Andre MALRAUX - Ferdinand LEGER
Paris, 1921
Paris, Editions de la Galerie Simon, 1921 published by Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler. Limited edition in 112 copies of which this one is one of the 90 copies in Hollande Van Gelder paper, signed by Leger and Malraux on justification page. Lunes en Papier, Andre Malraux surrealist tale illustrated by Fernand Leger with 7 woodcuts in black, of which one in cover, 3 in full page, and 3 in text. Lunes en papier was Malraux's first book and Leger's first book with original prints, featuring his first woodcuts. Malraux presents his surrealist story on the title page of its published first book as: "A small book where we find the account of some struggles little known to men, as well as that of a journey among familiar but strange objects, all according to the truth, and decorated with wood engravings also very true by Fernand Leger." Bound in a superb colorful artistic binder in calf and Morocco by Renee Haas that reinterprets one of Leger's woodcuts in the book, executed by Renaud Vernier, and Claude Ribal, stamp-signed and dated 2000. Original paper cover is well preserved inside. Complete with protective chemise board and slipcase. Ref: Saphire, pp 32 - 39
Milan, 1964
Berggruen, Paris & Schwarz, Milan, 1964. This book is made up of a collection of ten etchings with aquatint in color by Enrico Baj, signed and numbered in pencil, to accompany ten poems of Benjamin Peret chosen by Tristan Sauvage from the collection De derrière les fagots. It includes a foreword by Andre Breton and a false title in facsimile by Marcel Duchamp. Limited numbered edition of 125 copies in Velin d'Arches and Velin de Rives for the etchings of with this copy is one of the 89 copies. Signed in colophon by Andre Breton and Enrico Baj in pencil. Loose as issued, complete, guarded in the original slipcase in cloth with strips design, beige on beige, and small decorative tassel in white, matching hard chemise. In very good conditions
Pierre Reverdy & Pablo Picasso
Paris, 1948
Tériade, Paris, 1948. Printed by Mourlot, Paris. Loose as issued, cover. folder and case.
This edition was published in 1948 by Tériade and is printed from the poet's autograph copy. It is illustrated with 125 lithographs by Picasso (including 2 for the cover). Edition of 270 copies
on Arches vellum, signed by Pierre Reverdy and Pablo Picaso: one of 20 out of commerce.
Despite their long relationship, "Les Chants des Morts" is the only illustrated book Picasso and renown art reviewer and publisher Tériade ever collaborated on. Pierre Reverdy finished a series of 43 poems titled Le Chant des Morts and Picasso illustrated his handwritten manuscript page by page in the manner of old illuminated manuscripts, adding another layer of artistic expression to Reverdy's somber poems.
The poems were written during the later years of World War II and explore themes of love, death, and the human condition often in a fragmented and surreal manner. Picasso's artwork in this book complements Reverdy's poetry by visually capturing the essence of the text and is often characterized by distorted and fragmented figures, bold lines, and vibrant colors. The illustrations serve as visual interpretations and extensions of Reverdy's words, deepening the reader's understanding and appreciation of the emotional intensity and existential themes present in Reverdy's poems. Ref: Cramer 50
Lucien Pissarro Gerard de Nerval
Hammersmith, 1909
Gerard de Nerval, Illustrated by Lucien Pissarro. Limited edition of 130 nominative copies on Arches pour fil paper, of which this one is the n 73 for Henry Michel-Dansac. Gerard de Nerval tale from the collection of Voyage en Orient, illustrated with Lucien Pissarro composition drawings, engraved in woodcuts by Lucien and his wife Esther, Pissarro. This copy is enriched with a suite of the engravings on China paper (except for the vignette on the justification page) + two prints, also on China paper, of an unselected plate the first mounted at the head of the volume (N 17/ 50), and the second on a loose leaf (N. 49/50). In artistic binder signed M. Lortic ( Marcelin Lortic), empire green morocco, large gilt frame on the covers composed of a double frieze and rosettes, ornate ribbed spine, the original olive gray calf cover with florals gilt motives embossed, is preserved inside. In very good condition.
André Derain. François Rabelais.
