Memoirs, Biographies and Essays

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 25 numbered copies on bouffant vellum paper from the Salzer mills, ours being No. 1, the only deluxe paper issue.
Handsome copy of this work awarded the Grand Prix du Roman of the Académie française. 
 

First edition, printed in a small number of copies, of this offprint from the April 1958 issue of Critique.

Minor tears at head and tail of spine.

Rare and appealing copy.

First edition.
Contemporary red cloth Bradel binding by Pierson, spine with gilt floral motif, date and double gilt fillet to foot, black shagreen title label.
A little light spotting, principally affecting the first and final few leaves.
Ex libris of Adolphe Racot on inside upper cover.
Concerning Victor Hugo, Alfred de Musset, George Sand, François-René de Chateaubriand, Théophile Gautier, Alexandre Dumas fils, and so on…

Autograph inscription from Emile Zola to Adolphe Racot.

Rare first edition (cf. Quérard IV, 138. NUC: 3 copies).

Written in French by J.A. Borelly (a German translation by G.W. Bartoldy appeared simultaneously from the same publisher), these engaging memoirs are the work of the Swedish general Johann Ludwig von Hordt [1719-1778].

Contemporary full grey paper boards, red shagreen title-piece with a small marginal defect, smooth spine, joints rubbed, binding of the period.

Preserved in a modern green paper box; title label at the head of the spine.

Some light foxing.

Rare copy in its original state: uncut and in the publisher’s boards.

First edition, printed in 1,500 copies on bouffant paper.

Includes numerous contributions by Marcel Béalu, Pierre Béarn, Blaise Cendrars, Jean Follain, Paul Fort, Max Jacob, Pierre Jean Jouve, Pierre Mac Orlan, Michel Manoll, Pierre Reverdy, André Salmon, Jules Supervielle...

A minor tear without consequence at the foot of the spine, which shows light sunning.

A fine and moving signed autograph inscription from Dominique de Roux, founder of the Cahiers de l'Herne, to his brother Xavier: "Pour Xavier qui est à l'origine de [L'Herne] ce premier cahier dont le second verra son nom au comité en témoignage de mon affection reconnaissante son vieux et fidèle Dominique. 8 Mai 1961."

First edition, on ordinary paper, of the French translation.
A small tear restored at the foot of the spine, a pleasing copy.
Letter-preface by Jean Cocteau, preface by Somerset Maugham.
Illustrated cover with a portrait of the Aga Khan by Kees Van Dongen, with iconography.

Rare and precious signed autograph presentation from the Aga Khan to Madame Avrillier.

 

First edition, one of 85 copies on pur fil paper, from the deluxe issue after 26 on Hollande.

Spine and covers slightly sunned, marginal tears to the covers and at the foot of the spine.

Rare copy with full margins.

First edition, one of 45 numbered copies on Vélin du Marais, ours one of 15 lettered copies not for sale, the only copies on deluxe paper.

Attractive copy despite a faint shadow along the margin of the upper cover.

First edition, one of 160 numbered copies on pur fil, the only deluxe paper issue.

Half red shagreen binding with corners, spine with four raised bands framed by black fillets, gilt date at foot, boards covered in moiré-effect paper, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.

A handsome copy in an attractive binding.

First edition for which no grand papier (deluxe) copies were printed.
Small marginal pieces missing at the top of the first board, a clear remnant of adhesive paper at the bottom of the first endpaper.
Copy complete with the facsimile at the end of the volume.

Precious handwritten inscription signed by Gabriele d'Annunzio to Natalie Clifford Barney: « à miss Barney et au Temple de l'Amitié attentive, cette légère torpille ‘sine litteris' est offerte par la ‘tête d'ivoire'. Gabriele d'Annunzio » (“To Miss Barney and the attentive Temple of Friendship, this light ‘sine litteris' torpedo is offered by the ‘ivory head'. Gabriele d'Annunzio”

