Memoirs, Biographies and Essays

First edition, one of 61 numbered copies on pure rag vellum, the only deluxe copies.
A very fine copy.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Arches laid paper, the only deluxe copies.
A handsome copy.

First edition, one of 26 numbered copies on imperial Japan paper, ours unnumbered but properly justified on Japan paper, deluxe copy.
Very handsome copy.

First edition, one of 35 numbered copies on Holland paper, deluxe copy.
Two tiny tears of no consequence at head and foot of spine.
A handsome copy.

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on Holland paper, deluxe copy.
A handsome copy.

First edition, one of 120 numbered copies on Holland paper, deluxe copy.
Very handsome copy.

First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on pure rag paper, the only deluxe copies.
Handsome copy.

First edition, a Service de Presse (advance) copy.
Spine and covers marginally sunned.
Signed and inscribed by Julien Green to Marcel Jouhandeau.

First edition, one of the numbered copies on vellum, the only issue with 60 Ingres.
The work illustrated with plates by Watteau.
Handsome copy.
Signed autograph inscription from Louis Aragon to Jeanne Moirond.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Arches vellum, ours one of the few hors commerce copies justified H.C. in pencil, the only deluxe copies.
Handsome copy.
Half red shagreen binding, smooth spine, marbled paper boards, endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved.

The first edition, of which there were no deluxe copies.
Handsome copy despite two creases at the upper and lower right corners of the front cover.
Work illustrated with Chinese painting plates at the end of the volume.
Autograph inscription signed by François Cheng to Gilbert Lascault, pataphysician, art critic and specialist notably of the work of Jean Dubuffet, Pierre Alechinsky, Christian Boltanski: "... en très proche pensée" ["... in very close thought"] enhanced with a small drawing representing a Chinese ideogram.

Edition of the same year as the first edition, one of the numbered copies.
Publisher's binding in full purple cloth boards, smooth spine with slight discoloration at foot.
Autograph inscription signed by Simone de Beauvoir to Micheline Lalin.

First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on Holland paper, ours one of 5 hors commerce copies, deluxe issue.
Fine copy.

First edition of these 3 works bound in 2 volumes. Following the Trial of messieurs de Béranger and Baudouin, 14 manuscript songs retained by the prosecutor general against Béranger and censored. One understands the interest of this copy since the song collection was sold out or seized.
Contemporary full straight-grained green morocco binding. Luxury binding from a major atelier but unsigned. Smooth spine decorated with a blind stamp with floral semé within a double gilt fillet frame. Boards decorated with multiple blind frames doubled with gilt fillets. Gilt edges. Triple gilt interior fillet. Spines uniformly faded. Small dark areas on the boards of one volume. Traces of rubbing. Scattered pale yellow foxing.
Very handsome copies.
Two days after the publication of the author's song collection published at his own expense, the king's prosecutor for the Seine department filed a complaint against the chansonnier and ordered the seizure of the work (the police only managed to seize 500 copies since 10,000 had sold in a few days). He faced four charges: offense to morals, attack on religious morality, offense against the person of the king and incitement to wear a rallying sign unauthorized by the king (the tricolor flag). He was condemned to a minimal sentence of three months in prison and a 500 F fine, essentially for his attacks against the Capuchins and missionaries. Meanwhile, his lawyer Dupin provoked a second trial by publishing his plea accompanied by the text of the incriminated songs as procedural documents. Béranger was a convinced republican and his songs became increasingly virulent under Louis XVIII. After the episode of his trial where all of Paris rushed to attend, he became under Charles X an important figure of the liberal camp.
An engaged author and today forgotten, the chansonnier Béranger enjoyed immense celebrity but posterity has identified him with the acerbic criticisms of Flaubert and Baudelaire as a minor and bourgeois author unjustly revered. The history of his trial, well before those of Baudelaire and Flaubert, reveals the greater complexity of the author and stages the history of censorship under the Restoration.

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on Arches laid paper, the only deluxe copies.
Two bookplates pasted on an endpaper.
Handsome copy.

First edition, one of 45 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe copies.
Two bookplates pasted on an endpaper.
Handsome copy.

