Classical and modern plays, comedies, dramas, tragedies, performing arts

First edition of Victor Hugo's drama Cromwell, accompanied by its celebrated preface, regarded as one of the founding texts of Romanticism.

Half-brown calf binding, marbled paper boards, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets, gilt author, title and date, stone paper pastedowns, marbled edges. Binding lightly rubbed, wear to the joints and head of spine, crude repairs, a stain to the first leaves, some further soiling and foxing.

From the library of Louis Gillet, with his ex-libris.

New edition, one of 20 hors commerce copies printed on pur fil laid paper and issued in special grey Ingres wrappers, reserved for the 20 private subscribers to all of Paul Valéry's works.

Spine and covers very slightly yellowed, with no serious effect; internally in pleasing condition.

Precious signed presentation inscription from Paul Valéry to his friend, the bookseller, publisher and bibliophile Ronald Davis: "Exemplaire de Ronald Davis qui a déjà tant d'écriture de moi que ce n'est pas la peine d'en remplir encore cette belle page !  Paul Valéry."

First edition, published anonymously by Delaporte,  secretary and prompter of the Comédie-Française.

Contemporary black cloth Bradel binding, smooth spine, red shagreen lettering-piece with some loss, marbled paper boards, upper corners slightly worn, 19th-century binding.

Copies recorded only at the BnF and in Rouen (CCFr).

Printed initials at the foot of the title page.

Rare summary, by the Comédie-Française secretary and prompter, of the grievances held by the Company against the actor Talma, focusing particularly on performances of Marie-Joseph Chénier’s play Charles IX.

The play, which achieved immense public success, drew criticism from...

Very rare first edition (125 copies printed according to Quérard) of this remarkable exposition of Talma’s dramaturgical principles, still regarded as a “revolutionary” actor despite his immense success (his friendship with Napoleon never wavered); the text was inserted the same year, 1825, at the beginning of the new edition of the Memoirs of Henri-Louis Caïn, known as Lekain (1729–1778), who was still considered in the early nineteenth century as one of the greatest tragedians of the eighteenth century.

See Quérard IX, 333.

Scattered foxing.

Full cherry-red long-grain morocco, smooth spine tooled with gilt fillets, garlands and fleurons, gilt rolls at head and tail...

First collected edition of the works by the author of Les Étourdis ou le Mort supposé, a comedy that enjoyed great success just before the Revolution.

The set includes a portrait frontispiece in the first volume, four engraved plates, and ten engraved headpieces.

Bound in contemporary full polished and mottled brown calf, gilt decoration, smooth spines with six false raised bands highlighted with gilt fillets and repeated gilt floral tools, gilt fillet frames on covers bordered with a garland roll, gilt tooling to head- and tailpieces, green morocco spine labels, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt edges on boards, marbled edges, contemporary bindings.

Some...

Autograph manuscript signed of Victor Hugo’s “Ballade du fou,” sung by the jester Elespuru in his play Cromwell (IV, 1). Two pages on a folded leaf backed with green glazed paper.

Exceptional autograph manuscript of Victor Hugo’s most celebrated poetic song, performed by the jester Elespuru in his resounding drama Cromwell.

Both grotesque and exalted, this piece embodies the freedom of Romantic drama championed by Hugo in the play’s famous preface: as noted by the Bibliothèque nationale de France, this song “is the only passage in the play as equally famous as its...

Illustrated edition with 24 colour plates by Arthur Rackham tipped in with captioned tissue guards, 8 full-page black-and-white illustrations, together with numerous ornaments and vignettes in the text by Arthur Rackham, one of 300 copies printed on vélin à la forme, signed by Arthur Rackham on the limitation page.
Publisher’s Bradel binding in full bright white vellum, smooth spine lettered in gilt, upper cover gilt-stamped with the title and a design of fantastic animals within a vertical gilt rule, illustrated endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt, untrimmed edges preserved. 
A very well-preserved copy of Milton's baroque and Dionysian...

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 dedicated to Louis Jouvet, one of 108 numbered copies on Lafuma Navarre laid paper, reimposed in quarto tellière format, deluxe issue.
Half red morocco-backed marbled boards, spine with five raised bands framed with blind fillets, date gilt at foot, marbled paper sides, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, binding signed by D.H. Mercher.
Premiered by Louis Jouvet at the Comédie des Champs-Élysées on 14 December 1923. The actor also oversaw the staging and set design; in 1933, the play was later adapted for the screen by Roger Goupillières, again starring Louis Jouvet in the leading role.

First edition, one of the numbered copies from the special issue reserved for friends, contributors, and subscribers of Les Lettres Nouvelles.

Spine faded, scattered marginal foxing.

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, one of 60 numbered copies on pure wove paper, the only deluxe copies after 17 on Hollande.

