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

First edition printed on ordinary paper.
A handsome copy.
Signed autograph inscription from Patrick Modiano to Françoise Ducourt.
Signed autograph inscriptions by Patrick Modiano, who cares little for notoriety and is sparing with dedication sessions, are rare.

First edition printed in 100 numbered copies on laid paper, this copy for Léonce Rosenberg.
Work illustrated with 20 reproductions of cubist works by Juan Gris.
Dampstains to chemise boards, corners slightly bumped, tears and lacks to inner chemise flaps.
Handsome and rare copy.

First edition, one of 1000 numbered copies on pur fil, the only deluxe copies after 5 japon and 50 hollande.
Fine copy handsomely bound.
Bradel binding in half red Russia morocco, smooth spine, wood-grain paper boards, covers and spine preserved, moiré-effect paper endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt, bookplate pasted to head of one pastedown, elegant unsigned contemporary binding.
Signed autograph inscription from Tristan Derème to P. Rousset: "... ce 14 juillet à l'entrée de l'année. En cordial hommage. Tristan Derème. 1er - I - 1926." ["this 14th of July at the start of the year. With cordial homage. Tristan Derème. 1st - I - 1926."]

First edition in French, one of 106 numbered copies on pur fil, the only deluxe copies.
Spine and covers slightly discolored and sunned as usual, otherwise handsome copy.

First edition in French, one of 129 numbered copies on pure thread paper, the only deluxe copies.
Fine copy of this antifascist novel that Thornton Wilder published in 1948, inspired by Sartrean existentialism and drawing parallels between Julius Caesar and Benito Mussolini.

First edition in French on ordinary paper.
A tiny spot in the margin of the first cover, handsome copy.
Rare manuscript signature of William Styron on an endpaper.

The first edition, of which there were no deluxe copies.
Handsome copy despite light worming of no consequence to upper margins.
Autograph inscription signed by Jacques Brenner to journalist and director of Le Figaro Patrice de Plunkett.

First edition in French, one of 50 numbered copies on Arches vellum, ours being one of 20 hors commerce copies, deluxe issue.
Fine copy.

First edition of the French translation, one of 140 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe copies after 15 on Holland paper
Small tears at head and foot of deckled edges, a vertical fold in margin of front cover, endpapers partially shadowed.
A full-margined copy.

The first edition, of which there were no deluxe copies.
Handsome copy.
Attractive illustrated cover by Maurice Toussaint.

First edition in French, one of 106 numbered copies on handmade paper, the only deluxe copies.
Handsome copy.

First edition, one of 56 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe copies.
Preface by Paul Morand.
Fine and rare copy of this early novel refused by Gallimard in 1948 and published 20 years later.
Moving provenance: from the library of Nadine Nimier, wife and widow of Roger Nimier.
Accompanied by a letter on Gallimard letterhead from Suzanne Duconget informing Marie Nimier of the dispatch of copy No. 51 on deluxe paper of "L'Etrangère" by Roger Nimier.

First edition, one of 52 numbered copies on wove paper, the only deluxe copies.
Preface by Marcel Jouhandeau.
Fine copy.
Moving provenance: from the library of Nadine Nimier, wife and widow of Roger Nimier.

First edition on ordinary paper.
Iconography.
A very handsome copy complete with its transparent dust jacket illustrated by François Salvat after a design by Dali.

First edition of the French translation, of which there were no deluxe copies.
Fine copy retaining publisher's wraparound band: "Anticipation? No! But inversion of time".

First edition, one of 27 numbered copies on Ingres laid paper, the only deluxe copies.
A handsome copy.

The first edition, of which there were no deluxe copies.
A handsome copy.

First edition printed in 86 numbered copies on chamois Arches paper.
Work illustrated with an original drypoint by Pierre Charbonnier as frontispiece.
Handsome and rare copy.
Manuscript signatures of René Char and Pierre Charbonnier on the colophon.

First edition printed on ordinary paper.
Handsome copy.

First edition of the French translation, of which there were no deluxe copies.
Fine copy.
Preface by Philippe Labro.

First edition, one of 16 copies on pure Lana rag paper, the only deluxe copies.
Very fine copy.

The first edition, of which there were no deluxe copies.
Handsome copy.
Signed and inscribed by Edgar Knecht to Claude Duchet.

