Signed books and autograph signatures from great writers, poets, philosophers from 16th to 21st century

First edition, one of the review copies.

A very good copy, with only slight, inconsequential sunning to the spine.

Signed presentation inscription from Paul Morand to Maurice Clavel: \"... son lecteur très attentif et hebdomadaire...\"

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.

Definitive edition, one of the review copies.

Spine very slightly faded, otherwise a pleasing copy.

Signed presentation inscription from Marguerite Yourcenar to Charles Orengo: \"... ce livre qu'il a été le premier à publier sous sa forme définitive, en témoignage de ma reconnaissante amitié...\"

First edition, with no mention of a deluxe issue.

Contemporary Bradel binding in half almond-green cloth, smooth spine with a gilt ornament and a red morocco title label showing some rubbing, marbled paper boards, original front wrapper preserved. Corners slightly bumped.

Signed autograph inscription from Maurice Leblanc to the theatre director Paul Strozzi.

First edition, limited to 1,000 copies, this being one of 950 printed on Outhenin-Chalandre paper.

A fine copy, with a frontispiece map of the Pays d'Ouche region and complete with the publisher's printed publicity slip.

Signed and dated autograph inscription from Jean de La Varende to the bibliophile Maurice Gorrée, dated 1954.

In 1951, the novel was adapted for the screen by Yves Allégret, starring Jean Marais, Françoise Christophe and Jean Debucourt.

First edition, one of the review copies.

A \"Collection Goncourt\" bookplate affixed to the centre of a flyleaf.

A very good copy of this novel, winner of the 1961 Prix Goncourt.
Fine signed presentation inscription from Jean Cau to Jean-Louis Bory: \"Pour J.L. Bory ce livre plein d'espoir et de soleil et d'amour en amical hommage.\"

First edition, printed in a small, numbered edition on alfa paper.

Rare and fine copy.

Signed presentation inscription from Jean de La Varende to the bibliophile Maurice Gorrée.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies printed on imitation Japan paper.

A fine copy.

Signed presentation inscription from Jean de La Varende to the bibliophile Maurice Gorrée.

First edition, one of 135 numbered copies on Arches wove paper, constituting the deluxe issue.

Foreword by Jean Cocteau.

A rare and attractive copy, with full margins.

Dated and signed autograph inscription from Roger Peyrefitte to the bibliophile Maurice Gorrée.

Edition published in the same year as the first edition, one of the numbered copies bound to an original design by Massin.

Publisher's full orange cloth binding, smooth spine, complete with the original wraparound band and transparent acetate dust jacket.

Signed autograph inscription from André Malraux to J. C. Lévêque on the half-title page.

On the preceding page, a stamped impression featuring the Cross of Lorraine and the inscription \"Exposition Charles De Gaulle- mairie de Vincennes du 2 au 9 novembre 1973\".

First edition on ordinary paper, with a press copy punch mark at the foot of the rear wrapper.

Green half morocco with corners, spine faded, smooth spine decorated with gilt arabesques incorporating red morocco onlays, gilt fillet borders to the marbled paper boards, slightly faded at the edges, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, two bookplates affixed to one pastedown. Binding signed by Le Douarin.

Signed autograph inscription from Colette to her friend Andrée Laferté.

Our copy is further enriched with an autograph postcard from Colette to her friend André Laferté, mounted on a stub at the...

First edition on ordinary paper.

Bound in burgundy half morocco, spine with five raised bands outlined in black, boards covered in moiré-effect paper, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, speckled edges.

Signed autograph inscription from André Malraux to Madame Simone Sivry.

First edition.

Contemporary red half morocco, spine with five raised bands ruled in gilt and decorated with gilt ornaments, the initials "L.B." gilt at foot, olive-green morocco lettering-piece, marbled-paper boards, marbled endpapers, corners rubbed.

Scattered foxing, some rubbing to spine and boards.

Printed library stamp of Léon Bienvenu on the title-page.

Precious presentation copy inscribed and signed by Emile Zola to the journalist and man of letters Léon Bienvenu, known as Touchatout.

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."

First edition, one of the copies on ordinary paper.

