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

First edition, no copies on deluxe paper were issued; one of the review copies.

A few minor stains to the lower cover, otherwise a pleasant copy.

Fine autograph inscription signed by Malek Haddad to Gilbert Cesbron: "... cette nuit sans clair de lune mais avec Dieu..."

Provenance: from the library of Gilbert Cesbron, with his handwritten signature at the head of the printed dedication page and the Cesbron family blind stamp serving as an ex-libris.

First edition, a copy on ordinary paper.

Small stains and rubbing to the spine, with loss of some letters of the title; a pleasant copy.

Fine autograph inscription signed by Réda Falaki to Gilbert Cesbron.

Provenance: from the library of Gilbert Cesbron, with his autograph signature at the head of the printed dedication leaf and the Cesbron family blind stamp serving as an ex-libris.

First edition of the French translation, one of 50 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only large-paper copies.

A stain at the foot of the spine and slight foxing to the lower right corner of the front cover.

A rare and pleasant copy.

First edition, no large-paper copies were printed.

A pleasing copy.

Autograph inscription signed by Maurice Druon to Gilbert Cesbron.

First edition, of which no large-paper copies were issued.

A pleasant copy.

Autograph inscription signed by Jean Cau to Gilbert Cesbron.

First edition.

Richly illustrated.
Small tears and losses to the laminated film along the edges of the covers, as is often the case.
Autograph inscription dated and signed by Pierre Alechinsky to Michel Tarte, set within a frame and embellished with a drawing of a flower.

Edition issued a few months after the first edition.

A pleasant copy.

Autograph inscription signed by Patrick Modiano to Michel Tarte.

First edition, profusely illustrated; no large-paper copies were issued.

A pleasant copy despite very slight marginal fading to the covers.

Dated autograph inscription signed by Julien Gracq to Michel Tarte : "... avec mes bons souhaits de lecture cet ouvrage dont je ne suis pas l'auteur..."

First edition, one of 1,450 numbered copies on vélin d'Arches paper, the only large paper copies after 50 on pur fil.
Spine slightly and insignificantly sunned.

Handsome autograph inscription signed by Paul Eluard to his friend Léo Malet.

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

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

New edition; no copies were printed on large paper.

A pleasant copy.

Signed autograph inscription from Gilles Deleuze to Doctor Wiel.

First edition, one of 62 numbered copies on Holland paper, the deluxe issue after 16 copies on Japan paper.

Spine and covers sunned, copy with full margins.

Below the limitation statement, autograph inscription signed by Gaston Riou to his friends the Linossiers.

First edition, one of the review copies.

A pleasant copy of this work, awarded the Prix Goncourt in 1961.
Precious autograph inscription signed by Jean Cau to Marcel Arland.

Edition published the same year as the first edition.

Full burgundy limp boards, smooth spine, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, front wrapper preserved (some foxing); a modest binding.

Signed autograph inscription from André Malraux to Monsieur Pinty.

New edition.

A small tear at the foot of the spine.
Rare and precious autograph inscription, signed and dated by Tchicaya U Tam'si to Anne Sarraute: "... ces légendes qui sont plus vraies que les péripéties du quotidien de ces temps d'aujourd'hui.."
Provenance: from the library of Claude Mozis, with his African-inspired bookplate on the inside front cover.

First edition, no deluxe copies issues; this one an advance copy.

Light foxing to the edges, insignificant loss to the lower left corner of the final endpaper, somewhat clumsily cut.

A pleasant copy.

Signed and inscribed by Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio to Madame Vivier.

First edition, one of 1000 numbered copies on vellum paper.
Publisher's binding in full burgundy morocco-grained sheepskin, smooth spine, gilt double fillets framing the covers, burgundy paper endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt, slipcase edged in burgundy morocco with burgundy paper sides.
Richly illustrated.

Autograph inscription dated and signed by André Pieyre de Mandiargues to the lawyer and politician Georges Kiejman, enhanced with a large multicoloured drawing signed by Bona de Mandiargues depicting a human hand, covering the entire half-title page.

Cultural events programme of the Fnac Saint-Lazare for October 1999, signed by Salman Rushdie above his portrait on the front cover.

The brochure announces a literary event with Salman Rushdie on 5 October, held to mark the publication of the French translation of his novel The Ground Beneath Her Feet (La Terre sous ses pieds).

First edition, illustrated with drawings by Pierre Joubert.

Spine lightly sunned, with minor rubbing to the joints.

Autograph inscription signed by Pierre Joubert to Henri Le Roy, enhanced with an original blue ballpoint pen drawing of a smiling scout's face.

First edition of Verfall und Wiederaufbau der Kultur, the first part of Albert Schweitzer's Kulturphilosophie.

Publisher's Bradel binding in cream half cloth, author and title lettered lengthwise on spine, blue-green paper boards, author and title printed on upper cover. Binding sunned and lightly soiled, a few leaves with creased corners. One passage marked out and accompanied by pencil drawings.

Signed and dated autograph inscription from Albert Schweitzer to Isidor Philipp on the front free endpaper: "A I. Philipp avec mes bonnes pensées Albert Schweitzer Sept 1923".

New edition published a few months after the first, with a “9ème édition” statement.

Some foxing to covers, two small tears at head and foot of spine, which also shows a light, pale dampstain.

Signed and inscribed by Samuel Beckett to Daniela Munieri and dated November 1953.

Inscriptions contemporary to the book’s publication and the play’s first staging in 1953 are of the utmost rarity. We have traced only seven such copies ever to have appeared on the market (inscribed to Maurice Nadeau, Philippe Bernstein, Henri and Josette Hayden, Robert Carlier, Leventhal, Geer van Velde and Louise Barbier).

First edition, with no copies printed on large paper.

Spine slightly creased, a stain to the top edge extending into the margins of several leaves.

Complete with the original publisher's insert.

Rare and important dated and signed autograph inscription from Tchicaya U Tam'si to Jacques Duchateau.

Provenance: from the library of Claude Mozis, with his African-themed bookplate on the verso of the front wrapper.

Collected edition, partly original, of this collection of poems comprising seven books: Les Joies de prison, Les Larmes des autres, Les Péchés du candidat, Pour les bébés, Au hasard du rêve, Les Loisirs de l'expulsé and Sonnets pour elle.

Half red shagreen, marbled paper boards, spine with five raised bands, gilt title and author, hand-marbled paper pastedowns, speckled edges. Some light rubbing to the binding, foxing to the leaves.

Autograph inscription signed by Clovis Hugues, in verse, dated "89", to the feminist journalist Marguerite Durand, here addressed as "Madame Laguerre":

"Rien dans le...

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 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 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.

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]".

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.