First edition in French, one of 55 numbered copies on wove paper, the only deluxe copies.
Handsome copy of this work evoking, in a novelistic manner, the condition and situation of Black people in the southern states of the United States in the aftermath of the Civil War.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Holland paper, deluxe copies after 5 Japan.
Handsome copy.

First edition, one of 200 numbered copies on Arches, the only issue after 10 on Japan.
Spine lightly sunned, occasional worming.
Autograph inscription signed by Tristan Derème: "A monsieur le comte de Sachs. Et vive la rime ! Et vive Virgile !" ["To Monsieur le Comte de Sachs. And long live rhyme! And long live Virgil!"]

First edition, one of 17 numbered copies on Ghaldwill, the only deluxe copies.
Preface by Laurent Schwartz.
Maurice Audin, French mathematician and member of the Algerian Communist Party, was arrested during the Battle of Algiers on June 11, 1957 and disappeared without his body ever being found.
While the French army claimed he had escaped, several prominent figures including Pierre Vidal-Naquet protested and denounced his martyrdom after he was certainly tortured by the French army, with General Aussaresses much later acknowledging having given the order to kill Maurice Audin.
Handsome and rare copy retaining its publisher's wraparound band (which has a lack): "Massu et ses complices"..

First edition, of which there were no deluxe copies, with second edition statement.
Handsome copy.
Preface by Jean-Paul Sartre.
Signed and inscribed by Nathalie Sarraute to Jean Claval.

First edition, one of the copies on chestnut paper.
Handsome copy.

First edition in French, of which there were no deluxe copies.
Handsome copy.
Iconography.

First edition.
Publisher's full brown grained sheep binding, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets.
Rich iconography.
Fine copy complete with its cellophane wrapper and slipcase.

First edition of this document announcing the publication, for March 1930, of André Breton's "Second Manifeste du Surréalisme".
Fine and rare copy.
Texts by Roger Vitrac, Robert Desnos, Georges Ribemont-Dessaignes, Georges Limbour, Jacques Baron.

First edition of the French translation, of which there were no deluxe copies.
Handsome copy.
Photographic wrappers with flaps.

Rare hors commerce first edition printed in 50 copies numbered and justified in the colophon by Jacques Lion.
Some light foxing.
Precious autograph inscription dated and signed by Claude Aveline: "A Georges Duhamel, ces souvenirs dont Jacques Lion a voulu faire une plaquette, parce qu'ils me sont chers, son ami. Claude Aveline. Font Romeu août 1928..." ["To Georges Duhamel, these memories that Jacques Lion wanted to make into a booklet, because they are dear to me, his friend. Claude Aveline. Font Romeu August 1928..."]

First edition on bulky paper
Handsome copy.

First edition of the French translation, one of 165 numbered copies on pure thread paper, the only deluxe copies.
Spine and boards slightly and marginally discolored as usual, a small tear to upper left corner of front board, otherwise a handsome copy.

First edition in French, one of 205 numbered copies on pure rag paper, the only deluxe copies.
Spine and boards slightly and marginally discolored as usual, otherwise a handsome copy.

First edition.
Publisher's full brown grained sheep binding, orange top edge, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets.
Rich iconography.
Handsome copy complete with its acetate wrapper and flexible slipcase.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Lana laid paper, the only deluxe copies with some hors commerce copies, ours being one of the latter.
Very handsome copy.
Preface by Michel Déon.

First edition printed on ordinary paper.
Handsome copy.

First and only edition of this wonderful romantic illustrated book. It is profusely illustrated with woodcuts after Bertall, 50 hors-texte, including the frontispiece, and 310 vignettes.
Modern cloth boards inspired by romantic bindings, signed at the top of the title page by A. Lavaux. Romantic-style gilt spine. Title label in orange shagreen. Top edge gilt. Very rare illustrated covers and the spine preserved, restored to the corners, spine with missing parts has been strenghtened. Spine slightly lightened. One leaf at the beginning and one at the end (half-title page and p. 332) have a slight restoration to the spine in the margin. Perfectly white, immaculate paper. Uncut copy, with all margins. Superb copy, very rare in this condition.
"Book illustrated with spirit by Bertall, whose compositions wonderfully complement a text full of humor. There was only one edition which is very rare." (Carteret III, 48). Balzac would be sketched three times in this work which received the wrath of the female readership for its mysogyny.

