First editions and fine papers of poetry collections, lyrical works, poems in verse and prose, calligrams

First edition of Le Parnasse contemporain, a rare complete set of all three series, published in 1866, 1869-1871 and 1876, featuring works by some one hundred poets, most of them previously unpublished.

The first series includes the first printing of several poems from Charles Baudelaire's Nouvelles fleurs du mal, in the fifth instalment, which is devoted entirely to him: Epigraphe pour un livre condamné - Madrigal triste - L'avertisseur - Le rebelle - Bien loin d'ici - Recueillement - Le gouffre - Les plaintes d'un Icare, together with some of the poems published in the...

First edition, one of only 6 copies numbered in Roman numerals on Holland paper, this copy being No. I, the only deluxe copies issued.

Endpapers partially darkened.

A rare and attractive copy.

First edition, containing previously unpublished material, one of 20 numbered copies on Lana wove paper, constituting the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

First edition thus, enlarged with previously unpublished posthumous poems and prose writings. One of 45 numbered copies on pur fil paper, constituting the deluxe issue.

A very good copy.

Introduction and appendix by Yves-Gérard Le Dantec.

First edition on ordinary paper, issued after the destruction of the 1923 printing following a dispute between Tzara and the publisher.

A rare and fine copy, complete with its publisher's insert.

Housed in a black half-morocco chemise, smooth spine lettered in palladium, boards covered with paper decorated with abstract motifs, blue paper endleaves; matching slipcase edged in black morocco and covered with paper decorated with abstract motifs. Both by the Boichot bindery.
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...

First edition, limited to 350 numbered copies on coated paper, illustrated with 11 collages by Max Ernst.

Spine and edges of boards slightly faded, as often.

A rare and attractive copy of the first book illustrated by Max Ernst in collaboration with the Paris group.

New edition published a few months after the first, with an edition statement.
A pleasing copy.

Signed presentation inscription from Louis Aragon to Jean-Pierre Monarque.

New edition.
A very good copy.

Signed presentation inscription from Louis Aragon to Jean-Pierre Monarque.

First edition, one of 1,040 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe issue apart from 30 copies on pur fil paper.
Publisher's binding after an original design by Mario Prassinos.
Notes by Michel Leiris.

Headcaps slightly rubbed and split, with no serious damage.

First collected edition, with no deluxe copies issued, this being one of the press copies.

A very good copy.

Fine signed presentation inscription from Jean Cocteau to the writer, art critic and television personality Max-Pol Fouchet: "à Max Pol cette moëlle de mes os. Jean 1956."

New edition, one of 2,200 numbered copies on vélin labeur paper, the only deluxe issue apart from 16 copies on pur fil paper.
Publisher's boards after an original design by Mario Prassinos.
Slight, inconsequential fading at the head and foot of the spine, endpapers uniformly browned, otherwise a very good copy.
 

First edition of the French translation, one of 26 lettered copies on Lana wove rag paper, issued as part of the tête-de-tirage.

A fine copy.

A rare first edition, of which no subsequent reprint exists, complete with all his Neo-Latin poems, chiefly composed in Rome. The volume also contains two Greek poems at ff. 60 and 62, together with a poem which inspired the celebrated sonnet Happy he who like Ulysses.

Modern binding in full limp vellum, smooth spine, red edges, white pastedowns and endleaves.

Some defects within: discreet restoration to inner margin of title verso; small tear without loss at foot of ff. 2-3; dampstaining to lower margin of ff. 25-28 and 45-48; minimal marginal defect to f. 44, not affecting...

Autograph manuscript poem in Russian, entitled “Ананасы в шампанском,” signed by Igor Severyanin, twelve lines in three quatrains on a single leaf, with minor punctuation variations from the text originally published under the title Ouverture (Увертюра

Rare edition printed on laid paper, very likely produced in a small run for Picard bibliophiles (cf. Hage Chahine, 4071).

Listed in the CCF only at Arras, Amiens, and Compiègne.

A few minor spots.

Half cherry morocco binding, spine lightly faded and raised on five bands, a few rubs to the spine, marbled paper sides, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt top edge, a period binding signed by Petit, successor to Simier.

Robert de Clari (c. 1170 – after 1216) was a Picard knight, vassal to the castellan Pierre d’Amiens.

He took part in the Fourth Crusade alongside his lord Pierre d’Amiens. After the deaths in 1205 of his direct suzerains Pierre d’Amiens and...

First edition, printed on vélin d’Angoulême, with the usual typographical errors, and containing the six banned poems; one of the few author’s copies “intended for friends who render no literary services”.

