Autograph letter signed by Gracchus Babeuf, dated 8 Pluviôse [Year II] (27 January 1794). Two and a half pages on a reused bifolium, the letter written around an earlier inscription by Babeuf: “Histoire des Conspirations et des Conspirateurs du Département de la Somme ; Qui comprend celle des Persécutions et des quatre Procès criminels intentés, depuis 89, à un second Marat, son émule dans le Département”.
Published (except for the title Histoire des Conspirations…, omitted in the description of the letter) in Victor Advielle, Histoire de Gracchus Babeuf et du babouvisme d'après de nombreux documents inédits, vol. I, 1884, pp. 101-102.
An extraordinary torrent of curse words by the revolutionary and proto-communist Gracchus Babeuf, addressed to his eldest son, who would later help disseminate babouvism. Babeuf writes on a reused leaf bearing the full title of one of his lost works hitherto known only in part: "Histoire des Conspirations et des Conspirateurs du Département de la Somme ; Qui comprend celle des Persécutions et des quatre Procès criminels intentés, depuis 89, à un second Marat, son émule dans le Département"
First edition.
With press clippings laid in.
Half bronze sheep binding, spine with four raised bands framed with gilt pointillé and decorated with double gilt fillets, red sheep lettering-piece, a few small black spots and a light scratch to the spine, marbled paper boards, cat’s-eye patterned endpapers and pastedowns, contemporary binding.
A pleasing copy.
First edition of the French translation, one of the scarce lettered copies printed on pur fil for private circulation, ours bearing the letter A, the only deluxe-paper copies together with 25 numbered copies on pur fil.
Wide-margined copy, boards and spine lightly and marginally sunned, a few scattered foxmarks affecting some leaves and deckle edges.
Second edition.
Half black sheep binding, smooth spine decorated with broad gilt fillets and dotted tooling, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, lightly rubbed corners, sprinkled edges, contemporary binding.
A few minor spots.
Scarce.
First edition of this collection of political speeches.
Full red percaline binding, smooth spine without lettering showing slight rubbing, gilt inscription stamped to the upper cover: "République de Guinée R.D.A. à S.E. Jean Paul Sartre. N°30"; endpapers partly toned, a contemporary presentation binding offered to Jean-Paul Sartre.
Frontispiece photographic portrait bearing the autograph signature of President Ahmed Sékou Touré: Secretary General of the Parti Démocratique de Guinée, Supreme Leader of the Revolution.
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 25 numbered copies on Popset Whisky paper, the deluxe issue.
A fine copy.
First edition, one of 10 numbered copies on Japan paper, the deluxe issue.
Bradel binding in half chocolate-brown morocco with bands, smooth spine, date gilt at foot, marbled paper boards, brown endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, gilt edges, binding signed Honnelaître.
First edition.
Illustrated with 16 drawings by Georges Adam.
A superb copy of this rare booklet by Louis Aragon, a true "anti-clerical, anti-capitalist, anti-colonialist, anti-patriotic" (Pierre Juquin) catechism for the children of the exploited working masses.
"On June 25, 1932, the Imprimerie centrale completed printing for the Bureau des éditions et de diffusion, 132, Faubourg Saint-Denis, Paris, a beautiful pamphlet, now a bibliophilic rarity [...] On the cover, a large red star - an important and recurrent image in Aragon's work - appears imprinted on children's brains. Sixteen quatrains, droll and didactic, punctuated for ease of reading, alternate with drawings by Georges Adam, whose nearly expressionist mockery, reminiscent of Rouault's paintings, overturns taboos and myths." (Aragon. Un destin français 1897-1939)
After breaking with the Surrealists, Aragon threw himself wholeheartedly into the Journal de la lutte antireligieuse. He wrote this pamphlet from Moscow and published it on the Party's presses, to ignite the fervor of proletarian youth. French poet Jacques Prévert would later follow a similar path with his play Émasculée conception. Anticlerical activism within French Communist associations was in full swing at the time: every symbol and events of religious life were reinterpreted through the lens of class struggle. "Red baptisms" were organised, forming a community of "Godless" children (drawing their name from the Association of Godless Workers) who corresponded with their Soviet counterparts.
Aragon contributed to these new rituals with this particularly radical children's book, deemed excessively antipatriotic by Maurice Thorez, which he would later disavow at the end of his life.
First edition of the French translation, one of 325 numbered copies on alfa paper, the only deluxe issue together with a few alfa mousse copies not for sale.
Minor tears without loss at the head of the spine, which also shows slight sunning at the foot, final endpaper partially shaded.