First edition, one of 55 numbered copies on pure thread paper, the only deluxe copies.
A handsome copy.

First edition, one of 45 numbered copies on pure thread paper, the only deluxe copies.
A handsome copy.

First edition in French, of which there were no deluxe copies.
A very handsome copy.

First edition, of which there were no deluxe copies.
Very light worming to spine.
Rare and fine copy.

First edition, on ordinary paper, of the French translation by Boris Vian, with eighth edition statement.
Very fine copy.

First edition, one of 1000 numbered copies on alfa Navarre paper, the only deluxe copies after 13 on pure thread paper.
Publisher's binding following Mario Prassinos' original design.
Handsome copy.

First edition. The half-title indicates: Publications de la Revue des deux mondes, where the novel had indeed appeared in pre-publication form in 1834.
Contemporary half glazed tender green calf binding. Smooth spine with false flat raised bands decorated with blind tooling and roulettes. Cherry red glazed shagreen title label. Spine now light brown. Scattered foxing.
Romantic work written during her stay in Italy where her liaison with Musset ended, George Sand admits to having been inspired by Manon Lescaut in Leone Leoni but by reversing the characters. The novel relates the harmful passion of a naive woman for an Italian nobleman with destructive vices. She is taken in by Don Aleo, who is in love with the young woman. This love triangle will have a tragic destiny.

The first edition, of which there were no deluxe copies.
Fine copy.
Half cherry red shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands set with black fillets, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved.

First edition in French, one of 110 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe copies.
Spine and covers slightly and marginally sunned as usual, otherwise fine copy.

First edition, a Service de Presse (advance) copy.
Paper yellowed as is often the case.
Work illustrated with hors-texte illustrations by André Masson.
Precious autograph inscription signed by André Breton to Jean Paulhan.

First edition, one of 500 numbered copies on antique laid paper, the only issue after 2 Japan and 5 Lafuma.
Worming to head and foot of front cover.
Work illustrated with 4 drawings by Lucien Jacques.
Autograph inscription dated and signed by Lucien Jacques to D(aniel) Hirsch and his wife.

First edition, one of 20 lettered copies on China paper, the deluxe issue after 5 copies on old Japan paper.
A vertical crease mark on the first cover.
Handsome and rare copy.

First edition illustrated with numerous photographs of athletes captured in action during their performances.
Handsome copy.
Autograph inscription signed by Philippe Delerm to Stéphane Joly: "... ce livre dont il sait combien il est l'aboutissement d'une longue passion..." ["... this book which he knows how much it is the culmination of a long passion..."]

First edition, one of 746 numbered copies on wove paper, the only deluxe copies after 109 reimposed.
Handsome copy.

First collected edition with some parts in first edition, one of 260 numbered copies on wove paper, deluxe copies after 28 on Holland paper.
Handsome copy.

Publisher's slip written jointly by Paul Eluard and André Breton for the first edition of "La Femme visible" by Salvador Dali published by Editions surréalistes de José Corti in 1930.
Two very light marginal tears and two small crease marks at the foot of the document.
Handsome copy.

First edition, one of 32 numbered copies on Montgolfier paper, deluxe copy.
Second cover lightly and partially shaded, occasional worming.
Handsome copy.

Edition with some parts in first edition on ordinary paper.
A label mark at the foot of the spine.
Fine copy.

The first edition, of which there were no deluxe copies.
Handsome copy.
Iconography.
Autograph inscription dated 1995 and signed by Jacques Mény to Claude Schneeberg: "... en cette année du centenaire de Giono...".
We also include an autograph thank-you card from Jacques Mény to the same recipient.

First edition on ordinary paper.
Light worming at head and foot of front cover.
Autograph inscription signed by Maurice Druon to a friend.

The first edition, of which there were no deluxe copies.
Spine slightly ridged as usual, one stain on fore edge, handsome copy.
Autograph inscription signed by François Mitterrand to Roger Bérard.

