//French literature
  • Title-page in black and red: LE | SOPHA, | CONTE MORAL.NOUVELLE EDITION. | PREMIERE PARTIE. | {vignette} | A PEKIN, | Chez l'imprimeur de l'Empereur, | 1749. || Pagination: Two volumes in one. [2] – blanks, [2] – blank / frontis., [i, ii] – t.p. / blank, [iii] iv-xxi [xxii] ; [1] 2-253, [254-256] – table / blank, [2] – blanks; [i, ii] f.t. (seconde partie). [iii] 4-237 [238-240] – table / blank, [2] – blanks ; ills. 1 frontispiece, 4 plates and 2 vignettes by Pelletier after Clavereau, 2 fleurons by Fessard after Cochin. Collation: 12mo; a12, A8B4–T8V4, X8 [*1]; A8B4–T8V4. Binding: Full mottled calf, flat spine, compartments double-ruled in gilt, gilt flowers and foliage in compartments, crimson title label; marbled endpapers. Printed on laid paper, watermarked. Size: 14.8 x 8.8 cm Catalogue raisonné: Cohen, de Ricci (266); J. Lewine (124-5).
  • Front wrapper and title page (in red and black): LES CONTES DE | CHARLES | PERRAULT | ILLUSTRATIONS | EN COULEURS | DE | BRUNELLESCHI | {vignette} | GIBERT JEUNE | LIBRAIRIE D'AMATEURS | 61, BOULEVARD SAINT-MICHEL, 61 | PARIS || Pagination: [2] – blanks, [2] – h.t. / limit., [2] – t.p. / blank, [4] – preface, [2] – d.t.p., 1-168 [169-70], [4] – table, [2] – imprint / blank; total 188 pages (94 leaves) with 55 in-text illustrations, plus 16 colour plates extraneous to collation, incl. frontispiece. Edition: Limited edition of 1,000 copies, this copy is № 1 (stamped in black). Printed on the 31st of October 1946 by J. Dumoulin (H. Barthélemy – director, Louis Malexis – mise en page); stencil-colouring (au pochoir) by E. Charpentier under direction of the artist. Binding: 26.7 x 20.3 cm, publisher’s flapped pictorial wrappers, vignettes and lettering to front wrapper and spine, publisher’s device to back wrapper, uncut. Fairy Tales by Charles Perrault (French, 1628 – 1703): Griselidis (Griselda) — Peau d'Asne (Donkeyskin) — Les Souhaits ridicules (The Ridiculous Wishes— La Belle au Bois dormant (Sleeping Beauty) — Le Petit Chaperon rouge (Little Red Riding Hood) — La Barbe-Bleue (Bluebeard) — Le Maistre Chat ou Le Chat Botté (Puss in Boots) — Les Fées (The Fairies) — Cendrillon ou La Petite Pantoufle de verre (Cinderella)— Riquet à la Houppe (Riquet with the Tuft) — Le Petit Poucet (Hop-o'-My-Thumb) Description of the stensil (au pochoir) technique.