A rare and pleasing copy.
Black-and-white photograph depicting cosmonaut Boris Yegorov in uniform adorned with his military decorations.
A handsome copy.
Rare autograph signed in blue felt-tip pen by Boris Yegorov in the left margin of the print.
On October 12, 1964, aboard Voskhod 1, Boris Yegorov completed his sole spaceflight as a physician, participating in the first mission in history to carry a crew of three.
Provenance: from the collection of renowned autograph collector Claude Armand.
Black and white portrait photograph showing Tito facing the camera.
A well-preserved example. Included are an envelope bearing the letterhead of the Yugoslav Embassy, a printed card from the same embassy, and a typewritten letter from the Yugoslav Consulate thanking Claude Armand for his request for a photograph of Tito.
Bold blue ink autograph by Tito in the right-hand margin of the photograph.
Provenance: from the collection of noted autograph collector Claude Armand.
Autograph letter signed and dated "20 floréal year 79 19 May" [19 May 1871?], 3 pages on a bifolium of blue paper. Small lack of paper affecting a few letters, usual folds from mailing.
Rare letter by painter and illustrator Gérard-Séguin, known for his portrait of Honoré de Balzac (Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours). Written in the midst of the Paris Commune, as famine and fighting ravaged the capital, the artist delivers a desperate yet spirited plea from the artist.
This letter is one of the few surviving manuscripts by Gérard-Séguin whose biography remains largely unknown: "Little is known about the life and work of Jean Alfred Gérard-Séguin, except that he studied under Jérôme-Martin Langlois at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, exhibited at the Salon between 1831 and 1868, and—close to publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel—primarily worked as a book illustrator, contributing drawings for various publications, including Balzac's La Comédie Humaine, for which he also painted a portrait of the author. Working with Prosper Mérimée and the first Monuments Historiques commissions, he also copied out the church frescoes of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe" (Musée de Valence). Staunch Republican Gérard-Seguin supported the Commune and had previously painted a major historical canvas on the French Revolution of 1848, depicting a "guardian of the peace and the Republic." Severely impoverished by the siege and already 67 years old, he expresses in this letter his regret at not being able to join the ranks of the Communard fighters.
First edition, with no deluxe copies printed on fine paper.
Bradel binding in grey cloth-backed boards, flat spine with gilt central ornament and double gilt fillet at foot, red morocco title label with some rubbing, marbled paper-covered boards, grey paper endpapers and pastedowns.
Some occasional foxing, contemporary gift inscription on the title page.
Text preceded by three facsimile letters by Jules Vallès.
Preface by Julien Lemer.
Very rare first edition printed by the Bureaux de l'armée nationale (only two copies recorded in the CCF: ASOM and Nanterre).
A pleasant copy.
The pamphlet brings together the texts of two lectures: the first delivered on 19 June 1924 in Hanoi, the second on 10 December 1924 in Paris; both advocate for a systematic effort to provide indigenous populations with access to education.
A former captain in the colonial artillery, Paul Monet (1884–1941) was then head of the Annamite Students' Residence in Hanoi. He would soon gain attention for echoing Roland Dorgelès' stance on the exploitation of indigenous labour by French companies (Les Jauniers, 1930).
First edition of the French translation, illustrated with 105 plates out of text (including 2 folding tables, 21 plans and maps, and 82 views and reproductions of documents). A remarkable record of one of the most significant instances of international opinion manipulation carried out by China and North Korea in the early stages of the Korean War: as early as 1952, North Korean and Chinese officials (including Zhou Enlai) accused the American army of using "insect vectors" on a large scale to spread various diseases among the populations of Korea and Manchuria (plague, cholera, etc.).
The entire operation had been meticulously staged, as definitively revealed by Soviet documents published in 1998.
Head and tail of spine with some losses, minor stains and marginal tears to the covers, two small holes to the lower edge of the rear board also affecting the rear endpaper, otherwise clean and sound throughout.
Rare.
First UK edition.
Publisher’s binding in full grey cloth, smooth spine, a fine copy complete with the illustrated dust jacket featuring a photographic portrait of the author by Yousuf Karsh.
Illustrated with maps on the endpapers and pastedowns, and 37 photographs.
Extremely rare inscribed copy signed by the last leader of the Soviet Union to a USSR émigré, the journalist Sam Yossman.
First edition of the English translation by Michael Glenny, who first came to prominence with his translation of Bulgakov’s Master and Margarita in 1967. No deluxe paper copies issued.