First edition for each of the volumes and for which no deluxe copies were printed.
Complete set in 4 volumes.
One crease on the second cover of the first volume, spine of the second volume discolored, a small light stain at the head of the first cover of the third volume.
Set containing numerous unpublished works.
- First volume: Correspondance Jean Giono - Lucien Jacques 1922-1929,
- Second volume: Dragoon,
- Third volume: Correspondance Jean Giono - Lucien Jacques 1930-1961,
- Fourth and final volume: De Homère à Machiavel.

First edition of this posthumous work illustrated with 15 insert steel-engraved plates by Charles Geoffroy and enhanced in color, including two frontispieces and a portrait of Grandville.

Publisher's binding with full historiated cream boards, first board illustrated, browned endpapers as is usual for this period.
Rare interior foxing.

Superb publication, arguably one of Grandville's most poetic, in which – as for his Fleurs animées – the artist represents celestial bodies with young women.

First edition, one of 115 numbered copies on pur fil, the only deluxe copies after 43 Holland.
Spine lightly sunned, otherwise handsome copy.

First edition, one of 40 numbered copies on Holland, the “tirage de tête”.
A very beautiful copy.

First edition on ordinary paper.
Full bright blue morocco binding with mosaic decoration signed at the bottom of the slipcase by Jadis. Marbled paper slipcase, matching the endpapers. Smooth Jansenist spine with author's name in full. Boards with mosaic decoration featuring a red fillet crossed by 3 rectangles in cream, grey and pink; title in black on the cream cartouche. Original pink wrappers preserved.
Inscription from Cocteau to Marc Dantzer: à Marc, coeur de sommeil, Jean.
Marc Dantzer was a French actor who pursued his career from 1929 to 1957, he ran the restaurant at the Elysée-Matignon where cinema personalities would gather. A friend of Cocteau, there was correspondence between the two men.
Superb copy, in perfect condition.
Marc Dantzer bookplate, stamp. Second bookplate, with the cipher of Jean Paraf.

First edition.
Small stains on covers.
Work decorated with illustrations by Vuillemin.
Autograph inscription signed by Marc-Edouard Nabe to a friend named Jean-Loup: "... K.O. et autres contes où beaucoup de femmes souffrent ! " ["K.O. and other tales where many women suffer!"]

Definitive edition on ordinary paper of this work published under the pseudonym Abdallah Chaamba.
Light dampstains to foot of front cover.
Very rare autograph inscription signed by François Augiéras to Yves Le Marchand: "... protecteur de la jeune littérature, hommage respectueux de l'auteur. F. Augiéras." ["... protector of young literature, respectful homage from the author. F. Augiéras."]
One manuscript correction by the author who crossed out a line on page 70.

First edition, a Service de Presse (advance) copy.
Light dampstains to foot of front cover.
Precious autograph inscription signed by Robert Kemp to Marcel Pagnol: "... qui devrait être mon ami puisque je suis le sien !" ["... who should be my friend since I am his!"]

First edition, one of the copies on alfa flower paper, the only issue with 100 pure rag vellum.
Work illustrated with two vignettes by André Collot.
Handsome copy.

First edition, one of 35 numbered copies on Holland, the “tirage de tête”.
A beautiful copy despite tiny foxing on the spine and another at the foot of the first board.

First edition, one of 40 numbered copies on Holland, the “tirage de tête”.
Ex-libris glued to the head of an endpaper.
A beautiful copy despite a slightly puckered spine.

First edition on ordinary paper.
Restorations to head and foot of joints, inevitable small marginal tears to boards given the extreme fragility of the paper.
Very rare signed autograph inscription by Isidore Isou, one of the founders of Lettrism and an important precursor of Situationism, to the theater man Paul-Louis Mignon.

First edition on ordinary paper.
Handsome copy despite the slightly sunken spine.
Autograph inscription dated and signed by Thyde Monnier to Madame Tourre.

First edition, one of 10 numbered copies on Japan paper, deluxe copy.
Spine and covers slightly and marginally lightened as is generally the case.

First edition, one of 10 numbered copies on Japan paper, deluxe issue.
Handsome full-margined copy despite spine and boards lightly and marginally discolored as usual.
Autograph inscription signed by René Benjamin to historian Jean Longnon.

First edition, one of 5 numbered copies on Japan paper, deluxe issue.
Handsome full-margined copy despite two small traces of sunning at head and foot of spine.
Autograph inscription signed by Lucien Dubech to historian Jean Longnon: "... en souvenir affectueux de nos voyages à l'été de 1928..." ["in affectionate memory of our travels in the summer of 1928..."]