Very beautiful testimony to the friendship between Gabriele d'Annunzio and Natalie Clifford Barney, who probably met through the painter Romaine Brooks, temporary lover of the “ivory head” but also of the Amazon for more than fifty years.
In 1909, Natalie Clifford Barney acquired the Temple of Friendship at 20 Rue Jacob and set up her literary salon, which would be held every Friday and would welcome the greatest literary and artistic personalities of the time: Salomon Reinach, Auguste Rodin, Rainer Maria Rilke, Colette, James Joyce, Paul Valéry, Pierre Louÿs, Anatole France, Robert de Montesquiou, Gertrude Stein, Somerset Maugham, T. S. Eliot, Jean Cocteau, Max Jacob, André Gide, Nancy Cunard, Peggy Guggenheim, Marie Laurencin, Paul Claudel, Adrienne Monnier, Sylvia Beach, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Truman Capote, Françoise Sagan, Marguerite Yourcenar... and, of course, Gabriele d'Annunzio whom she greatly admired.
She paid tribute to him by devoting a chapter of her Aventures de l'esprit (1929) to him: “D'Annunzio, a precious little old ivory object, works with the constancy of a monk who watches over his God.”

Uncommon first edition, cf. Polak 7724 (only three copies recorded in the CCF: Musée de la Marine, Angers, and Caen), illustrated with a portrait frontispiece of Count Martin lithographed on cream paper mounted, together with 6 folding lithographed maps hors texte.

Spine cracked with small losses, some foxing.

Rare copy complete with the extensive printer’s catalogue at the end of the volume.

This account of Admiral Pierre Martin (1752-1820) was published by his grandson, Denis Pouget (1808-1892), through his only daughter Marguerite. It notably discusses the fire-ship affair off the Île d’Aix, a naval battle between the British and the French which took place on 11–12 April 1809 during the Fifth Coalition, and which led to the Admiral’s near-permanent disgrace.

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

Spine slightly faded as usual.
Precious signed presentation inscription from Eugène Ionesco to Raymond Queneau: "Pour Raymond Queneau, le Satrape, avec mon admiration affectueuse (et que tant je voudrais revoir plus que de temps à autre). Eugène Ionesco."

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on Lafuma, the only copies on deluxe paper.
Very handsome copy despite a slight shadow on the half-title page.

First edition on ordinary paper.
Tiny and very discreet restorations to the verso of the first blank leaf.

Significant and fine signed autograph inscription by Antonin Artaud:
« à M. Fernand Pouey qui a voulu comprendre mon aride effort. Antonin Artaud. 13 décembre 1947. »
Signed autograph inscriptions by Antonin Artaud are exceedingly rare in this text.

First edition on ordinary paper, despite a false statement of third edition.
Handsome autohgraph inscription from Marcel Proust to René Boylesve.
This copy has a chemise and slipcase (with flaps) of half kaki morocco over marbled paper boards, spine very slighlty faded with bibliophilical gilt inscriptions to the foot, lined with liht green paper.
One very pale angular dampstain Mouillure angulaire très pâleto the first leaves.
Provenance : Heilbronn's library, with his ex libris.

René Boylesve découvre l'œuvre de Marcel Proust en 1913, à l'occasion de la parution du premier volume de la Recherche. D'abord dérouté par l'écriture proustienne, il se montre bientôt dithyrambique : « Notre œuvre, à nous, est ruinée par celle-là. Nous avons travaillé en vain. Proust supprime la littérature des cinquante dernières années. » (cité par GERARD-GAILLY Émile, « Note liminaire », dans BOYLESVE René, PROUST Marcel, Quelques échanges et témoignages, 1931, p. 24). Quant à Proust, l'admiration à l'égard de son aîné évoquée dans notre envoi n'est pas feinte ; ainsi quelques mois avant sa mort louait-il les romans de Boylesve, célébrant non seulement un « art en apparence si simple et qui dit tout » mais aussi « un perfectionnement suprême de technique » (PROUST Marcel, Correspondance, t.XX et XXI, 1991, p. 332 et 778).
Les deux hommes n'étaient pas proches mais correspondirent à partir de 1917. En faisant parvenir à Boylesve un exemplaire de ses Pastiches et mélanges, Proust dut le ravir : quand il n'écrivait pas, Boylesve était bibliophile. Ainsi, à propos d'un autre de ses ouvrages, Proust eut cette délicate attention : « J'avais une hésitation en ce qui concerne votre exemplaire. D'habitude, ceux qui sont tirés pour moi sans marque d'édition, sont un peu mieux que les "originales". Cette fois-ci, le "mieux" ne m'apparaît pas ; et comme je suis incapable de distinguer le "pur fil" du reste, je ne sais pas, des deux sortes d'exemplaires, ce qui est préférable. [...] Vous seriez mille fois gentil de me dire ce que vous voulez. C'est parce que je vous sais bibliophile que vous écris à propos d'un livre de moi, chose de peu d'importance [...]. » (PROUST Marcel, op. cit., t.XXII, p. 156-157)

