Writers' testimonies and interviews, autobiographical accounts, literary essays and criticism

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

A very fine copy.

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 50 numbered copies on Arches wove paper, the sole deluxe issue.

Spine slightly sunned.

A rare and pleasing copy.

First edition on ordinary paper.

A pleasing copy, complete with its illustrated dust jacket.

Important presentation copy inscribed by Romain Gary to the jeweller Alexandre Reza: "To Alexandre Reza, in memory of the precious stones of our youth. Romain Gary, 1 December 1970."

Loosely inserted in a folded sheet of tracing paper is an original colour drawing by the jeweller Alexandre Reza depicting a ring and captioned 'Jonquille" No. 33'

First edition of the French translation, one of the ordinary issue copies, as no deluxe paper copies were produced.

A very good copy.

Signed autograph inscription from Richard Wright to Pierre Descaves.

First edition on ordinary paper.
Contemporary half navy blue morocco, spine in পাঁচ raised bands decorated with gilt dotted tooling and gilt fillets, marbled paper sides, endpapers and pastedowns, wrappers preserved.
Our copy is complete with the author’s printed dedication to Marshal Pétain, later suppressed in subsequent editions.

First edition, one of 1,550 numbered copies on alfama paper.

Publisher's paper boards designed after Mario Prassinos' original artwork.

Spine lightly sunned, as usual, otherwise a very good copy.

First edition, one of 2,270 numbered copies printed on alfa paper, the only printing.
A pleasing copy despite small marginal tears to the wrappers.

First edition, one of 10 numbered copies on Alfama paper, the only deluxe paper issue apart from a few hors commerce copies also printed on Alfama.

Minor, unobtrusive traces of corner creasing to the wrappers.

A rare and pleasing copy.

First edition, one of 47 numbered copies on pure wove paper, the only deluxe issue.

A handsome copy.

First edition, one of 33 numbered copies on white Rivoli wove paper, the only deluxe issue.

Our copy is complete with the accompanying CD featuring excerpts from Huit quartiers de roture, radio broadcasts adapted from the work and aired on the Programme parisien in 1952.

The wrapper is illustrated with the reproduction of two postcards depicting the 19th and 20th arrondissements by Joseph Porphyre Pinchon, creator of Bécassine, taken from the series entitled "Les arrondissements de Paris illustrés en 20 cartes postales."

We are also including with our copy the complete set of 20 postcards, lacking only the original protective sleeve.

A handsome...

First edition, one of 35 numbered copies on Ingres d'Arches paper, this being one of 10 hors commerce copies.

Text established, with notes and preface by Jean-Pierre Barril; unpublished texts, letters and documents selected by Léon Aichelbaum and Jean-Pierre Barril.

A very fine copy.

First edition on ordinary paper.

A pleasing copy.

Signed autograph inscription from Yves Bonnefoy to François Erval.

First edition, one of the press service copies, no deluxe paper copies issued.

A dampstain to the lower edge of one textblock edge.

Precious signed autograph inscription from Casamayor: "à Jean Paul Sartre au nom de la réalité concrète avec la fidélité de Casamayor."

First edition on ordinary paper.

A fine copy, complete with its promotional band.

Inscribed and signed by Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio to Pierre Mertens.

First edition on ordinary paper.

A very good copy.

Inscribed, dated and signed by Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio to Pierre Mertens.

First edition, one of the ordinary issue, with no deluxe paper copies noted.

Small angular losses at the upper margins of the first leaves, paper occasionally brittle in the margins of certain leaves.

Signed autograph inscription from Rachilde to Léon Frapié.

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on featherweight wove paper, the only issue after 15 copies on Lana wove paper.

Illustrated with 2 original engravings by Ania Staritsky, signed by her, together with drawings by Elsabeth Hellens and Léopold Survage.

A handsome copy.

First edition, one of 110 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe paper copies.

Frontispiece with a photographic portrait of Léon Blum.

A pleasant copy.

First edition of the French translation, for which no deluxe paper copies were issued.

A very slight loss to the head of the spine.

A rare and pleasing copy.