  • Description: One volume, publisher’s original tan French flapped wrappers with engraved vignette, in glassine DJ, unbound, 25.5 x 19.5 cm, collated in-4to, bottom and outer margins untrimmed, some pages uncut, printed on laid watermarked Van Gelder Zonen paper, illustrated with 15 full-page drypoint plates, some with tissue guard; front wrapper, t.p. and table vignettes, numerous head- and tailpieces by R. Lacourière after drawings by Marcel Vertès, enriched with two cancelled images printed on different laid papers in different states, three of each image. Printed on June 10, 1926 by Coulouma (Argenteuil) under the direction of H. Barthélemy, drypoints by Roger Lacourière (Paris). Limitation: 95 copies of which № 1 on Japon Ancien, № №  2-26 on Japon Impérial, and №№ 27-95 on Hollande. This is copy № 78. Front wrapper: FRANCIS CARCO | L'AMOUR | VÉNAL | {vignette with inscription in oval tablet «POINTES | SÈCHES | DE» } | VERTÈS | PARIS | MCMXXVI || Title-page: FRANCIS CARCO | L'AMOUR | VÉNAL | {vignette} | POINTES SÈCHES DE | VERTÈS | PARIS | MCMXXVI || Collation: 2 leaves in wrapper, π4 (fac-simile of Carco a.l.s., h.t., t.p., authorship) a4 (preface), 1-164 [17]4, 2 leaves in wrapper; total without the wrapper 76 leaves plus 15 plates, plus 6 plates of enrichment plates. Pagination: [8] [i] [ii-viii] [1] 2-128 [8], total 152 pages, ils. Note: The edition is not in Dutel, not in Pia (Enfer); Fekete (2014): № 215, p. 117; Vokaer (1967): № 15, p.10. According to both sources, it is a 2-volume edition, with text in vol. 1 and plates in vol. 2. Vokaer attributes publishing to La Roseraie (Paris) and provides for 45 drypoints of which 18 full-page plates in the second volume. Fekete (Christie’s) provides for 15 full-page plates and 25 illustrations in text. Contributors: Francis Carco [François Carcopino-Tusoli] (French, 1886 – 1958) – author. Marcel Vertès [Marcell Vértes] (Jewish-Hungarian-French, 1895 – 1961) – artist. Roger Lacourière (French, 1892 – 1966) – engraver, printer.
  • Description: Softcover, 22 x 17 cm, in a blue-grey double slipcase 23.3 x 17.8 cm, publisher’s French flapped wrappers with a pink burning heart pierced with arrow diaper pattern, 15 unbound gatherings in 4to, and a suite of 12 stencil-coloured photogravures (au pochoir) after Shem, printed on wove pur fil paper; numerous tailpieces and in-text vignettes in blue. Half-title: Petites Cousines || Title-page: Alice • Simonne | Marcelle • Andrée | — | Souvenirs érotiques d’un homme | de qualité touchant les petites | cousines... les femmes du monde | et les belles filles de province | AUX DÉPENS D'UN AMATEUR ET | ~~ POUR SES AMIS ~~ || Pagination: [4] [1-4] 5-111 [112] [4], total 120 pages, incl. those in wrappers; 12 unnumbered suite of plates laid-in. Limitation: An edition of 255 copies of which 5 copies on Arches paper, enriched with one suite in b/w and one coloured plus one original drawing and two sketches (№№ 1-5); 15 copies on Arches paper, enriched with one suite in b/w plus one original drawing and one sketch (№№ 6-20); 235 copies on Pur Fil paper (№№ 21-255). This copy is № 85, with a suite of plates in colour. Catalogue raisonné: Dutel № 965, pp. 31-2. Note: Title-page per Dutel ALICE • SIMONNE | MARCELLE • ANDRÉE | — | Souvenirs érotiques d’un homme | de qualité touchant les petites | cousines... les femmes du monde | et les belles filles de Province | AUX DÉPENS D'UN AMATEUR ET | ~~ POUR SES AMIS ~~ || Contributors: Pierre Mac Orlan (born Pierre Dumarchey] (French, 1882 – 1970) – author. Schem [real name Raoul Serres] (French, 1881– 1971) – artist.
  • Hardcover volume, 20.7 x 13.2 cm, in glossy paper pictorial boards, blurb to back, lettering to spine, pp.: [1-4] 5-221 [3]. Title-page: {meander} {banner: crawn} | ИСТОРИЯ | В РОМАНАХ {meander} | Э. Сю | ТАЙНЫ НАРОДА | {device МИР КНИГИ} {device Литература} | {meander} || Faux-title: {meander} | ТАЙНЫ НАРОДА | История одного семейства | {meander} || Print run: 3,500 copies. Contributors: Eugène Sue [Эжен Сю] (French, 1804 – 1857) – author О. Иванова, О. Григорьева, Л. Белевич – translators. Original:Eugène Sue. Les mystères du peuple ou Histoire d’une famille de prolétaires à travers les âges. — Paris Administration de librairie, 1849-1857 (16 vol.), according to Worldcat 68 editions published between 1850 and 2003.