First edition, one of 40 numbered copies on pure rag paper, the only deluxe copies.
Two bookplates pasted on an endpaper.
Handsome copy.

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on wove paper, the only deluxe copies.
Two bookplates pasted on an endpaper.
Handsome copy.

Edition from the same year as the original.
Handsome copy.
Autograph inscription signed by Simone de Beauvoir to Madame Gousseau.

First edition, one of 40 numbered copies on pure rag paper, the only deluxe copies.
Two bookplates pasted on an endpaper.
Handsome copy.

First edition, one of 177 numbered copies on pure laid paper, the only deluxe copies.
Handsome copy despite tiny worming at head of front board.

First edition, one of 30 numbered copies on Sequana laid paper, the only deluxe copies.
Handsome copy.

First edition, one of 310 numbered copies on pur fil, the only deluxe copies after 80 on Holland paper.
Fine copy despite two light instances of sunning to head and foot of spine.

First edition, one of 106 numbered copies on vélin d'Arches, the only deluxe issue (grands papiers).
A fine copy of this novel, winner of the 1984 Prix Goncourt.

First edition.
Half black shagreen binding, spine with four raised bands set with gilt dots and ornamented with triple black and gilt compartments, light rubbing to joints, blue paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, corners slightly bumped.
Autograph inscription signed by Xavier Marmier: "A Mr le Cte de Tourgueneff". X.M.", the "M" having been slightly trimmed by the binder.
Provenance: from the library of Count Tourgueneff with his bookplate pasted on a pastedown.
This refers either to Alexandre Tourgueneff, historian and specialist in the dissemination of holy scriptures, or to his brother Nicolas, pioneer of serf emancipation. Both, broad and liberal minds, sojourned in France at this time.

Second edition, with some parts of the text in first edition as reworked by the author, illustrated with an engraved frontispice by Jean-François Tourcaty.
Later binding (ca 1860) in red half morocco, richly decorated spine, marbled paper boards, combed paper endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt retaining its deckled edges, binding signed Hardy. Some stains to boards, slight rubbing to joints and corners slightly bumped, very light foxing.

To make the strength of marriage consist in that of love is to go so far as to misunderstand the spirit of this institution.

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 glassine wrapper and slipcase.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on snow-white vellum, the only deluxe copies.
Preface by François Mauriac.
A handsome and rare copy.

First edition.
Rich iconography.
Fine copy complete with its cellophane wrapper and soft slipcase.

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

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 dust jacket, cellophane wrapper and soft slipcase.

Pléiade library edition printed on India paper.
Publisher's bindings in full blue grained sheep, blue top edges, smooth spines decorated with gilt fillets.
Handsome complete set retaining its cellophane dust jackets, dust jackets for the first five volumes as well as its slipcases.

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

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

The first edition, of which there were no deluxe copies.
Handsome copy.
Signed autograph inscription from Sarane Alexandrian to art critic Dominique Paulvé.

First collected edition, of which there were no deluxe copies.
Coffee stains on the spine, covers, an endpaper and the edges.
Curious and fine signed autograph inscription from Bernard Frank to one of his close female friends named Micheline: "A Micheline, vingt ans avant on s'aimait déjà chût ! pas un mot à Monique son éternel amant Bernard le 25/6/2.002" ["To Micheline, twenty years ago we already loved each other shush! not a word to Monique her eternal lover Bernard 25/6/2.002"]

Third edition, with false statement of "sixth edition" on the cover, one of the rare copies on Holland paper, which is not mentioned anywhere.
Half navy blue shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands showing some rubbing, marbled paper boards, combed paper endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt, upper corners slightly bumped.
Copy almost entirely free of foxing.

First edition.
Publisher's brown grained sheepskin binding, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets.
Rich iconography.
Handsome copy complete with its glassine wrapper.

First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on vélin chiffon du marais, the most limited deluxe paper before 30 on Holland paper.
A very fine and rare copy.

Later edition published a few months after the original for the first volume, first edition for the second.
Handsome set for which no deluxe copies were printed, with press clippings included.
Autograph inscription dated and signed by Edgar Faure to Pierre Troillard on each volume.