Bradel binding in full beige cloth, smooth spine, red morocco title-piece, upper wrapper preserved, sprinkled edges, modest binding.

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...

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.

Full red morocco binding, round spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt fleurons, slight rubbing on the caps, double frame of blind-stamped gilt fillets on the covers, with fleurons at the corners of the inner frame, edges slightly blunt, marbled paper endpapers and back covers, gilt edges and heads, very elegant 19th-century binding ‘a la Du Seuil’ signed Quinet on the first endpaper. 

Rare first edition of Chamblain de Marivaux's first theatrical success, The Surprise of Love, published four years before The Second Surprise of Love. This play, performed in the spring of 1722 before being published the...

Set of eight original color engravings, printed on laid paper and signed at the lower right and left of the plates. The plates are introduced by a text signed by Jean Cocteau and depict costumes for Shakespeare’s play (two Shepherdesses, Paulina, and Time).

Bradel binding in full decorative paper, smooth spine, brown shagreen title-piece, binding signed by Goy & Vilaine.

Original engravings created for the illustration of La Gazette du bon ton, one of the most beautiful and influential fashion magazines of the twentieth century, celebrating the talent of French designers and artists at the height of the Art Deco...

First edition on ordinary paper.

Work illustrated with wood engravings by Henri Jadoux.

A pleasing copy.

Autograph inscription signed by Sacha Guitry in pencil to Henry Sorensen.

New edition, adorned with a portrait of the author by Daullé, three headpieces by de Sève engraved by Juste Chevillet, twelve plates engraved by Jacques Aliamet, Jean-Jacques Flipart, Noël Le Mire, Louis-Simon Lempereur, Dominique Sornique, and Jacques-Nicolas Tardieu, and thirteen vignettes and sixty tail-pieces, all by de Sève engraved by Jean-Charles Baquoy, Jean-Jacques Flipart, and Louis Legrand.

A superb copy of the first luxury edition of Racine, among the most sought-after, bound in the most sumptuous red morocco.

Contemporary full red morocco, spine with five raised bands and gilt compartments, triple gilt fillet border, corner fleurons, yellow...

First collected edition, one of 25 copies printed on Japan paper, the deluxe issue.

Contemporary brown half shagreen binding with corners, spine with five raised bands ruled with gilt dotted lines, adorned with double gilt compartments and decorative motifs, moiré paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt on witnesses.

A handsome copy in an attractive period binding.

First edition of this splendid theatre programme, with an introductory text by Raymond Blathwayt. Illustrated with six exquisite double-page colour plates by Yoshio Markino. The play was written by David Belasco.

Japanese-style accordion fold. Illustrated cover. Some foxing to the covers, otherwise a very well-preserved copy.

First edition, published in Paris in 1933 by Jules Meynial under the direction of Jacques de Brunhoff. Limited to 500 numbered copies on Arches paper. Illustrated with 48 drawings in black in the text and 32 hors-texte plates after Alexandre Iacovleff, printed in bistre and black.

Original printed wrappers with flaps. Small losses at head and foot of spine, with a restored tear at head; small tears and stains to the lower wrapper. Final endpaper lightly shadowed in places, with a few marginal spots of foxing. An attractive copy.

By the time...

First edition, one of 55 numbered copies printed on Lafuma-Navarre laid paper, the only deluxe copies.

A light halo stain to the upper edges of the front endpaper and half-title, otherwise a pleasing copy.

First edition, one of the rare copies on Holland paper, not mentioned in the printed justification.

Contemporary Bradel binding in half black morocco, smooth spine with gilt date at foot, cat's-eye paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, binding signed Champs.

Inscribed and signed by Eugène Manuel to Madame Michel Lévy.

Our copy is enriched with two dated and signed autograph letters by Eugène Manuel, mounted on tabs at the beginning of the volume, most likely addressed to one of his literary mentors regarding the first performance of his play "Les ouvriers".

In the first letter, written with delicate...

Autograph letter signed by Pierre Loti, addressed to Alphonse Daudet (not named explicitly), inviting him to the premiere of his *Pêcheur d'Islande* at the Grand Théâtre on 18 February 1893; 8 lines in black ink on a bifolium.

"Je voudrais bien vous avoir samedi à la première de 'Pêcheur', avec madame Daudet. Vous ne pouvez pas me refuser cela. J'irai vous chercher. Tendres respects. Pierre Loti."

In collaboration with Louis Tiercelin, Pierre Loti adapted his literary masterpiece and great popular success for the stage.

This note was previously mounted on a guard to be inserted into a book, and was later removed.

First edition, one of 125 numbered copies on B.F.K. de Rives, including an additional suite of the illustrations on pure rag paper.