First edition of this work devoted to the oeuvre of Ania Staritsky.

Illustrated with an original work by Ania Staritsky on the cover.

A rare and very attractive copy, spine plain and unlettered, boards slightly and marginally sunned, without seriousness.

Copy enriched with an artist’s proof engraving, justified and signed by Ania Staritsky in pencil

First edition on standard paper.

Bradel binding in full moiré silk with a leaf pattern, smooth spine decorated with a gilt fleuron and gilt date at the foot, green morocco lettering piece, fore-edge and tail edges untrimmed, binding signed in blind on the upper pastedown [E.T.] Pierson, the Goncourt brothers' binder of choice.
Silk at the headcaps slightly rubbed, corners worn, light rubbing to the lettering piece.

A fine copy, with a few very faint fox spots and one paragraph marked with a pencilled marginal bracket at p. 61.

First edition of the French translation, one of 21 numbered copies on pur fil paper, deluxe issue.

Bradel binding in half blue percaline, smooth spine, floral motif, date and double gilt fillets at the foot, hazel morocco title label with some scuffing, marbled paper boards, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, contemporary binding.

The text by Friedrich Sieburg is followed by a letter from Bernard Grasset to the latter.

Fine dated and signed autograph inscription, from London, by Friedrich Sieburg to Monsieur de Fleuriau, then French ambassador in London: "... en le priant de ne voir dans ce livre que l'attrait que la France exerça sur son auteur...

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

A pleasant copy.

First edition, one of 50 copies numbered on alfa paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

Bound in full beige sheepskin, spine ruled in black, gilt date at foot, minor rubbing to the edges of the boards, marbled endpapers, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt.

Pencil annotations relating to the reading of the work.

Gift inscription by a former member of the José Corti publishing house: "A monsieur Marchaux en témoignage de sympathie ce tout premier livre publié par José Corti."

Above all else Damas's writing theatened conventional society. This pamphlet Retour de Guyane was bought in big numbers by the colonial authorities and burnt.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only copies issued on deluxe paper.

A rare and handsome copy.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on vélin pur chiffon de lana, the only deluxe issue.

A fine copy, with a small nick at the head of the spine between the author's name and the title.

Presentation copy, inscribed by Patrick Chamoiseau to Maurice Marchaux: "... cette mémoire-langage qui invoque toutes les langues du monde. Avec mes amitiés créoles..." [this memory language invoking all of the world's languages] with a sketch formed from his initials.

First edition, printed in a small number on Dutch paper.

Spine and covers lightly sunned, small tears to the spine, final endpapers browned.

Speeches by M. Chaumié, Anatole France and Abel Hermant.

Autograph inscription signed by Eugène Fasquelle to Marcel Batilliat, whose name he misspelled: "à M. Marcel Batillat."

The Symbolist novelist Marcel Batilliat was a close friend of Émile Zola and campaigned to preserve the memory of the author of the Rougon-Macquart cycle.

First edition, one of the press copies.

Paper browned as usual.

Signed autograph inscription from André Dhôtel to the philosopher Raymond Bayer.

First edition, one of 48 numbered copies on Lana vellum paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

A fine copy.

Warmly inscribed, dated and signed by Pierre Nora to a close friend named Françoise : "Pour toi, Françoise, de toujours à toujours. Pierre."

New edition, one of 30 numbered copies on Marais wove paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

A fine copy.

First edition, with no deluxe paper copies issued.

Spine and covers lightly and marginally sunned, as is often the case, with a small loss at the foot of the spine.

A scarce and pleasing copy, considering the poor quality of the paper.

First edition, one of 822 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe paper issue after 109 reimposed copies.
A pleasing copy despite two small areas of sunning at the head and foot of the spine.

First edition of the French translation, one of 75 numbered copies on ivory offset paper, our copy one of the few hors commerce copies numbered in pencil by Antoni Tapies, the only deluxe paper issue.

A very small stain to the upper edge, otherwise a fine copy complete with its illustrated dust jacket.

Illustrated.

Handwritten signature of Antoni Tapies at the colophon.