Full bordeaux red morocco binding, spine with five raised bands richly decorated with multiple gilt- and blind-tooled fillets; third-state covers; boards framed with multiple blind-tooled fillets; marbled endpapers; gilt turn-ins; all edges gilt; marbled paper slipcase with morocco border; signed binding by Semet & Plumelle.

"New edition, with parts in first edition, incorporating an unpublished preface; the first edition had appeared in 1927 in Tokyo at the close of Claudel’s ambassadorship in Japan (1921–1927) and was issued in three fan-shaped quarto volumes. Work illustrated with Japanese characters calligraphed by Ikuma Arishima. Composed between June 1926 and January 1927, this essay (blending traditional calligraphy, haiku, and short Western-style verse) bears witness, among Claudel’s other creations, to the influence of the Far East on his poetic practice.

Moving and exceptional presentation inscription, signed and dated by Paul Claudel to his eldest daughter, Marie Claudel, known as...

First edition of Joseph von Hammer's major history of Persian belles-lettres, published in Vienna in 1818 by Heubner und Volke. Large quarto, XII and 432 pages, with an engraved portrait of the author as frontispiece, a plate of music bound between pages 272 and 273, and an index. The work is dedicated to Silvestre de Sacy.

Contemporary half polished tan calf, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets, chain tools and floral ornaments, saffron-coloured boards, marbled edges. Joints split at foot and more slightly at head. A handsome copy with generous margins.

Hammer's...

New edition, one of 50 copies on deluxe paper (no. 29/500) and issued with a named dedication, ours specially printed for Baron Emmanuel-Alban Guillaume-Rey (1837–1916), orientalist and archaeologist specializing in medieval Syria.

Full rigid vellum binding, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets and floral tools, brick-brown morocco title label, gilt place and date at foot, gilt cornerpieces on the covers, original wrappers preserved, contemporary binding.

A poetic account of the exploits of Peter I of Lusignan, King of Cyprus (1328–1369), written shortly after his death at the request of Charles V, and centered on the so-called “Alexandrian Crusade,” the ill-fated...

First edition, one of 500 copies on ordinary paper.
This copy has a chemise and slipcase.
A little light spotting, not serious, nice copy.
Retaining its advertising band and slip.
Handsome autograph inscription signed by René Char: “à Man Ray au voyant carnassier de tout cœur R. Char.” (“To Man Ray to the carnivorous fortune teller, with all my heart, R. Char.”)

First collective edition on ordinary paper.

Pleasing copy.

Valuable presentation copy signed by Louis Aragon: "A Maurice Druon, pour n'en pas perdre l'habitude. Louis."

 

First edition of this important account of Buffon, providing insights into his private life, his character, and his relationships with those around him; it also contains numerous references to his scientific work (cf. Quérard I, 119: "Lyon, Grabit, 1788"; Dureau, "Notice sur Joseph Aude," p. 15).

Half vellum binding, smooth spine with a red morocco title label in vertical layout, marbled paper boards, slightly rubbed corners, sprinkled edges.

Stains in the margins of the title page and final leaf.

The memoirs proper end on page 55.

The following pages contain the poems announced in the title.

The rarity of this volume was already noted by Dureau in...

First appearance of the 18 poems by Charles Baudelaire published on pages 1079–1093 of the Revue des Deux Mondes, showing numerous variations from the text of the first edition issued in 1857 by Poulet-Malassis & De Broise.

Full black shagreen binding, smooth spine, double blind-ruled borders on covers, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, slightly later binding.

A rare and attractive copy.

First edition of T. N. Page’s second book, one of 1,500 copies printed (according to the Bibliography of American Literature).

Publisher’s binding, smooth spine in olive-green cloth, partially faded, head of spine worn away, cream paper boards speckled with pink, corners rubbed, endpapers browned.

Autograph inscription signed by Thomas Nelson Page at the head of the title page.

Second edition of the French translation prepared by François-Victor Hugo.

Half red shagreen bindings, slightly faded spines with four raised bands numerously framed in gilt and central gilt tooled motif, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers, speckled edges, contemporary bindings.

Some occasional foxing, minor black specks on a few spines, upper corners of volume 10 slightly damaged.

Our set, attractively bound uniformly in contemporary bindings, is complete in 18 volumes including the often lacking final three volumes of apocryphal writings.

First edition, one of 10 lettered copies on Holland paper, the only deluxe copies.

Illustrated on the cover with a portrait of Max Jacob by Pablo Picasso.

A rare and handsome copy.

New edition of the French translation established by Amédée Pichot, partly original as it is enhanced with a historical notice on Lord Byron.

