcase in wood-effect board with white felt lining, contemporary binding signed by Roger Arnoult.

Our copy is enriched with a one-page signed autograph letter by Jean Cocteau, mounted on a guard, written from La Roche-Posay in Vienne, probably addressed to Pierre Benoit, in which he...

First edition, with an autograph letter signed by Louise Colet bound in, 3 pages on a bifolium mounted on a stub at the head of the volume. A few small foxing spots, a very pale marginal dampstain affecting the last leaves.
Half black morocco binding with corners, spine with five raised bands framed by blind double fillets, date at the foot, marbled paper sides, vat-made paper endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved and mounted on a stub (small corner losses restored), elegant binding signed Patrice Goy.
Rare presentation copy to the marquise de Boissy, Teresa Guiccioli who was the mistress of Louise Colet's husband (!) and...

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

Bound in full sienna morocco, flat spine with a slight snag at head, date gilt at foot, moiré endpapers and pastedowns, single gilt fillet framing the pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, gilt edges, chemise edged in sienna morocco, slipcase of wood-grained boards lined with white felt, contemporary binding signed by Roger Arnoult.

Our copy is enriched with a signed autograph letter, one page, by Jean Cocteau mounted on a tab, dated April 1959, probably addressed to Pierre Benoit: "Nôtre Pierre fantôme... c'est autour de votre souvenir qu'on se réunit. C'est une chaîne bien étonnante que celle...