First edition of the French translation, one of 1,000 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only issue with 10 copies on Auvergne paper.
Frontispiece with an original portrait of Blaise Cendrars by Riera, covers illustrated with an original lithograph by Orfeo Tamburi.
Spine and boards slightly and marginally sunned, as usually.

First edition of an important work by Charles Sorel, historiographer of France and novelist, in which he surveys with severity and wit the literary production of his time, which he considered overly given to fiction.

 Complete with its eagle headpieces.

Contemporary full mottled brown calf, spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt compartments and gilt title, gilt roll on the board edges, red mottled...

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

A pleasing copy.

Signed autograph inscription from Georges Didi-Huberman to a couple of friends named Dominique and Danielle: "... cette trace d'année ombre. Je n'oublie pas vos paroles de coeur..."

First edition printed in 100 numbered copies on wove paper, this copy unnumbered.

Rare and fine copy.

First edition richly illustrated with reproductions of works by Francis Bacon in the second volume.

Text by Gilles Deleuze for the first volume.

The slipcase is lacking in our copy.

Spine and boards slightly and marginally sunned, as usual.

Inscribed copy signed by Gilles Deleuze to the art critic Gilbert Lascault in the first volume.

First edition on ordinary paper.

A small stain at the foot of the upper cover.

Fine autograph inscription signed by Julien Gracq to Roger Schir: "...ce petit morceau de littérature discourtoise en m'excusant du peu de ménagements..."

Definitive edition.

Spine slightly sunned and a little cocked, a few spots to the boards.

Signed autograph inscription from Vercors to François Triboudeau.

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

A pleasing copy.

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, 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.

New edition, one of 26 numbered copies on Montval paper, the head of the edition.

A pleasing copy.

Fine autograph inscription signed by Colette to Mr P.A. Crozier: "... en souvenir de maint envoi de beaux fruits ; n'est-ce pas dire que je gagne à l'échange ? Les fruits de mon jardin sont de sec papier... Colette."

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.

Third edition, one of 200 numbered copies on handmade wove paper, the only large-paper issue. 

Bound in red half-shagreen, spine with five raised bands framed by gilt dotted fillets and gilt double fillets, marbled paper boards, sprinkled top edge, pastedowns and endpapers in marbled paper, original front wrapper preserved, lower edge and fore-edge uncut.

Corners with light wear.

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

A very fine copy.

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.

Fourth edition.

A pleasing copy.

Introduction by Harry T. Moore.

Presentation inscription signed by Anaïs Nin to the writer Christiane Baroche: "my friend love, Lawrence and i was the first woman i write abour him. Anaïs Nin."

New edition, one of 65 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

A fine copy.

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 ordinary paper with all the features of the first printing. Includes its publisher’s band expertly restored and the publisher’s catalogue at rear.

An exceptionally fresh copy, preserved with its rare red publisher’s band quoting Molly’s phrase “C’est le voyageur solitaire qui va le plus loin” (“he travels farthest who travels alone”, translation by John H. P. Marks) followed by this text on the verso:

 

“One...

First edition on standard paper.

Spine very slightly sunned, without significance.

Rare signed autograph inscription from Fereydoun Hoveyda to Henri Brunet.

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.

New illustrated edition with plates hors-texte.

Bindings in half red shagreen with corners, spines with four raised bands gilt with dotted tooling and decorated with double gilt compartments; some rubbing to the spines; two water stains, to the left margin of the upper board of the first volume and to the right margin of the lower board of the second volume; a few marks to the corners; boards of cat’s-eye paper framed with double gilt fillets; marbled endpapers and pastedowns.

At the head of the first volume, a signed autograph presentation inscription by Lazare-Hippolyte-Sadi Carnot to General Henri Joseph Brugère.

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 Renage vellum, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

First in-12 edition, published one year after the exceedingly rare first edition.
Uniform half green shagreen bindings, spines slightly darkened with four raised bands, decorated with blind fillets, gilt titles at the foot of the spines, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, bookplate pasted to the rear pastedown of the first volume.
Minor rubbing to some boards, two small tears at the foot of the boards of the first volume.
An attractive set, virtually free of foxing and preserved in a uniform binding.