Losses and tears to spine, small losses to corners of the boards, which are slightly sunned at edges.

Printed stamp "Fondation Dufraine - Institut de France" at head of upper wrapper.

Fine signed presentation inscription from René Maran to his friend Charles Kunstler: "A mon bon vieil ami Charles Kunstler pour lui rappeler que, la plupart du temps, notre vie est tissée de petites joies et de grandes peines de coeur. Tout affectueusement. René Maran."

First edition, with no deluxe copies issued.

A small loss to the upper right-hand corner of the title and half-title pages.

Signed presentation copy from Roland Barthes to the writer, art critic and television personality Max-Pol Fouchet.

First collected edition, with no deluxe issue; one of the press copies.
Two small tears at head of spine.

Rare and fine signed autograph inscription from Robert Desnos: " à toutes les sirènes de "Fontaine" (quand boirai-je de ton eau ?)..."
 

First edition on ordinary paper.

Light foxing to the top edge.

A pleasing copy complete with its publisher's belly band.

Signed presentation copy from Georges Perec to the writer, art critic and television personality Max-Pol Fouchet.

Definitive edition illustrated with 7 plates and a map.

Spine and boards marginally sunned, with a small loss to the upper right corner of the front board.

Stamped "Fondation Dufraine - Institut de France" on the verso of the front board.

Fine signed presentation inscription from René Maran to his friend Charles Kunstler: "A mon bon vieux Charles Kunstler ce petit témoignage d'amitié pour ses étrennes de 1952. Bien amicalement René Maran."

First edition.
Publisher's full pink boards, smooth spine, covers illustrated with drawings by Jean Effel. 
A pleasant copy, accompanied by an invitation card to an exhibition of drawings by Jean Effel in Saint-Denis.
Illustrated with drawings by Jean Effel.
Signed and dated presentation inscription from Jean Effel to his friend Jacques Courreye: "... mon très cher copain, un ami qui ne l'oubliera pas..." embellished with a drawing of a small bird holding a flower in its beak.
 

First edition, one of 100 numbered copies on Holland paper, the only deluxe issue.

Contemporary half aubergine morocco over marbled-paper boards, with corners, spine very slightly faded, four raised bands, decorated with green morocco onlays, blind-stamped fleurons and arabesques, date gilt at foot, gilt fillet borders to the boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt, others untrimmed, original wrappers and spine preserved, binding signed Zendel.

A handsome wide-margined copy in an attractive contemporary binding.

First Gallimard edition, one of 13 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only deluxe copies after a single hors commerce copy on Holland paper and 12 copies on coloured paper, likewise hors commerce.

A pleasant copy complete with the publisher's review slip.

Half black shagreen binding with bands, smooth spine, title and author's name gilt-lettered, boards, endpapers and pastedowns of cat's-eye paper, original wrappers and spine preserved.

Fine signed autograph inscription from Joë Bousquet: "Au camarade attentif dont le nom flotte sur des pensées, et flatte mes longs espoirs, avec mon amitié reconnaissante à Monsieu Hirsch. JoeBousquet Carcassonne le 5 juin...

First edition of Antonin Artaud's French translation.

Repaired tears and small areas of loss at the head and foot of the spine, with minor marginal tears to the covers.

Signed presentation copy inscribed by Antonin Artaud to Alin Laubreaux.

First edition, one of 15 numbered copies on Kaji pearlescent Japan paper, the deluxe issue.

As stated in the limitation, our copy is complete with the separately printed facsimile on 18th-century laid paper of a manuscript page specially written by Jean de La Varende.

A few small spots of foxing to some leaves, boards lightly discoloured, otherwise a pleasant copy complete with its chemise and slipcase.

Signed presentation inscription from Jean de La Varende to the bibliophile Maurice Gorrée.

First illustrated edition, with original lithographs by Renée André-Piot, one of 600 numbered copies on Vidalon royal wove paper.

Some foxing.

Autograph presentation inscription signed by Joseph Kessel to Jacques Lengrand.

Accompanied by an original Roger-Viollet photograph, with the agency's stamp on the verso, showing Joseph Kessel seated at a table in the La Cloche d'Or restaurant in Paris in 1952, cigarette in hand, beside a young woman.