First edition, a Service de Presse (advance) copy.
A tear and split at foot of one joint, paper yellowed.
Our copy is presented under chemise and slipcase: chemise in half green morocco, smooth spine with gilt mention at foot "Ex. du maréchal Pétain" ["Marshal Pétain's copy"], green paper boards, slipcase with green morocco edges and green paper boards.
Precious signed autograph inscription by Paul Valéry: "A monsieur le maréchal Pétain, hommage de son admirateur et confrère." ["To Marshal Pétain, homage from his admirer and colleague."]

First edition, a Service de Presse (advance) copy.
Spine and boards marginally and slightly browned, paper fragile at margins of some leaves as usual.
Our copy is presented in a sand-colored full cardboard slipcase.
Precious autograph inscription by Robert Brasillach on this text which is one of the very first histories of cinema born a few decades earlier: "A Ramon Fernandez en bien sincère et reconnaissant hommage. Robert Brasillach" ["To Ramon Fernandez with very sincere and grateful homage. Robert Brasillach"] enhanced with the signature of Maurice Bardèche.

First edition, one of 10 lettered and named copies on Japan paper, deluxe issue.
Fine full-margined copy.
Autograph inscription signed by Lucien Dubech to historian Jean Longnon in the form of a quatrain.

First edition in French, one of 26 numbered copies on pure rag paper, the only deluxe copies.
Spine and boards slightly and marginally lightened as usual, otherwise handsome copy.

First edition, one of 12 nominative copies numbered and justified on pink paper by the publisher, ours printed for the wife of historian Jean Longnon, deluxe issue after 12 Japan copies expanded with a suite of illustrations.
Spine of slipcase slightly browned.
Work illustrated with 4 facsimiles.
Handsome copy of No. 4 of the "Cahiers balzaciens".

First edition of which only 25 deluxe copies were printed, one of the Service de Presse (advance) copies.
Spine and boards slightly and marginally yellowed, otherwise handsome copy considering the poor quality of this wartime paper.

First edition printed with 440 numbered copies.
Work illustrated with 7 wood engravings by Frans Masereel.
Pubslisher's binding in half wove-style paper boards with small corners, top edge gilt, ex-libris glued to a paste-down endpaper.
Rare handwritten presentation signed by Stefan Zweig to writer Max Spanier who disappeared during the hell of the Holocaust: “Im herzlicher Erkenntlichkeit” (“With sincere gratitude”).

First edition, a Service de Presse (advance) copy.
Two small lacks at foot of spine.
Autograph inscription signed by Henri Pourrat to Franc-Nohain.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Lafuma paper, deluxe copies after 15 on Rives vellum.
Handsome copy.

First edition on ordinary paper.
Bradel binding in half almond green cloth, smooth spine decorated with gilt fleuron, date and double gilt fillet at foot, brown shagreen title-label, marbled paper boards, covers and spine preserved, contemporary binding signed in blind by Stroobants.
Handsome copy attractively bound.

First edition on ordinary paper.
Bradel binding in half almond green cloth, smooth spine decorated with gilt fleuron, date and double gilt fillet at foot, brown shagreen title-label, marbled paper boards, original wrappers preserved, contemporary binding signed in blind by Carayon.
Endpapers partially shaded.
Handsome copy attractively bound.

First edition on ordinary paper.
Bradel binding in half almond green cloth, smooth spine decorated with gilt fleuron, double gilt fillet at foot, brown shagreen title-label, marbled paper boards, original wrappers preserved, contemporary binding signed in blind by Carayon.
Minor foxing to endpapers.
Handsome copy attractively bound.

First edition printed in 100 copies.
Bradel binding in half green Russian morocco, smooth spine, date and place gilt at foot, pebbled paper boards, marbled paper endpapers and pastedowns.
One restoration to the margin of the title page using an adhesive piece.
Rare and precious signed autograph inscription from Antoine de Latour "A monsieur Victor Hugo, hommage de tendre dévouement" ["To Monsieur Victor Hugo, tribute of tender devotion"]
The inscription has been slightly trimmed, missing the last letter of the word dévouement.