First edition on ordinary paper, issued after the destruction of the 1923 printing following a dispute between Tzara and the publisher.
Double autograph inscription, signed and dated by Tristan Tzara, first to Paul Éluard – « à Paul Éluard. Tristan Tzara. Juillet 1929 » – then, after striking through this initial dedication, to René Char in September 1934: « à René Char avec toute l'amitié grande de Tristan Tzara ». This second inscription is further embellished with a small drawing by Tzara, a hand pointing with its index finger to Char’s name.

First edition on ordinary paper.
Handsome, fine autograph inscription signed by Albert Camus : "à Albert Béguin qui trouvera ici les raisons de mes désaccords avec Esprit, avec mon bien cordial souvenir...[to Albert Bégiun who will find here the reasons for my disagreements with the Spirit, in friendly remembrance…]"
A little light spotting primarily to upper cover and ffep.
Retaining its advertising notice, entitled "Lettres sur la révolte".

Rare first edition.
Signed autograph inscription by Alexandre Dumas on the half-title, the only leaf left untrimmed by the binder so as to preserve the full dedication.
Several political texts are bound together with it: L'indépendance de la magistrature - Affaire Séguier; Articles publiés dans le journal La Presse et lettres diverses by Emile Ollivier; L'Empire parlementaire est-il possible by Gustave Chaudey; Les décrets du 22 janvier 1852 by M. Reverchon; Défense du droit de propriété by M. Degouve Denuncques; Qu'est-ce donc que la commune?
Half red shagreen binding, smooth spine tooled with gilt fillets, dotted lines, rolls and fleurons, broad black fillets, marbled paper boards, edges rubbed, contemporary binding.

First edition.

Contemporary Romantic bindings in half green Empire calf, flat spines slightly faded, richly gilt with Romantic decorative motifs, marbled paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns; Romantic period bindings.

A few light spots of foxing; a discolouration mark on a blank endpaper of the first volume.

First edition, of great rarity (cf. Sabin 4182).

Bradel-style binding in full orange paper-covered boards, with a brown shagreen spine label; modern binding.

A very good copy.

A vindication of France’s conduct during the uprising of the British colonies in America.

First edition, with a photographic portrait of H.G. Wells as frontispiece to the first volume.

Illustrated throughout.

Some minor foxing, mostly to the edges.

Contemporary black half-shagreen bindings with cornerpieces, spines with three raised bands, gilt-stamped marine anchors at the foot (a few showing some loss), and gilt medallions on the upper boards featuring the ocean liner Normandie with three inlaid red and black shagreen pieces representing its smokestacks; marbled endpapers and pastedowns, with small red dots in the upper corners of the first flyleaves. Bound at the time for the Normandie.

A handsome copy with distinguished provenance.

First edition, one of 50 copies numbered on pure white rag paper, deluxe printing.

Binding in red half-shagreen with corners, spine with five raised bands framed by black fillets, some small rubbing on a few of the bands, date in gilt at the tail, framed by black fillets on the boards of speckled paper, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt on witnesses.

Illustrated with 60 heliogravure plates hors-texte.

Pleasant copy despite minor marginal spots of little significance on the endpapers.

Our copy is enriched with an autograph note dated June 1929 and signed by Pierre Abraham, mounted on tab, thanking Joseph Gabalda, then president of the Balzacian Circle, for his active contribution to the realization of this work.