  • Pictorial title by von Bayros: Die | Bohème. | Scenen aus dem Pariser | Künstlerleben | von | Henri Murger | Leipzig im | InselVerlag | 1906. | F. Bayros || Pagination: [2] – pictorial frontispiece, [2] – pictorial t.p., 1-280 [2] – inhalt, [2] – colophon, [2] – blank, + 4 plates drawn by Franz von Bayros and reproduced as photogravure, with guards. Binding: 23.5 x 15.5 cm, cream parchment, raised bands, gilt-lettered orange morocco label to spine; text printed on laid paper (Linden Paper watermark), untrimmed, illustrations on wove paper as photogravure. Bookplate: “Ex libris Walter Schniewind” engraved by C. L. Becker. Original title: Henry Murger. Scenes De La Vie De Boheme. — Paris: Michel Lévy frères, 1851. Tirage: 50 copies on laid paper, of which this is № 14 (per Sarkowski: 50 numerierte Ex. auf Bütten. Pergament mit Goldschnitt). Author: Murger, Henri [Murger, Louis-Henri, Henry] (French, 1822 – 1861). Translator: Grove, Frederick Philip [Greve, Felix Paul] (German-Canadian, 1879 – 1948). Illustrator: Bayros, Franz von (Austrian, 1866 – 1924). Printer: Drugulin, Wilhelm Eduard (German, 1822 – 1879); Offizin W. Drugulin (Leipzig). Provenance: Schniewind, Walter (German, 1870 – 1927). Catalogue raisonné: Heinz Sarkowski (1999): № 1175 VA, p. 195; Bayros Zeichnungen, pp. 43-46.
  • 1st edition, limited to 52 copies of which 7 copies on Japon paper (№ 1-7) and 45 copies on Rives paper (№ 8-52); printed by Maurice Daratiere; this copy is № 50. “Ladies only” – a pictorial album, unbound, printed by Maurice Darantiere, with 15 black and white lithographs by Edouard Duchâtel (French, 19th-20th century) after drawings by Marcel Vertès on cream wove paper 38 x 28 cm; French flapped wrappers, with the lithographed manuscript title “Dames seules” in a grey clamshell box 40 x 30 cm; printed by Maurice Darantiere,  title with vignette pasted to box cover, one image on a double sheet; all illustrations with tissue guards. Bookplate “From the Library of | Vance Gerry | The Weather Bird Press | pasted inside the box cover (see Vance Gerry and The Weather Bird Press). Provenance: Vance Bryden Gerry (American, 1929 – 2005) Contributors: Marcel Vertès [Marcell Vértes] (Jewish-Hungarian-French, 1895 – 1961) – artist. Francis Carco [François Carcopino-Tusoli] (French, 1886 – 1958) – author. Edouard Duchâtel (French, 19th-20th century) – artist, lithographer. Maurice Darantiere (French, 1882 – 1962) – printer. Louis Godefroy (French, 1885 – 1934) – publisher. Other names: Marcel Vertès, Marcel Vertes, Marcell Vértes
  • Description: One volume in cream French flapped wrappers, 28.5 x 19.5 cm, lettered to front in blue, printed on wove paper, [1-8] 9-157 [158] [6 blanks] + 8 plates tipped-in; total 82 leaves, first two and last three blank (total 8 blanks), the first and last leaves in the wrappers. Clandestine pirate edition with 8 collotype reproductions of coloured etchings after André Collot. Some plates with a water stain in the upper left corner, one plate has a long closed tear along the left margin. Compare to the original etchings, these plates look dull. Front wrapper (blue): LA SEMAINE | SECRÈTE | DE SAPHO || Title-page (black): LA SEMAINE | SECRÈTE | DE SAPHO | Illustrée de huit gravures | coloriées à la main | LA CHRONIQUE DES DAMES | CONTEMPORAINES || Limitation: The run of 300 copies printed on vélin de luxe “illustrée de huit gravures avec remarques colorées à la main”. This copy is № 128. Note: According to J.-P. Dutel (1920-1970) № 2385, p. 360, it is a pirate edition, printed in c. 1930. Jean-Pierre does not indicate that the plates are collotype reproductions, however, it is obvious when assessed under a microscope with a magnification of 60. The original edition published in 1929 has a different title-page and is illustrated with hand-coloured etchings, see Dutel (1920-1970) № 2384, p. 360. Contributors: Pascal Pia [Pierre Durand] (French, 1903 – 1979) – author. André Collot (French, 1897 – 1976) – artist.