Paris, 1943
François Rabelais, illustrated with colored woodcuts drawn and engraved by André Derain Limited numbered edition of 275 copies, of which this copy is on of 200 in Velin d Arches, signed by the artist on the justification page. Derain's main illustrated work, with 128 (21 full-page) original color woodcuts, 34 color woodcut initials and 18 color woodcut final vignettes. André Derain took full charge of the printing process from the carving of the wood blocks, in the manner of 15th-century cardmakers, to the coloring to which he added special attention to preserve the warm tone of his woodblocks, using a hand - coloring technique: all the wooden blocks had to be colored one after the other by a team of practitioners, in their nuances, according to a scheme established by the painter and repeated in each volume. Loose as issued in half parchment wrappers, chemise and slipcase. Text selection by A. Lefranc, illustrations printed by Andre Derain and Roger Lacourière. Light foxing at the margin, chemise in poor condition. Ref: The Artists and the Book 81.
Pablo Picasso, Rene Crevel, PAB
Alès, 1956
Rene Crevel first edition of is poem NUIT, published in the "Autumn 1924, Winter 1925" issue of Little Review New York magazine, illustrated with an original engraving with burin on celluloid by Picasso signed in pencil. Oblong tiny format, 65 x 90mm, published by PAB Alès, May 1956. Limited numbered edition of 30 copies, printed on fine Auvergne laid paper by Richard-de-Bas, n. 29 signed in pencil by PAB (Pierre Andre Benoit) Ref: Cramer 74. Very Good, lightly tanned.
Gerard de Nerval, Lucien Pissarro.
Gerard de Nerval, Illustrated by Lucien Pissarro. London Hammersmith, ERAGNY PRESS, for Les Cent Bibliophiles, 1909. Limited edition in 130 numbered and nominative copies, of which this one is the n 52 for M. Henry Hirsch. Gerard de Nerval tale from the collection of Voyage en Orient, illustrated with Lucien Pissarro composition drawings, engraved in woodcuts by Lucien Pissaro and his wife Esther. Frontispiece and Head-Letters in colors and gold. Bounded in the original publisher binding, in olive grey calf, with florals gilt motives embossed, guarded in a case and slipcase signed by Renaud Vernier, 1995. Rare edition in very good condition, few splits on the text block and light off-prints from the illustrations.
With original prints by Rodin, Renoir, Pissarro, Fantin-Latour and others. Geffroy, Gustave. 8 volumes. Paris:Dentu, 1892-95 / Floury, 1897-1903. Each volume contains an original print as frontispiece by: E. Carrière, A. Rodin, P.A. Renoir "Le Chapeau épinglé" , J.-F. Raffaelli, C. Pissarro and D. Vierge, as well as lithographed frontispieces by Fantin-Latour and A. Willette. Original softcover with original glassine.
A collection of works by American contemporary artists, presenting 30 works in a variety of media and paper; prints, multiples and photographs. The portfolio is a collaboration by the Moderna Museet in Stockholm and the New York-based group Experiments in Art and Technology (E.A.T.) it was published in 1973 in a limited numbered edition of 300 copies. It includes the following artists: Lee Bontecou, Robert Breer, John Chamberlain, Walter de Maria, Jim Dine, Mark di Suvero, Oivind Fahlstrom, Dan Flavin, Red Grooms, Hans Haacke, Alex Hay, Donald Judd, Ellsworth Kelly, Sol LeWitt, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Morris, Louise Nevelson, Kenneth Noland, Claes Oldenburg, Nam June Paik, Robert Rauschenberg, Larry Rivers, James Rosenquist, George Segal, Richard Serra, Keith Sonnier, Richard Stankiewicz, Cy Twombly, Andy Warhol and Robert Whitman. All the works are signed by the artists, except for de Maria, Haacke and Lichtenstein, and Noland that bear a stamped signature. Loos as issued and complete, guarded in the original Honduras mahogany box with justification stamped inside.