Creasing to the right-hand margin of the photograph.

Manuscript annotations by Roger-Viollet and two stamps on the verso of the photograph.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Marais Crèvecoeur paper, issued as part of the publisher’s deluxe limitation.

Spine and boards faintly sunned and toned as usual, with a small spot to the lower outer corner of the front board.

As stated in the limitation, this copy includes its original etching by Jacques Villon, signed in the plate.

New edition.

A fine copy.

Attractive presentation inscription signed by Anaïs Nin to Christiane Baroche’s wife: "Christiane Baroche this book I offer with uneasiness because I wrote it for american students, and France is the source and will only recognize the déjà vu. Your faithful friend. Anaïs Nin." (Christiane Baroche, je vous offre ce livre avec gêne car je l'ai écrit pour des étudiants américains, et la France est la source et n'y reconnaîtra que du déjà-vu. Votre amie fidèle, Anaïs Nin)".

New edition.

Illustrated with engravings by Jean Hugo.

Signed autograph inscription from Anaïs Nin to her friend, the writer Christiane Baroche: "Christiane Baroche. Mais en ce jour damné décharné qui s’étire aux fenêtres 'c’est un peu moi j’assume...Anaïs Nin.'"

First edition of the author's third book, with no copies printed on deluxe paper, here a review copy.

Spine very lightly sunned, without seriousness, faint spotting to the board edges.

Rare and desirable presentation copy signed by Patrick Modiano to the woman of letters Christiane Baroche: "Pour Christiane ces boulevards de ceinture avec lesquels elle est bien indulgente. Avec l'amitié de Patrick."

New edition.

Spine lightly toned.

Work illustrated with photomontages by Val Telberg.

Inscribed by Anaï Nin to her friend, the writer Christiane Baroche : "Christiane Baroche whose dreams are strong and have roots and bear fruit. Anaïs Nin."

First edition, with no copies printed on deluxe paper, one of the publisher’s review copies.

Pleasing copy, complete with its publisher’s printed slip.

Autograph presentation inscription signed by Paul Valéry to Germaine Fiévé: "... petit souvenir d'une collaboration sans mauvaises pensées et autres..."

First edition.

A pleasing copy.

Inscribed by Anaïs Nin to her friend, the writer Christiane Baroche: "Vos paroles Christiane Baroche : 'je veux cueillir le feu comme un dernier amant' amitié et concordances. Anaïs Nin."

First edition on standard paper.

A handsome copy, complete with its publisher’s wraparound band.

Fine presentation inscription signed by Milan Kundera: "Paris 1998. Pour Michel Tournier avec l'amitié fidèle de Milan Kundera."

Edition published in the same year as the first.

Spine and covers faintly sunned, without seriousness.

Attractive presentation copy signed by Anaïs Nin to the writer Christiane Baroche: "Christiane Baroche vos paroles "je la sais qui m'attend jusque dans ma mémoire. Anaïs Nin."

First edition, issued without any deluxe paper copies.

Occasional marginal tears to upper part of front cover, small lacks of paper to spine-ends, lack of paper to the lower left corner of the lower cover, and a small snag to lower part of lower cover.

Exceptional presentation copy from one woman writer to another, addressed by Georges de Peyrebrune to Jane Catulle Mendès: "pour mon exquise confrère / pour ma charmante amie / Madame Catulle Mendès / En souvenir / Peyrebrune".

First editions by Peyrebrune and even more so her inscribed copies are decidedly scarce: "it is still very difficult to find Peyrebrune's books nowadays" (Sophie...

First edition on ordinary paper.

Pages 10–11 lightly sunned owing to the presence of a newspaper clipping.

Fine presentation inscription signed by André Pieyre de Mandiargues: "à  Michel Tournier en très cordiale sympathie. André PM."

First edition on ordinary paper.

A pleasing copy, with only a few insignificant spots at the foot of the spine.