Half blue glazed calf bindings, spines partially faded with four raised bands framed by gilt garlands and richly decorated gilt compartments, navy blue glazed calf title and volume labels, blind-stamped floral tools at head and tail, marbled paper boards, gilt fillets at foot, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, marbled edges; a few lightly rubbed corners. Romantic bindings of the period.

Our copy contains 13 engraved plates, some serving as frontispieces.

Scattered foxing, a few leaves browned due to paper acidity.

A copy in...

First edition, one of the rare copies printed on laid paper.
This issue consists of 4 pages and includes a comic strip by Achille Lemot alias Uzès : "L'honneur est satisfait".
Literary contributions by Albert Samain ("Une"), Rodolphe Darzens with the poem "Crainte d'aimer", George Auriol ("La mort du démon d'oubli"), Paul Cary ("Les deux sorties de ma tante"), Rodolphe Salis...
A handsome copy despite a few faint marginal dampstains.
Le Chat noir was a weekly magazine founded by Rodolphe Salis and Emile Goudeau, published from 1882 to 1897, intended to promote the famous cabaret of the same name, of which it served as a record. It featured texts performed during the...

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

A fine copy.

First bilingual edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Arches wove paper, the deluxe issue.

The French translation, printed opposite the English text, was prepared by Patrick Guyon and Marie-Claude White.

A rare and attractive copy.

A remarkable autograph poem of youth by André Breton dedicated to Guillaume Apollinaire entitled «Décembre». 20 verses in ink on vergé d'Arches paper, composed in December 1915. This manuscript was copied between March 1917 and the beginning of 1918.

This poem is presented in a chemise and case with paper boards decorated with abstract motifs, the spine of the chemise in green morocco, pastedowns and endpapers of beige suede, a sheet of flexible plexiglass protecting the poem, case lined with green morocco, piece of green paper with caption «poème autographe» to bottom of upper cover of case, the whole by Thomas Boichot.
Key poem of the author's pre-Dadaist...

First edition, review copy.

Nice copy.
Signed autograph Andre Suares Georges Le Cardonnel: "... that should all read & do not think less ..."

First edition, one of 42 numbered copies on Japon paper, the leading copies after 8 hors commerce on Chine paper.
Elegant Bradel binding in half black calf over floral paper boards by P. Goy & C. Vilaine, covers preserved (lightly soiled at edges), top edge gilt.
With a frontispiece portrait of the author on Chine paper by Jean-Louis Forain.
One tiny foxing as well as a small, clear marginal dampstain touching frontispiece.
A very good copy nicely bound.

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

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

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

Illustrated edition, limited to 68 copies. The illustrations comprise a title-frontispiece, 28 colored vignettes in the text and numerous colored wood-engraved tailpieces by Daragnès after pastels by Anna de Noailles, accompanied by the complete suite of thirty progressive states of a single plate, showing the color breakdown. 

Bound in full lemon morocco, mosaic boards composed of a border of brown morocco fillets in the form of stylized hearts, surrounding two concentric undulating gilt fillet frames, with hearts in brown and teal morocco fillets at the center of the boards, smooth spine with mosaic of...

First edition, with no deluxe paper copies issued.

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

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

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

First edition on ordinary paper.

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

Scattered foxing.

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

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

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

Autograph letter signed by Stéphane Mallarmé to Alidor Delzant; three pages written in black ink on a bifolium. With the original envelope.
Alidor Delzant was a lawyer, collector, and bibliophile. A friend of the Goncourt brothers, he devoted a book to them and served as Edmond’s secretary and executor.
A cordial letter in which the poet offers his condolences to his friend following his father’s death: "Vous m'avez, au hasard de nos rencontres amicales, plusieurs fois parlé de votre père, de façon à ce que je devinasse bon, haut et délicat et que cette tardive mais prompte séparation, à un âge qui donne une illusion chère de continuelle durée, soit, pour...

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

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

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

First edition on ordinary paper.

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

Precious signed autograph inscription from Jean Richepin to Léon Deschamps.

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

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

Inscribed and signed by Paul Fort.

First edition, one of the review copies.

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

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

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

A fine copy.

Illustrated with 10 drawings by René Magritte.

The ‘Kehl edition’, the most renowned edition of Voltaire's works, illustrated and published on deluxe paper. It was printed on five different types of paper, and only the deluxe editions, such as ours on laid paper, feature engravings. These are naturally the most sought-after and rarest copies.

Binding in full painted sheep decorated with a “honeycomb” motif, smooth spine tooled with gilt fleurons, fillets and compartments, light beige calf lettering and volume pieces, gilt chain-roll border on covers, marbled endpapers, gilt roll on edges, all edges marbled, contemporary binding. Two volumes (nos. 50 and 70) with slight variations in gilt tools on the spines and...