Publisher’s binding in full black cloth, flat spine which shows some inherent creasing due to the laminated covering.
A handsome copy, with illustrations.
Very rare inscribed copy dated 27 April 1990 and signed by Boris Yeltsin.
From the library of Sam Yossman (Sam Jones) of the BBC Russian Service.
First collected edition. No deluxe paper copies issued.
Publisher’s binding in full green cloth, smooth spines, with their dust jackets designed by Adam Rusak, showing only minor and insignificant marginal tears.
Rare presentation copy dated May 1, 1992 and signed by Solzhenitsyn to USSR émigré journalist and writer Sam Yossman, on the title page of the first volume.
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 modesty and dated the day before the premiere on 17 January 1870, Eugène Manuel expresses his hope and longing for the distinguished recipient to attend the opening of "Les ouvriers": "Vous prendrez peut-être plus d'intérêt à l'auteur, lorsque vous saurez que je suis le neveu d'un de vos amis d'autrefois, Jules Lévy, qui avait pour vous une bien vive et bien sincère affection... [...] J'espère, monsieur, que rien ne vous empêchera d'assister à cette représentation, peu importante peut-être pour vous, puisqu'il s'agit que d'un acte, mais qui est sérieux pour moi..."
In the second, the author warmly thanks his correspondent for the attention paid to the play: "J'apprends aujourd'hui seulement que vous m'avez fait l'insigne honneur d'entretenir de ma petite pièce des Ouvriers, l'auditoire d'élite qui se presse à vos leçons du Collège de France... [...] le jugement d'un critique aussi considérable est une de ces bonnes fortunes que l'on ose ambitionner..."
First edition, one of 100 numbered copies on Johannot paper, the deluxe issue.
Fine copy.
Second edition of the French translation, published one year after the original, one of 300 numbered copies on vélin de Renage, the only deluxe paper copies.
A handsome and rare copy.
First edition, one of 90 numbered copies on alfal paper, the only copies on deluxe paper.
Fine copy, complete with the loose and folding map.
Autograph letter signed, addressed to his friend Thierry Maulnier, 26 lines in blue ink on letterhead of the Revue universelle, in which he urges him to contribute an article on André Gide's political stance.
Henri Massis, editor-in-chief of the journal, presses his friend: "Il me faudrait très rapidement votre prochaine chronique. Il me semble qu'il y aurait quelque chose à tirer de l'article de Ramon Fernandez sur l'évolution d'André Gide dans la N.R.F. du 1er juillet". Il faudrait saisir ce qui concerne proprement Gide pour s'attacher à certaines réflexions sur le socialisme., le marxisme ou à une phrase comme celle-ci qui mériterait quelques commentaire : "Les jeunes gens d'aujourd'hui (dont Gide est soucieux de ne point se désolidariser) vont à la révolution comme leurs aînés de 1914 allaient à la guerre..."
The Revue universelle, a monarchist-leaning publication, was founded by Jacques Bainville and Henri Massis.
First edition, one of 15 copies on Japan paper, the deluxe issue.
Minor foxing to the edges of the covers, otherwise a desirable and uncommon copy with all edges uncut.
Rare example of this propaganda leaflet published by the Nazi Occupier, which became the most iconic image of the Resistance. This smaller version of the famous Affiche Rouge features the poster on the recto and a paragraph on the verso castigating « l'Armée du crime contre la France » ("the Army of Crime against France"). It opens with accusations against the « rêve mondial du complot juif » ("the global dream of the Jewish conspiracy") and claims that « si des Français sabotent, pillent et tuent (...) ce sont toujours des juifs qui les inspirent » ("if Frenchmen sabotage, loot, and kill (...) it is always Jews who inspire them").
A discreet horizontal crease, otherwise superb condition for an ephemeral document.
Accompanied by the rare brochure entitled 'L'armée du crime' ('The army of crime') in the format of a newspaper illustrated with 14 pages of photographs.
A trace of horizontal fold. A fine copy.
First edition, one of 70 numbered copies on pure thread paper, ours being one of 15 hors commerce copies lettered under Ingres covers, deluxe copies after 2 reimposed on pure thread laid paper hors commerce reserved for Jacques Hébertot and 13 holland paper copies.
Minor marginal tears of no consequence to the covers.
Handsome and rare copy of this response by Albert Camus to Jean-Paul Sartre's "Les mains sales".
First edition in French, one of 15 numbered copies on pure thread paper, the only deluxe copies.
Spine and boards slightly and marginally sunned, otherwise handsome copy.