New edition illustrated with a frontispiece engraving in each volume.
Bindings in half bottle-green Russia morocco, spines with five fine raised bands decorated with typographical motifs and gilt friezes showing slight rubbing, apple-green cardboard boards, marbled paper endpapers and pastedowns, marbled edges, contemporary bindings.
Foxing, two spines faded.

First edition, one of the few numbered copies on pure linen paper.
Other contributions by Julien Benda "Les démocraties devant l'Allemagne", Jean Giraudoux "Choix des élues (Partie I)", Armand Petitjean "Prière pour les copains", Jean Schlumberger "Contre l'humiliation", Marcel Arland, Jean Grenier...
Spine and covers marginally sunned, first page and rear endpaper darkened.

First edition in French, one of 792 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe copies with 108 reimposed.
Fine copy.

First edition.
Rich iconography.
Fine copy complete with its cellophane wrapper but lacking its soft case and dust jacket.

First edition.
Rich iconography.
Handsome copy complete with its glassine wrapper but lacking its slipcase.

Edition from the Pléiade library printed on Bible paper.
Publisher's full brown grained sheep binding, orange top edge, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets.
Handsome copy complete with its cellophane wrapper, lacking slipcase and dust jacket.

Edition from the Pléiade library printed on Bible paper.
Publisher's full green grained sheep binding, blue top edge, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets.
Handsome copy complete with its cellophane wrapper but lacking its slipcase.

Pléiade library edition printed on Bible paper.
Publisher's binding in full brown grained sheep, orange top edge, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets.
Fine copy complete with its cellophane wrapper but lacking its dust jacket and soft slipcase.

First edition on ordinary paper.
A right-angle lack to the front cover, a tear at the foot of the front cover.
Precious autograph inscription signed by Elsa Triolet: "A Rita et à Vercors, un début de voyage... Elsa." ["To Rita and to Vercors, a beginning of a journey... Elsa."]

Pléiade library edition printed on India paper.
Publisher's binding in full grained brown sheep, orange top edge, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets.
Fine copy complete with its cellophane wrapper, but lacking its dust jacket and slipcase.

First edition printed on ordinary paper.
Spine slightly sunned with a central tear, adhesive paper marks on endpapers.
Signed autograph inscription from Jean de La Varende to his friend Georges Poupet.

New edition.
Publisher's full green grained sheep bindings, blue top edges, smooth spines decorated with gilt fillets.
Fine copies complete with their protective wrappers but lacking their slipcases and dust jackets.

Bibliothèque de La Pléiade edition printed on Bible paper.
Publisher's full blue grained sheep bindings, blue top edges, smooth spines decorated with gilt fillets.
Fine complete set retaining protective wraps but lacking dust jackets and slipcases.

First edition.
Half brown sheep bindings, smooth spines decorated with triple gilt fillets and gilt decorative motifs, gilt friezes at head and foot, marbled paper boards, combed paper endpapers and pastedowns, covers (soiled, with black ink stains, lacks or corner restorations, significant lack to the rear board of the first volume) and spine preserved, modern pastiche bindings.
Foxing, one stain at the foot of the leaves in the first half of the second volume not affecting the text.
Very rare autograph inscription signed by François René de Chateaubriand on the half-title page of the first volume to his secretary and faithful friend [Bernard Jean Erhard Desmousseaux] de Givré.

Bibliothèque de La Pléiade edition printed on Bible paper.
Publisher's full brown grained sheep binding, orange top edge, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets.
Handsome copy complete with its glassine wrapper but lacking its slipcase.

First edition, one of 64 numbered copies on alfa mousse paper, the only deluxe copies.
Rare and handsome copy.

First edition on ordinary paper.
Handsome copy.
Autograph inscription signed by José Cabanis to Christian Giudicelli: "... mon voisin trop rare, en souvenir d'un ami disparu..." ["... my too rare neighbor, in memory of a departed friend..."]

First edition, of which there were no deluxe copies.
A small fold to lower right corner of back cover, otherwise handsome copy retaining publisher's wraparound band.
Autograph inscription signed by Bernard Frank to Christian Giudicelli.