  • Description: Softcover, original blue-grey wrappers, maroon fleuron to front wrapper « P.L. {copulating couple} 1897.  », 28.5 x 23 cm, in a grey double slipcase. Pp.: [1-10] 11-192 [2] [6 blanks], total 200 pages, 50 folio leaves folded in half collated in 4to, unbound, plus 16 coloured lithographs by Jean Berque; all printed on wove paper watermarked “LANA”. This is № 207 of an undisclosed number of copies. Edition enriched with a suite of 12 hand-coloured etchings after Éduard Chimot for publication in the late 1940s (Dutel 2524) on BFK Rives paper. Title-page (maroon and black): P. L. | TROIS | FILLES | DE LEUR | MÈRE | {fleuron} | A L'ENSEIGNE DU CHAT POUR CHAT | M DCCC XCVII || Catalogue raisonné: Dutel 2523, Pia 1340. Contributors: Pierre Louÿs (French, 1870 – 1925) – author. Jean Berque (French, 1896 – 1954) – artist. Édouard Chimot (French, 1880 – 1959) – artist.
  • Publisher’s olive French flapped wrappers, in-4to, 33 x 25.3 x 6 cm, green and black lettering to front and spine, in a glassine dust jacket, in a marbled double slipcase 34.5 x 25.5 cm, unbound; pp.: [8] 1-436 [4], plus 30 colour plates with guard tissue, extraneous to collation; edition enriched with a set of 30 uncoloured etchings with guard tissue in a lettered paper folder. Title-page: ÉMILE ZOLA | NANA | ILLUSTRÉ DE | TRENTE GRAVURES ORIGINALES | DE | VERTÈS || PARIS | JAVAL ET BOURDEAUX | 44 bis, rue de Villejust | 1933 || Justification du tirage: il a été tiré de «Nana » d'Émile Zola. Soixante exemplaires sur japon impérial, numérotés de 1 a 60, avec un état en couleurs colorié a la main et un état en noir des trente gravures originales de Vertès. [Edition limited to 60 copies, this is copy № 54]. Colophon: « NANA », D'ÉMILE ZOLA, ÉTÉ ACHEVÉ D'IMPRIMER LE TRENTE AVRIL MIL NEUF CENT TRENTE-TROIS, EN CARACTÈRES ROMAIN ANGLAIS DU CORPS 16, SUR LES PRESSES DU MAITRE IMPRIMEUR COULOUMA, À ARGENTEUIL, H. BARTHÉLEMY, DIRECTEUR. LES COMPOSITIONS DE VERTÈS ONT ÉTÉ REPRODUITES EN FAC-SIMILÉ PAR D. JACOMET & Cie. Printed on April 30, 1933 by Coulouma in Argenteuil, H. Barthélemy, director; illustrations reproduced in facsimile by D. Jacomet & Co. Catalogue raisonné: Vokaer 30. Contributors: Émile Zola (French, 1840 – 1902) – author. Marcel Vertès [Marcell Vértes] (Jewish-Hungarian-French, 1895 – 1961) – artist. Javal et Bourdeaux – publisher. Daniel Jacomet (French, 1894 – 1966) – printer. Seller's description: Nana. Paris, Javal et Bourdeaux, 1933. 2 volumes in-4, en feuilles, non coupé, non rogné, chemise et étui. Ouvrage illustré de 30 gravures originales en couleurs de Marcel Vertès. Tirage à 60 exemplaires sur japon impérial contenant un état des illustrations coloriées à la main en couleurs et un état en noir. Chemise et emboîtage insolés.