The work also contains another autograph note, dated and signed by the author, mounted on tab, addressed to the same person, discussing the iconographic documents used to illustrate the book.

He promises him, in return for his investment, a copy from the deluxe printing.

First UK edition.

Publisher’s binding in full grey cloth, smooth spine, a fine copy complete with the illustrated dust jacket featuring a photographic portrait of the author by Yousuf Karsh.

Illustrated with maps on the endpapers and pastedowns, and 37 photographs.

Extremely rare inscribed copy signed by the last leader of the Soviet Union to a USSR émigré, the journalist Sam Yossman.

First edition.

Bradel binding in full brown roan, flat spine gilt-tooled, covers  with Alfred Piat's gilt monogram in the corners, central gilt stamp of his ex-libris, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt. Contemporary binding for Alfred Piat. Rubbing to corners and lower spine-end, some foxing.

Illustrated with two portraits of Hugo as frontispieces.

The finest copy of this biography of Victor Hugo published during his lifetime, bearing the supralibros of the great bibliophile Alfred Piat.

First edition of the English translation by Michael Glenny, who first came to prominence with his translation of Bulgakov’s Master and Margarita in 1967. No deluxe paper copies issued.

Publisher’s binding in full black cloth, flat spine which shows some inherent creasing due to the laminated covering.

A handsome copy, with illustrations.

Very rare inscribed copy dated 27 April 1990 and signed by Boris Yeltsin.

From the library of Sam Yossman (Sam Jones) of the BBC Russian Service.

First collected edition. No deluxe paper copies issued.
Publisher’s binding in full green cloth, smooth spines, with their dust jackets designed by Adam Rusak, showing only minor and insignificant marginal tears.

Rare presentation copy dated May 1, 1992 and signed by Solzhenitsyn to USSR émigré journalist and writer Sam Yossman, on the title page of the first volume.

First edition of these extremely scarce memoirs (cf. Bourquelot V, 374. Tulard 1007. Bertier de Sauvigny 720).

Contemporary bindings in brown half sheep, flat spines decorated with gilt Romantic rolls and black floral tools, red morocco labels for volume numbers and titles, marbled paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, some corners worn, marbled edges.

Spine of volume four damaged, restorations to the spines, two lower caps rubbed, occasional foxing.

The Countess Merlin was born Maria de las Mercedes de Santa Cruz y Montalvo (1789–1852) in Havana.

Her memoirs offer valuable anecdotal insight into society life in Cuba, the Peninsular War, and more.

First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on pure wove paper, the only deluxe copies.

First endpaper slightly and partially toned, without consequence.

A handsome copy with full margins.

Rare first edition, as referenced by Clouzot (see Guide du bibliophile français XIX^e siècle, p. 256).

A few insignificant spots of foxing, a small black ink stain at the bottom of pages 354–355. Complete with the errata leaf at the end of the volume.

Caramel half calf binding, spine with five raised bands ruled with gilt dotted lines and decorated with gilt and black tools, gilt fillets at head and foot of spine. Minor rubbing to the spine. Brown morocco title label. Marbled paper-covered boards framed with blind-stamped vertical rolls, endpapers and pastedowns in cat’s-eye paper, all edges gilt. Roman bookseller’s label at the top of a pastedown. Period-style binding signed in blind by Durvand.

Rare and important work (cf. Carteret), notable for being the first to bear Stendhal’s pseudonym on the title page.

First edition, one of 15 copies printed on pure Arches wove paper, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy of this work dedicated by Paul Vialar to the President of Côte d'Ivoire, Félix Houphouët-Boigny.

First edition, one of 80 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

A handsome and rare copy.

First edition, one of 125 numbered copies on B.F.K. de Rives, including an additional suite of the illustrations on pure rag paper.

A few minor spots on the covers, a pleasant copy overall.

Two light marginal dampstains on the slipcase, slightly rubbed at the corners.

Signed by Sacha Guitry at the beginning of the first volume.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on laid paper, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

A handsome and rare copy.