First edition, one of 300 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe copies after 30 on Holland paper.
Handsome copy.

First edition illustrated with drawings by Georges Hautot.
Bradel binding in full combed paper, smooth spine, fawn shagreen title-label, original wrappers preserved (two angular lacks to front cover).

Illustrated edition with etchings by Valentin Foulquier.
Half hazelnut shagreen binding with corners, spine with five raised bands decorated with the gilt monogram of the great bibliophile Roger de Cormenin repeated five times, some rubbing to the raised bands, marbled paper boards, combed paper endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt, unsigned binding.
Light dampstains to corners.
Notes by Poujoulat.
Provenance: from the library of Roger de Cormenin, son of Louis de Cormenin who was the confidant and secretary of Théophile Gautier and also the intimate friend of Gustave Flaubert.
Handsome copy attractively bound.

First edition, a Service de Presse (advance) copy.
Illustrated cover and frontispiece decorated with a drawing by Albert Dubout.
Foreword by Jean Gabin.
Spine slightly sunned, a small lack of paper on second cover, a light dampstain at lower right corner of first cover.
Autograph inscription signed by Fernand Trignol to his friend Carlo Rim.
Carlo Rim inscribed his name below the inscription and pasted a clipping from a press article in which Fernand Trignol appears as Grand Chamberlain of the court of Warsaw in the film Tarass-Boulba alongside Charles David and Carlo Rim, dialogue writer, with Jacques Natanson, of this film by Alexis Granowsky released in 1936.
Provenance: from the library of the Provençal writer, caricaturist and filmmaker Carlo Rim who was notably friend to Fernandel, Raimu and Marcel Pagnol but also to André Salmon and Max Jacob.

First edition on ordinary paper, only 20 Marais and 50 pur fil deluxe copies were printed.
With frontispiece portrait of André Breton by Hans Bellmer.
Two small angular lacks at head and foot of first cover, two tears with lacks at head and foot of spine, paper yellowed as usual.

First edition, on ordinary paper, of the French translation by Albert Savine.
Printed stamp at head of an endpaper.
Handsome copy.

The first edition, of which there were no deluxe copies, a Service de Presse (advance) copy.
A snag with tear to the dust jacket, front cover and endpaper.
Autograph inscription signed by Edgar Morin to Jacques Chasanos.

First edition printed in a very small number of copies on laid paper, our copy bearing No. 1 and intended for Alfred Westphal's wife "... l'inspiratrice..."
Half brown morocco binding with corners, smooth spine slightly faded decorated with a vertical gilt floral frieze enhanced with red mosaic morocco pieces forming petals, gilt fillet frame on marbled paper boards, combed paper endpapers and pastedowns, covers preserved, top edge gilt, contemporary binding signed David.
Spine and first cover slightly lightened.
Letter-preface by Gabriel Monod, work illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of Doctor Lortet.
Handsome copy pleasingly bound.

First edition, one of 56 numbered copies on pure wove paper, deluxe copy.
Handsome copy despite light worming to the edges.
Work illustrated with an original etching by François Salvat as frontispiece.

First edition, one of 400 numbered copies on laid paper.
Iconography.
Very fine copy of this important correspondence between the author and his secretary.

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

First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on Holland paper, deluxe copy.
Fine copy.
Introduction and notes by G. Jean-Aubry.

First edition in French, one of 300 numbered copies on pure watermarked rag paper, the only deluxe copies.
Handsome copy.

First edition, of which there were no deluxe copies.
Spine slightly sunned, otherwise handsome copy.
Precious signed autograph inscription from Louis Althusser to Jean-Pierre Richard: "Pour Monsieur Richard qui fut et reste mon premier maître, cette longue dissertation... et ma très respectueuse affection." ["For Monsieur Richard who was and remains my first master, this long dissertation... and my most respectful affection."]