First edition, one of 170 numbered copies on pur fil.
An agreeable copy preserved under a double wrapper.
First edition, one of 200 numbered copies on “light green paper,” the only deluxe paper issue announced.
Turquoise half morocco binding, smooth spine, date in gilt at foot, marbled paper boards, endpapers, and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt; an elegant contemporary binding signed by G. Gauché.
A very handsome copy, finely bound by Georges Gauché and complete with its publisher's prospectus.
Signed presentation inscription by René Crevel: "My dear Georges, here, in its finest form: Diderot’s Harpsichord, if you can help him play his music? With all my affection. René" (our own translation)
Rare first edition of this sticker album entirely devoted to the glory of the Castro regime and the Cuban Revolution.
The album comprises 268 small, mounted, colour stickers, each captioned and arranged in strict chronological order of events, including 16 portrait plates of the principal figures (the Castro brothers, Camilo Cienfuegos, Ernesto "Che" Guevara, Faure Chaumont, Rolando Cubelas, Victor Bordon, Eloy Gutierrez, Crecencio and Faustino Perez, etc.).
No copy recorded in the CCFr, which comes as little surprise for this type of production.
Our copy, issued in original illustrated colour wrappers, is housed in a modern oblong slipcase, full decorated boards in the colours of the Cuban flag.
Minor tears and marginal losses to the covers and spine, together with numerous unavoidable restorations using transparent adhesive repairs, reflecting the extreme fragility of this sticker album intended for "older children".
This very rare album, complete with all its stickers, was produced to commemorate the successive stages of the Cuban Revolution. It belongs to the genre of collectible sticker albums for children and young people, hugely popular in the 1960s: the images were obtained with the purchase of consumer goods and served as promotional incentives (in this case, the "dulces en conserva" marketed under the Felices brand).
Unsurprisingly, the portrayal of the Revolution is entirely partisan and conforms to the heroic and liberating image the regime sought to project.
On the verso of the final cover, one finds a speech by Fidel Castro dated 16 October 1953.
Original black and white photograph depicting Boris Yegorov in flight suit.
A fine copy.
Rare autograph of Boris Yegorov in blue ink in the left margin of the photograph.
On 12 October 1964, aboard Voskhod 1, Boris Yegorov made his sole flight as a physician, participating in the first mission in history to carry three crew members.
Provenance: from the collection of the renowned autograph collector Claude Armand.
Original black and white photograph, issued in a limited edition of 50 numbered prints, depicting Andrian Grigorievitch Nikolaïev during his visit to Switzerland in July 1971.
A fine copy. Printed stamps on the verso identifying the cosmonaut, the date of his visit to Switzerland, the numbering of the print (10/50), and the name of the "Boutique russe" in Geneva.
Boldly signed by Andrian Grigorievitch Nikolaïev in blue felt-tip pen in the lower left corner of the print.
Andrian Grigorievitch Nikolaïev was part of the very first group of Soviet cosmonauts selected in March 1960. He was the third man to travel into space.
His visit to Switzerland followed the successful completion of the Soyuz 9 mission, in which he participated alongside Vitali Sevastyanov.
Provenance: from the collection of the prominent Swiss autograph collector Claude Armand.
Autograph manuscript signed by Gracchus Babeuf. Three pages on three leaves and nine lines (on the verso of the first leaf). He still writes under the name François-Noël and Camille (in homage to Camille Desmoulins) in the autograph manuscript heading on the first leaf ("F.N. Cam. Babeuf citoyen français"). Autograph pagination in the upper left corner of each leaf. Minor marginal tears not affecting the text, occasional foxing, slight horizontal center fold.
This long discourse is one of the first significant documents in which Babeuf, the Marat of Picardy and precursor of communism, speaks about himself after devoting his pen to defending the rights of peasants and workers since the beginning of the Revolution. In this veritable revolutionary credo, Babeuf replaces the rejection of Satan with that of the aristocracy and its works. He intends to prove that his past as a feudiste (whose work consisted in reconstituting or recovering the deeds by which lords could claim to collect from peasants rights that had fallen into disuse) paradoxically makes him the most qualified to abolish the feudal regime and its property privileges - ultimately achieving an early version of communism Babeuf was adamantly advocating for.
"Feudality is nothing but a system of slavery and tyranny; my homeland wishes to be free, it must preserve nothing of what relates to such a regime. Recently, speaking to me of the former lords, I was asked very seriously this question: - do you renounce them? -yes, I replied, I renounce them and forever."