A few minor spots on the covers, a pleasant copy overall.

Two light marginal dampstains on the slipcase, slightly rubbed at the corners.

Signed by Sacha Guitry at the beginning of the first volume.

First edition, one of 55 numbered copies on pur fil d'Arches, the deluxe issue.

A handsome copy.

Inscribed and signed by Roger Peyrefitte to Monsieur Gorrée, with a dated autograph dedication.

First edition, one of 45 copies on Vergé de Voiron, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.
Very handsome copy.

First edition, one of 25 numbered copies on Johannot pure rag paper, the deluxe issue.

A fine copy.

Inscribed and signed by Roger Vailland to the publisher Jean Chastel.

First edition, one of 5 numbered copies printed on Japan paper, the deluxe issue.

Bound in chocolate-brown half morocco, spine with five raised bands framed by black fillets, date gilt-stamped at foot; sides covered in cat's-eye paper, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers bound in, top edge gilt. A finely executed unsigned binding, slightly later.

A handsome copy in an appealing presentation.

First edition, one of 10 numbered copies on Madagascar paper reserved for the author, the smallest limitation on deluxe paper after the 2 copies printed on pure rag paper, also hors commerce, printed for Jacques Hébertot.
A very handsome copy.

First collected edition of the French translation, one of 50 numbered copies on vélin alfa, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

A handsome copy, with only a few insignificant foxing spots to the edges.

Collected edition, partly first edition, of the plays of Pierre Corneille, printed in Rouen by Laurens Maurry and sold in Paris by Augustin Courbé and Guillaume de Luyne. Illustrated with three allegorical engraved frontispieces and 23 full-page copper-engravings, largely designed by François Chauveau and engraved by artists including Jérôme David, Mathéus and Louis Spirinx.

All three frontispieces are dated 1660. The title-pages and privileges of the first and third volumes are likewise dated 1660, while those of the second volume bear the date 1664. The second volume therefore belongs to the 1664 reissue...

First edition, illustrated with an allegorical frontispiece by Cazes engraved by Tardieu, a title vignette by Humblot repeated, and four repeated headpieces by the same artist, as well as a folding map of ancient Greece and a plate of medals. Title pages printed in red and black.
Contemporary full mottled and polished calf. Spine richly gilt in compartments. Red morocco title label, volume label in gilt-decorated brown calf. Losses to the headcaps of volumes I and III. Splits to the upper joints of volume I. In volume I, from pages 190 to 370, two small wormholes affect the upper margin; from page 371 onwards, these gradually develop into short tunnels, extending 1.5 cm along the upper...

First edition, one of 62 numbered copies on madagascar paper, deluxe copy.
Some light foxing affecting mainly the edges.
Half dark blue morocco binding, spine with five raised bands, cat's-eye paper boards, combed paper endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, binding signed by Devauchelle.
Handsome copy beautifully executed.

First edition, one of 45 numbered copies on pur fil, the only copies printed on deluxe paper.

A handsome copy.

First edition on ordinary paper.

Spine creased as often, otherwise a pleasant copy.

Illustrated.

Inscribed and signed by Jean Marais to Madame Romanini.

First edition of this theatre programme for Jean-Paul Sartre's adaptation of Alexandre Dumas's Kean, staged at the Théâtre Marigny in 1988, directed by Robert Hossein and starring Jean-Paul Belmondo in the title role.

A fine copy. Illustrated throughout.

Boldly signed by Jean-Paul Belmondo in black felt-tip pen on the cover.

First edition, one of 15 numbered copies on tinted antique Japan paper, ours being one of 5 hors commerce lettered copies, comprising the deluxe issue.

Minor spotting to the half-title and following leaf, otherwise a fine copy with full margins.

Autograph note dated and signed by Jules Romains, one page addressed to Thierry Maulnier regarding his production project of Knock (11 lines in blue ink on a card with the letterhead of his Paris address on rue de Solférino).
Lower left corner bears a printed stamp: "Fonds archives privées Th Maulnier".

First edition. Very scarce and sought-after, like all of his writings. This play is inspired by his tumultous life, namely the poisoning attempt he allegedly suffered from the hands of his lover Jeanne Sarrey.
With a very rare autograph letter signed by Xavier Forneret, one of the few surviving manuscripts of this bohemian Romantic rediscovered by Surrealists.
The scandalous genius attempts to have Mère et fille performed at the Théâtre de la Gaîté. Letter dated by the author May 27, 1854, addressed to playwright Charles Desolme. Two pages in black ink on a bifolium, small tear along the fold, no damage to the text.
Forneret, a fundamentally...

First edition, one of 1050 numbered copies on bouffant alfa paper.
Publisher's binding after the original design by Paul Bonet.
Very handsome copy complete with its flexible cardboard slipcase.