Warm presentation copy signed by Jean Echenoz to his friend, the writer, screenwriter, and filmmaker Jérôme Beaujour, also a specialist in Marguerite Duras’s cinema: "Pour mon cher Jérôme avec ma vive affection, Jean. 2.VI.10"

New edition and the first printing of Jacques Tardi’s illustrations.
Publisher’s white boards, smooth spine.
A handsome copy.
Presentation inscription, dated and signed by Jacques Tardi to Joëlle Passani, with an original black-felt drawing depicting a sorrowful-faced Bardamu in a small vignette.
 

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 printed on ordinary paper.

A pleasing copy.

Affectionate signed presentation inscription from Jean Echenoz to his friend, the writer, screenwriter and filmmaker Jérôme Beaujour, also a specialist of Marguerite Duras’s cinema: "Pour Jérôme je t'embrasse, Jean. 6.XI.15"

First edition on ordinary paper.

A pleasing copy.

Fine signed presentation inscription from Jean Echenoz to the writer, screenwriter, and filmmaker Jérôme Beaujour, also a specialist in Marguerite Duras’ cinema: "Pour Jérôme (qui m'a donné quelque chose p.109 à Pondichéry) et pour Elisabeth avec toute mon affection, Jean."

First edition on ordinary paper.

Half black long-grain morocco binding, smooth spine tooled in palladium with author, title, and date, anthracite-grey paper boards, original wrappers and spine preserved (the latter with two small stains at head and foot), endpapers and pastedowns of anthracite-grey paper, binding signed Thomas Boichot.

Precious and exceptional signed presentation inscription by Louis-Ferdinand Céline: "A Mac Orlan son admirateur et ami fidèle. LFerd"

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 edition, with no deluxe-paper copies printed.
Illustrations.

A handsome copy despite the slightly faded spine.

Precious and fine signed presentation copy from Louis Aragon to Maurice Druon: "A Maurice Druon, pour qu'il sache que de temps je m'égarée dans Césarée. [sic] Louis".

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."

 

Rare and sought-after first edition, first issue.

Includes the subscribers' list and the foreword, later removed when the remainder of this edition passed into the hands of another publisher, Dion-Lambert. It also features the pagination error in volume two: page 164 instead of 364. 

Black half-morocco bindings, smooth spines with double gilt fillets and double blind-stamped compartments, black paper boards...

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

A fine copy.

Preface by Salman Rushdie, the work illustrated with drawings by the author.

Signed autograph inscription from Glen Baxter to Michel Crépu.

First edition of the French translation, one of 40 numbered copies on alfa paper, this one of 10 hors commerce copies, the deluxe issue.
Spine slightly sunned.
Rare signed and dated autograph inscription from Nikos Kazantzakis to Charles Orengo, then literary director of Éditions Plon.

Orengo, nicknamed “Père Joseph” by Françoise Verny, was a key figure in post-war French publishing. The founder of Éditions du Rocher, he went on to spend many years at Plon before being appointed to the management of the Librairie Hachette. He ended his career as chairman of Fayard. 

First edition of William Shakespeare, published in 1864 by A. Lacroix, Verboeckhoven & Cie.

Contemporary half aubergine calf, smooth spine decorated with gilt and blind fillets, gilt ornamental bands at head and foot, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns. A few small areas of foxing.

A highly significant copy, with a signed autograph presentation inscription from Victor Hugo to Camille Berru, added on a leaf of blue paper:

“To my brave and dear companion in adversity...

First edition in French, for which there were no large paper copies.

A good copy.
Autograph inscription dated and signed by Ernst Jünger to Madeleine Clouzot : "... après notre excellent déjeuner..."

Autograph letter signed from Georges Bataille to Denise Rollin, 40 lines in black ink, two pages on one leaf.

George Bataille and Denise Rollin's relationship lasted from the autumn of 1939 to the autumn of 1943 and left behind it a short but passionate correspondence. This letter dates from the early days of their connection, but already reveals Bataille's agonies: “Perhaps I was too happy with you for some months, even though suffering did not wait long to interrupt, at least for a time, a happiness that was almost a challenge.”
A passionate lover, Bataille moved from exultation to the deepest doubt and even offered his lover a potential way out of...

First edition, one of the numbered copies on alfa paper reserved for the press.