Edition with some parts in first edition.

Half green straight-grained morocco with corners, smooth spines faded and decorated with gilt romantic arabesques, gilt friezes at head and foot, almond paper boards, covers and spine preserved, top edges gilt, handsome pastiche romantic bindings.

The Poésies nouvelles and the Oeuvres posthumes are here in first edition, and the Comédies et proverbes in edition with some parts in first edition.
This set comprises: "Oeuvres posthumes" (2 volumes), "Poésies nouvelles" (3 volumes), "Poésies complètes", "Mélanges de littérature & de critique", "Contes", "Comédies et proverbes" (2 volumes).
Some light foxing of no...

First edition, an advance (service de presse) copy.
Half mustard-colored morocco over marbled paper boards by P. Goy & C. Vilaine, spine in six compartments, brown paper endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine (sunned) preserved, top edge gilt.
Handsome autograph inscription signed by Robert Desnos to Colette Clément, whose name he plays on: "A Madame Colette Clément / Clément Marot non Jacques Clément (ces mots barrés) / non / hommage de l'auteur Robert Macaire."
Ex libris of recipient pasted in underneath justification.

First bilingual edition, one of 270 copies on Arches Ingres paper, including a photographic portrait of Ratna Mohini by her husband Henri Cartier-Bresson.

Rare and handsome copy.

First edition printed in 2,000 numbered copies, ours preserved in its original wrappers with Gallimard's resale label.

Fine autograph inscription signed by Jules Roy: "A Jean-Paul Bonnafous ces vieux chants d'un temps de misère, cordialement, Jules Roy."

First edition; no copy recorded in the CCF or Worldcat, with a single copy held at the Real Academia Española.

Full red shagreen portfolio, smooth spine without lettering, double gilt and blind-tooled fillet borders with gilt garlands and rosettes at the corners on the covers, gilt title lettered in the center of the upper cover, moiré white silk endleaves and pastedowns, contemporary binding.

Inscribed and signed by Albertus Frederik Johan Reiger to Baron Joseph Louis Heinrich Alfred Gericke van Herwynen (1814–1899), Minister of the King of the Netherlands to the Court of Brussels, accompanied by an autograph signed note addressed to the same, dated 12 December 1881...

First edition, one of the review copies.

Some light foxing to the spine and along the edges of the covers, a pleasing copy given the poor quality of the paper.

Inscribed by Raymond Queneau to Dominique Aury.

First collected edition of which there were no grand papier (deluxe) copies, an advance (service de presse) copy.
A nice copy despite a tiny tear to foot of upper cover.
Rare autograph inscription signed by Robert Desnos to Pierre Berger: " ces feuilles déjà bien vieilles..."

First edition, a numbered copy on alfa du Marais paper, this one not included in the justification.
Handsome autograph inscription signed and dated by Aimé Césaire to Raymond Queneau: “Très sympathique hommage de ces bucoliques de sang et de soleil... [a very affectionate homage of these bucolics of blood and sunshine...]”
Covers and spine slightly sunned at edges (but not seriously).

Second edition, first for some parts, one of 100 copies on vergé blanc paper.
Contemporary Bradel half dark-green cloth over marbled paper boards, the spine with gilt fleuron, date and double gilt fillets at foot, upper corners rubbed, covers preserved.

An attractive copy in a pleasant binding.
Handsome autograph inscription from Paul Verlaine to Alice Densmore.

Second complete edition of Krylov's Fables with a preface by the poet and highly regarded literary critic Piotr Pletnev (1792-1866).

Half tan goatskin binding with corners, smooth spine decorated lengthwise in rocaille style in blind with tears and losses, joints fragile, gilt fillet framing the red pebbled paper boards, gilt Cyrillic inscription at the center of the upper cover, grey edges, rubbed corners, chips and losses along the edges, contemporary binding.

Foxing, library stamps and markings.

Prize book "Pour Succès et Bonne Conduite".

Manuscript ex-libris in ink, in Russian, on the front endpaper, dated Vilnius, 6 August 1857, and on the verso in Latin...

First edition of the French translation with the Arabic text following.

Contemporary half cherry sheep binding with corners, spine without lettering and with five raised bands, marbled paper boards, pink paper endpapers and pastedowns, covers preserved.

The pre-Islamic Arab poet Zuhayr ibn Abî Sulma (530–627) holds a central place in Arabic literature, although his life remains little known. He is the author of one of the seven Mu'allaqât, the canonical anthologies of Arabic poetry.

Rare and attractive copy.