First edition, of which there were no deluxe copies.
Spine sunned, one vertical fold to margin of front cover.
Reading markers with handwritten notes by the dedicatee inserted in the work.
Autograph inscription dated and signed by Vincent Scotto to his friend the Provençal writer, caricaturist and filmmaker Carlo Rim who was notably the friend of Fernandel, Raimu and Marcel Pagnol but also of André Salmon and Max Jacob : "Pour toi Carlo au dialogue plein d'esprit coloré!.. L'on a pas besoin de décor quand tu parles de la Provence. Ces timides souvenirs... V. Scotto Octobre 1947." ["For you Carlo with dialogue full of colorful wit!.. One doesn't need decor when you speak of Provence. These timid memories... V. Scotto October 1947."]

First edition published in the wake of the resounding and historic front page "J'accuse" printed in the newspaper "L'Aurore", one of 200 numbered copies on laid paper, each justified by the publisher.
Bound in red half-shagreen, spine with four raised bands gilt-ruled with dotted fillets and decorated with gilt fleurons, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, contemporary binding.
Some rubbing along the joints, pleasingly fresh interior.
Illustrated with a photographic portrait of Emile Zola as frontispiece.
Includes numerous contributions, among them Paul Alexis, Jean Psichari, Elisée Reclus, Joseph Reinach, Paul Adam, Maurice Bouchor, Georges Eekhoud, Gustave Geoffroy, René Ghil, André Ferdinand-Hérold, Camille Lemonnier, Laurent Tailhade, Paul Fort, Mecislas Golberg, Camille Mauclair, Pierre Quillard...
The committee of sponsorship included, among others, Georges Clemenceau, Octave Mirbeau, Séverine, Maurice Maeterlinck and Emile Verhaeren...

First edition, one of 60 numbered copies on Rives vellum, the deluxe issue after 10 on Japan paper.
Spine sunned, small foxing on some deckled edges.
Full-margined copy.
Autograph inscription signed by Jean Prévost to the Provençal writer, caricaturist and filmmaker Carlo Rim, who was notably the friend of Fernandel, Raimu and Marcel Pagnol but also of André Salmon and Max Jacob.

First edition on ordinary paper.
Handsome copy.
Autograph inscription dated and signed by Alfred Sauvy to Hubert Beuve-Méry: "... en hommage reconnaissant pour sa grande oeuvre..." ["in grateful tribute to his great work..."]

Edition with most parts in first edition, one of 525 numbered copies on pure linen paper, deluxe copy after 85 on Holland paper.
Handsome copy.

The first edition, of which there were no deluxe copies.
Handsome copy.
Precious autograph inscription signed by Elie Wiesel to Maurice de Gandillac.

Edition with most parts in first edition, one of 1040 numbered copies on alfama paper, the only deluxe copies after 50 on pure linen paper.
Publisher's binding executed after the original design by Paul Bonet.
Fine copy despite the spine being slightly sunned as usual.

Definitive edition from the Bibliothèque de La Pléiade printed on Bible paper.
Publisher's bindings in full brown grained sheep, orange top edges, smooth spines decorated with gilt fillets.
Fine complete set with its protective jackets, dust jackets and its fawn felt-covered slipcase.

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

First edition.
Publisher's binding in full brown grained sheep, orange top edge, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets.
Rich iconography.
Fine copy complete with its protective jacket and slipcase.

First edition.
Rich iconography.
Handsome copy complete with its protective sleeve and slipcase.

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.

Bibliothèque de La Pléiade edition printed on Bible paper.
Publisher's binding in full brown grained sheep, orange top edge, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets.
Handsome copy complete with its rhodoid dust jacket, slipcase lacking.

First editions of each volume, one of 20 numbered copies on pure fil du Marais paper (first volume) or Lana paper (second volume), the only deluxe copies with some hors commerce copies also on Corvol paper.
Handsome set despite slight sunning to heads of spines.

First edition in French, one of 86 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe copies.
Two small traces of sunning at head and foot of spine as usual.

First edition reserved for subscribers only, one of 400 numbered copies on handmade Lana laid paper, the only issue along with 10 copies on Arches laid paper.
Autograph signature of the author on the justification page.
Handsome copy.

First edition, one of 80 numbered copies on Ingres Lana laid paper, the only deluxe copies.
Very handsome copy.