Spine very slightly sunned, otherwise a well-preserved copy.
Signed autograph inscription from Irène Némirovsky to Charles Laval.

First edition, one of 160 hors commerce copies on Lana vellum, ours being one of 60 hors commerce copies, the only deluxe issue.

Half long-grain black morocco binding, smooth spine lettered with the author’s name, title, date, and the palladium inscription “EX. JOSEPH KESSEL 1958”, wood-patterned paper boards, grey endpapers and pastedowns, wrappers and spine preserved, binding signed by Thomas Boichot.

Some foxing, mainly affecting the wrappers and the first and last leaves.

Exceptional and moving signed autograph presentation from Maurice Druon to Joseph Kessel: "A toi mon grand Jef, cet Alexandre le grand né lui aussi sous le signe du...

First edition.

Publisher’s binding, smooth olive-green cloth spine partially faded, upper headcap trimmed, cream boards speckled with pink, bumped corners, shadowed endpapers.

Signed autograph inscription by Thomas Nelson Page at the head of the title page.

A fine set of the first four volumes of the French intégrale edition, identical to the original American structure. Volume 1 is housed in a metal case with embossed lettering and a folding map of Westeros. It is a copy of the highly sought-after very first French collector's edition of the series published in 2012. Volumes 2 and 3 followed in 2013, and volume 4 in 2014. 

Each volume signed by George R.R. Martin on the title page. The signatures were obtained during the author's only public signing session for French...

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on alfa, only deluxe copies. Some light foxing, mainly on the endpapers.

Rare signed presentation copy in French: “To my friend René Jasinski, in token of gratitude and friendship, these few scenes of Jewish life in New York. T. Twersky”, with a sentence in Hebrew translated by the author in French on a laid-in leaf: “Translation of the Hebrew inscription: sixth day of the week ‘Pekoudè’, year 5692 since the creation of the world, in the holy community of Paris”, (Friday, 4 March 1932 according to our calculation).

New edition.

A handsome copy.

Signed presentation inscription from Albert Cossery to a friend: "Pour Jean-Pierre à qui je souhaite une vie de miel. Albert Cossery."

New edition.

Pleasing copy.

Fine signed autograph inscription from Albert Cossery to a friend: "Pour Jean-Pierre que Dieu le garde des imbéciles. Albert Cossery."

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 the review copies.

Bradel binding in full patterned paper with abstract motifs, smooth spine, date gilt at foot, rust-coloured morocco title label, wrappers preserved, binding signed by P. Goy & C. Vilaine.

Signed autograph inscription from André Malraux to J. Ernest-Charles.
 

First edition on ordinary paper.

A pleasant copy.

Precious signed autograph inscription from André Pieyre de Mandiargues: "A Henri Michaux le coeur de son vieil ami André Pieyre de Mandiargues" enriched with Yvonne Caroutch’s handwritten signature.

First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on Popset Whisky paper, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

First edition on ordinary paper.

Small defects skillfully restored at the head and tail of the spine.
Rare inscribed presentation copy signed by Albert Cohen to Denise Mercier.

First edition, one of the review copies stamped "M.F." on the front cover and numbered in the colophon.

Small restored tears to the spine and upper part of the front cover, slight traces of creasing to the margins of the front cover.

Precious inscribed copy signed by Louis Pergaud to J.H. Rosny jeune, one of the historic members of the Goncourt Prize jury. Pergaud had won the 1910 Goncourt for his collection of short stories De Goupil à Margot.

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.

Half brown shagreen binding, spine faded with five raised bands, date gilt at foot, marbled paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, marbled edges, contemporary binding.

Minor foxing, mainly at the beginning of the volume.

Signed autograph inscription from the Goncourt brothers to Mr. Simon.

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...

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, of which there were no large paper copies.

Complete with dj (slightly sunned at edges of spine and covers), small tears to head of upper cover. 
Handsome autograph inscription, signed and dated by Canetti to Raymond Queneau : " Für Raymond Queneau aus Freude über eine unerwartete Begegnung, Juni 1951 [for Raymond Queneau, the pleasure of an unexpected meeting, June 1951]".