First edition, one of 16 numbered copies on pur fil, the deluxe issue following 6 copies on Montval paper.

Half hazelnut morocco binding, spine with four raised bands ruled in gilt and decorated with double gilt panel compartments, date gilt at the foot, sides of cat’s-eye paper, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, bookplate pasted to a pastedown, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, untrimmed, contemporary signed binding by Albinhac.

A fine copy attractively bound.

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 30 numbered copies on Vélin de Rives, the only deluxe paper issue.

A fine copy.

First edition, one of 500 copies on wove paper, after 13 copies on Auvergne and 60 on Rives.

Illustrated with four original photomontages.

Exceptionally inscribed by Georges Hugnet on the half-title page to the Dadaist Raoul Hausmann

First edition, one of the 10 numbered and justified copies on japon paper, the only large-paper issue announced.

Contemporary half brown morocco binding in the Bradel style, smooth spine, marbled paper boards, handmade endpapers, bookplate affixed to the front pastedown, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, period binding.

Signed and dated autograph inscription from Jean Puget to his publisher Pierre Briquet: "... en souvenir des jours héroïques..."

Provenance: from the personal library of publisher Pierre Briquet, with his bookplate affixed to the front pastedown.

Exceptionally rare copy featuring...

First edition, one of 200 numbered copies on Japanese vellum, the deluxe issue.

Illustrated with 3 engravings and 1 map.

Brown half shagreen morocco binding with corner pieces; spine with five raised bands ruled in black, gilt date at foot; minor rubbing to the spine; marbled paper sides; marbled endpapers and pastedowns; original wrappers and spine preserved; corners slightly bumped; gilt top edge.

A pleasing copy.

First edition on ordinary paper.

Bradel binding in chocolate-brown half shagreen, smooth spine, date gilt at the tail, contemporary leather boards japonisants, embossed and polychrome, decorated with gilded and colorful floral motifs, marbled paper endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and restored spine preserved, later binding.

Exceptional presentation copy signed by Emile Zola: "à Edmond de Goncourt son ami Emile Zola."

Below the presentation inscription, a manuscript gift inscription by Edmond de Goncourt: "Edmond de Goncourt à Pauline Zeller."

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on pur fil paper, this copy one of five not for sale.

A rare and fine copy.

First edition; one of the press copies.

A pleasing copy.

Signed autograph presentation inscription from Pierre Drieu la Rochelle to Germaine Fiévé.

First edition, one of 110 numbered copies on deluxe paper, our copy unnumbered, the only large-paper issue.

With a photographic portrait of Léon Blum as frontispiece.

Some scattered foxing, notably to the edges and endpapers; minor marginal tears to the covers, without significance.

First edition, one of 40 numbered copies on alfa paper, our copy not specifically numbered, issued as the only deluxe paper copies.

A few small spots of foxing, mainly affecting the edges and the endpapers, which show two small traces of adhesive paper.

First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on alfa paper, our copy lettered "A" among the 8 hors commerce lettered copies, the only deluxe paper issue.

A tear at the foot of the spine at the level of the sewing supports, otherwise a pleasant wide-margined copy.

Dated and signed autograph presentation by the publisher beneath the print statement: "Affectueusement reservé à mon admirable collaboratrice Suzanne qui est aussi la plus charmante & la plus précieuse des filleules - que dis-je ? la seule filleule qui compte ! Paris 18 octobre 1942."

First edition, for which no copies were issued on deluxe paper, this being one of the publisher’s review copies.

A small tear at the head of the upper cover, a crease at the foot of the lower.

A pleasing copy, complete with its promotional band.

Dated and signed autograph inscription by René Depestre to the writer Christiane Baroche.

First edition limited to only 250 copies, which were not offered for sale but given to the author's close circle. This former minister under Louis XV composed these essays in 1736, and his son, the Marquis de Paulmy, had them published nearly fifty years later.

Contemporary half brown calf, grained paper boards, spine with five raised bands decorated with five compartments featuring double gilt fillets, red morocco lettering piece, red speckled edges.