Illustrations.

Signed autograph inscription by Jean de La Varende to Maurice Gorrée.

First edition, one of 18 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe copies.

Bound in navy blue half shagreen with corners, spine with four raised bands, gilt-effect paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.

A handsome copy in an elegant binding.

Inscribed and signed by Benoîte and Flora Groult to Maurice Gorrée (Benoîte signing on Flora’s behalf).

First edition, one of 50 copies on pur fil, ours being one of 4 hors commerce copies, the only deluxe papers after 5 hors commerce copies on Arches.

Bound in burgundy half morocco with corners, spine with five raised bands ruled in black, cat's-eye patterned paper-covered boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, bookplate affixed to a pastedown, top edge gilt, untrimmed. A handsome unsigned binding, likely by Devauchelle.

First edition, one of 100 numbered copies on pur fil, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

A handsome copy, uncut.

First edition, one of 90 numbered copies on pur fil d'Arches, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

First edition, one of 54 numbered copies on nacreous Japan paper, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

First edition, one of 125 numbered deluxe copies, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.
Handsome copy, preserved as issued, loose in gatherings and housed in a double chemise and full cream cloth slipcase.

New edition, partly original as it has been revised and expanded, one of the advance review copies.
Handsome copy complete with the wrap-around band bearing the quote: "L'adolescence le bonheur et le suicide."
Signed autograph inscription by Gabriel Matzneff to his friend, the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme: "Pour Pol Vandromme, ce livre stoïcien et chrétien, en amical hommage. Gabriel Matzneff."
 

First edition, one of 60 numbered copies on Arches wove paper, the only deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

First edition, one of 50 copies printed on Madagascar paper, ours being one of 20 hors commerce copies, from the deluxe issue.

A handsome copy.

First edition, one of 158 copies printed on pur fil paper, following only 45 on Hollande.

A fine copy.

First edition, one of the review copies.
A very good copy.
Inscribed by Gabriel Matzneff to his friend, the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme: "Pour Pol Vandromme, avec l'espoir de le revoir prochainement en Belgique ou à Paris, amitiés fidèles. Gabriel Matzneff."
 

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued.
A pleasant copy.
Inscribed by Gabriel Matzneff to his friend, the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme: "Pour Pol Vandromme, en amical hommage. Gabriel Matzneff."
 

First edition on ordinary paper.
A well-preserved copy.
Concise yet striking presentation copy, inscribed and signed by Gabriel Matzneff to his friend, the Belgian literary critic Pol Vandromme: "Pour Pol Vandromme, torero de première classe, amicalement. Gabriel Matzneff."
 

First edition, one of the 100 numbered copies on Holland paper, the only deluxe copies ("grand papier").
Very nice copy.

Rare first edition illustrated with an original frontispiece etching by Raoul Cordier, depicting an authentic portrait of Nasser-ed-Din.

Minor losses and tears to the soiled cover margins, with a larger marginal loss to the rear cover; clean and attractive internal condition.

The only edition of this biography written on the occasion of Nasser-ed-Din Shah Qajar's (1831–1896) second European tour. He ruled Persia from 1848 until his death and was the first Persian monarch to visit the West. The reforms he introduced to the country ultimately led to his assassination by a fanatic.

Inscribed and signed by Edmond Dutemple to Monsieur Brunet, with date.

First edition in French, one of 1,000 numbered copies on Annonay rag paper, the only deluxe paper copies.

Illustrated with numerous photographs. Preface by Maurice Herzog. Foreword by the Duke of Edinburgh.

Publisher’s full flexible boards binding. Lacking slipcase, spine sunned with minor tears at head and foot.

Rare and handsome autograph inscription, dated and signed by General John Hunt: "A M. Robert Moch vous témoignant notre reconnaissance de nous avoir préparé la trace jusqu'au sommet du signal de l'Iséran le 3 janvier - et pour vous exprimer nos regrets de ne pas l'avoir suivie ! John Hunt 7/1/54."

This copy is further enhanced with the handwritten signature of Edmund Hillary beneath the inscription.