A green-cardboard mailbox that Marcel Duchamp created as a catalog for the 1959 Exposition Internationale du Surréalisme (EROS) in Paris. The box contains letters, texts, telegrams, and postcards representing or made by the artists who participated in the show. One of 200 copies. Marcel DUCHAMP (1887-1968). Boîte alerte (Alert box). Lascivious Missives - 1959 / 1960. Set of documents contained in a green cardboard letterbox measuring 28.5 x 18 cm with opening, movable hat, title on the front followed by a label printed in red: "Lascivious Missives" and, on the left side, printed on one line "International Exhibition of Surrealism". Surrealist box composed by André Breton and Marcel Duchamp to serve as a receptacle for the catalog of the International Surrealism Exhibition (1959-1960) organized at the Cordier gallery and various other documents detailed below: 1 - The exhibition catalog, large narrow In-8 of 144 pp., heavily illustrated, paperback, illustrated cover, numbered 5/200. 2 - Nine lascivious Missives: - 1. Robert Benayoum, pink envelope "Not to be opened under any circumstances" containing Le Corridor, illustrated leaflet in four panels. - 2. Micheline Bounoure, yellow envelope "Be ardent in the forest" containing two original compositions in symmetrical colors on the same sheet obtained by folding. - 3. Alain Joubert, pale green envelope containing "La Perle fine", text printed on four leaves. - 4.Red envelope "Have you thought about donating a little blood" containing a printed leaflet: La Pointe. - 5. R. Benayoum, "Strictly personal" white envelope containing authorization to republish a redacted text. - 6. Octavio Paz, airgram "Huis clos" containing Edemira B. printed on two sheets and two photographs. - 7. Transparent envelope "Notice of suffering" containing an anonymous leaflet "Letters from a sadist". - 8 André Pieyre de Mandiargues, orange "External use" envelope containing a "La Marée" leaflet. - 9. A white window envelope containing a woman's black stocking marked "Haut" by Mimi Parent. 3 - A cable on pink paper by Marcel Duchamp "Yours at André Breton". 4 - A double-sided 45 rpm vinyl record with texts spoken by: side a. J. Mansour, "The religious intoxication of big cities"; side b. B. Péret, "La Brebis galante". 5 - Six color postcards by Bellmer, Dali, Gorky, Miró, Svanberg, Clovis Trouille. 6 - Four original lithographs numbered 5/200 signed by the artists: Marie Toyen, Max Walter Svanberg, Adrien Dax and Joan Miro and an etching numbered 5/200 and signed by Jacques Le Maréchal.
Editions XXe Siecle, Paris, 1975. This edition of the renown French artistic magazine was published as a tribute to the founder of XXe Siecle magazine, Gualtieri di San Lazzaro. It is a limited edition from a total of 630 copies. This copy is one of the 55 copies reserved for the artists, collaborators, and friends, and was printed especially for Jaques Lassaigne. The portfolio collects prints and texts from artists and writer friends of di San Lazzaro. It includes lithographs by Max Bill, Braque, Alexander Calder, Marc Chagall, Max Ernst, Magritte, Picasso, Hans Hartung, Joan Miro, Henry Moore, Graham Sutherland, Zao Wou-ki, Fontana, Magnelli, and Poliakoff. Texts by De Mandiargues, Kandinsky, Chagall, Bouisset, Lassaigne, Dorival, Marini, Taillandier, Moore, Fornari, Marchiori, Carandente, Milani, Porzio, Zavattini and others. Case with wears, inside some stains are present on the text pages and at the edges of some prints, usual off printing on the text pages near the lithographs. Overall, a very good copy
Text by Henri de Montherlant, illustrated by Henri Matisse. Paris, Martin Fabiani. 1944. In this 1944 retelling of the famous Greek myth, Pasiphae's tragic fate comes to life with Matisse's signature vibrant and expressive style. De Montherlant first pitched the idea of collaborating on a book to Matisse while he posed for a portrait. Since Matisse quite enjoyed the poet's retelling of Pasiphae, he readily accepted and chose his favorite passages from the work, reinterpreting the scenes in his immediately recognizable bold style. He particularly enjoyed creating linoleum engravings as he felt the style best captured his subtle hand movements. Only some of the linoleum blocks produced by Matisse for Pasiphae were used for this book, the rest being stored in the hopes that they could be used for a later work. Although a limited edition of 100 copies was made with these blocks after the artists death. All of the blocks the artist made for these works have since been destroyed. One of 200 copies in Arches paper with publisher watermark, from a total edition of 250. First edition, bound in an artistic binder by Ramon Gomez-Herrara, designed by Miquel Ruiz with interwoven red and white lines on black backgrounds that reinterprets Matisse linogravures. Complete with the original blue cover with linoleum-cut well preserved inside, illustrated with 147 linoleum-cuts of which 18 in full page, not signed or dated, 39 boards (26 in black and 13 in red), 6 culs-de-lampe, and 84 initials in red. In excellent condition signed by Matisse in justification page. Ref: Duthuit (Matisse Catalogue raisonne des ouvrages illustres) - #10