A new duodecimo edition of the most celebrated work by the writer and historian Charles Pinot Duclos, published in the same year as the first edition. According to the Dictionnaire des ouvrages anonymes et pseudonymes of 1822, "the edition without place of publication, 1751, 12mo, in large type"—the present edition—"should be preferred to that bearing Prault's name, 1751, which contains a dedicatory epistle to the King." (our own translation)

Fine contemporary binding in polished tan...

First edition in book form, issued for the centenary of the birth of Pierre Jean Jouve; one of 33 numbered copies on pure wove vellum, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

First public edition of this text by Jean Cassou, written under the pseudonym Jean Noir, one of 50 numbered copies on Madagascar paper, from the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

First public edition of this text written under the pseudonym François la Colère, one of 50 numbered copies on Madagascar paper, the deluxe issue.

Rare and fine copy.

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

Spine lightly wrinkled, a small loss at the foot of the lower board; otherwise a pleasing copy.

Signed autograph inscription by Maurice Genevoix.

First edition, one of 170 numbered copies on deluxe paper.

Fine copy preserved in its double wrapper.

First published edition of this text by Pierre Bost, written under the pseudonym Vivarais, one of 50 copies on Madagascar paper, deluxe issue.

Fine copy.

First public edition of this text by Elsa Triolet, written under the pseudonym Laurent Daniel, one of 58 numbered copies on Madagascar paper, the deluxe issue.

Fine copy.

First edition, one of 45 numbered copies printed on Rajasthan jute paper, the only deluxe issue.

Manuscript signature of Emil Cioran at the colophon.

Spine very slightly faded, of no significance.

Rare and fine copy, complete with the three tantric paintings reproduced hors-texte in colour on cream paper.

First edition, one of 200 numbered copies on “light green paper,” the only deluxe paper issue announced.

Turquoise half morocco binding, smooth spine, date in gilt at foot, marbled paper boards, endpapers, and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt; an elegant contemporary binding signed by G. Gauché.

A very handsome copy, finely bound by Georges Gauché and complete with its publisher's prospectus. 

Signed presentation inscription by René Crevel: "My dear Georges, here, in its finest form: Diderot’s Harpsichord, if you can help him play his music? With all my affection. René" (our own...

First edition, one of 170 numbered copies on vélin teinté de rives, the only issue following 40 copies on vélin blanc d'Arches, with an additional suite of the illustrations.

A fine copy.

Illustrated with three etchings by Alberto Giacometti.

First edition of a poetry collection printed in a very small number of copies. 

No copy recorded in the CCF. A single copy held in WorldCat (National Library of Australia).

Light, scattered foxing.

Half brown percaline Bradel binding, smooth spine, date and place gilt at the foot of the spine, marbled paper boards, original wrappers preserved, corners slightly rubbed, contemporary binding.

First edition of these important memoirs covering the years 1747 to 1783 (cf. Sabin 39271).

Contemporary full mottled calf, smooth spine gilt with fillets, roulettes and floral tools, some rubbing with small losses of leather at the foot of the upper board, marbled endpapers, gilt fillets to the edges, marbled edges; period binding.

Upper cap and corners restored.

The duc de Lauzun (1747–1793) accompanied the comte de Rochambeau during the French expedition to America; he recounts this campaign in his Mémoires, pp. 339–375.

The editorial history of this publication deserves notice: the original manuscript having not been recovered, the text—issued some twelve times...

First edition of the French translation (cf. Sabin 26375).

A defence of Catholic principles addressed to a Protestant minister (…) preceded by a notice on the author’s life and virtues. Translated from the English by Prince Augustin Galitzin. Paris, Ch. Douniol [printed by Simon Raçon et Comp.], 1856, 12mo.

Contemporary half navy blue shagreen, spine with four raised bands ruled and panelled in gilt, slight unobtrusive rubbing to the spine, marbled boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns.

Scattered foxing.

A work of religious controversy; the preface offers interesting information regarding Prince Galitzin’s activities in the United States.

Bound after it...