Paris: Mercure de France (1912). One of Cocteau's earliest publications, written when he was only 23. He had already befriended Marcel Proust, Andre Gide and many in the artistic and fashion worlds when he met the American painter Romaine Brooks, who painted his portrait in 1912. This collection of poems bears a warm dedication from Cocteau to Brooks referencing the portrait. Very good in original wrappers, small chips at corners and edges, small stain on cover. More

Paris: Gallimard (1950). A fine copy of Cocteau's classic, with three drawings by Berard. One of twenty hors commerce copies. More

Paris (2000). A collection of previously unpublished photographs and drawings of Cocteau and his friends during the first world war. The text includes letters written during the peiod by Cocteau to his family. Very good in wrappers. More

Argentorati: in aedibus Vuendelini Rihelii (1548). [8], 111, [9] fol. Commines was a philosophical historian and has been called the "first truly modern writer" and a major primary source for 15th century European history. His life was a continuing drama of intrigues involving the royal houses of Burgundy and France, ultimately ending in his employ by Charles VIII of France. His series of memoirs have been hailed for their forthright and often cynical understanding of the dramas of his age. This volume, one of the last in the series, recounts the Italian wars. Very good, early paper wrappers, present but detaching, small chip to front wrapper, pages generally very good with some browning. Uncommon. More

Englewood: As Stable Publications (1926). The surreal story of a young one-legged character and the bizarre events surrounding an ill-fated union. A copy of the story was given by Crevel to the young George Platt Lynes on his first visit to Paris and he printed the book at his home in New Jersey, before embarking on his career in photography. A very good copy of an uncommon publication, light browning and edge wear, slight water staining at bottom edge. The first English edition of the work was issued by Elysium Press in 1996, with illustrations by Jonathan Hammer. One of 300 copies, this example #176 in original wrappers with drawing by Phelan Gibb. More

New York: Albondocani (1971). An amusing portrait of Firbank, with an Introduction by Mirian Benkovitz. One of 126 numbered copies, printed letterpress on mustard colored Fabriano paper and hand-sewn in wrappers. A fine example. More

Paris: Eugène Renduel, 1835. 2 vols., 8vo. 560 pp. 438 pp. This dark comedic novel was commercially successful when issued and garnered the approval of Balzac ("Mais peut-être, avec autant de talent, étiez-vous tenu de tout savoir ? Le livre est d’une incontestable supériorité, de trop de supériorité même, il sera la lecture favorite de ceux qui dégustent, des hommes d’élite, et ceux-là sont en minorité."). It paints a picture of a "society rotten to the core, a society without faith, without law, without faith, without remorse and without pleasure." The protagonist, Edmond d'Offlize, boasts in a letter to a friend that he can seduce a very rich heiress whose face is so ugly that it would be acceptable "only in the land of the frogs." She is then pursued by d'Offlize and a friend (with whom he may share a romantic relationship) and a great muddle of manners ensues. The Marquis de Custine (1790-1857) was a French aristocrat, perhaps most famous for his travel book, Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia, published in 1839. He was avowedly homosexual and lived openly in Paris with his lover Edward Saint-Barbe, who remained his life companion. Aloys, his anonymously published novel deals explicitly with homosexuality long before such subjects were commonly written about. See Muhlstein, A Taste for Freedom: The Life of Astolphe de Custine. Very good in later black boards, light wear, early signature on endpaper in volume 1. Uncommon. More

Lille: GKC (1994). Soft cover. Reprint of the rare limited edition published in 1937 of these 'idylles d'amour grec en Angleterre." Fine in wrappers. More

[c. 1907]. Daudet, son of the famous writer, was a student of Whistler's and a close friend of Marcel Proust, Jean Cocteau and many in the homosexual world in early twentieth century Paris. Perennially overshadowed by his successful father, he never achieved much success in art and literary circles. This is a photographic reproduction (Druet process) of his portrait of Cocteau, signed by Daudet, and surrounded by this dedication in Cocteau's hand: "May this image born of you be unceasingly, my dear Lucien, the echo of a tenderness, made of impulse, recognition, esteem, admiration, and of all that one usually distributes to several people. Jean ". The photograph is mounted to a board and Cocteau's inked inscription appears around the edge of the image. The original work is on display at the Maison de Jean Cocteau in Milly-la-Foret. (9.45" x 11.81"). More

Paris: Flammarion (1910). 328pp. Lucien Daudet's collection of 4 novellas, Le Prince des Cravates, was dedicated to Proust, who wrote to him saying that he has written and signed an article for l'Intransigeant praising Lucien's work, 'Votre livre est tellement beau que je ne pouvais pas dormir tant que je n'avais pas écrit q.q. lignes sur lui." Very good in lightly worn wrappers, More

London: Woolf (1964). A critical bibliography of erotic bibliographies and book catalogues. One of 500 numbered copies, this is #3. Very good in boards, a little spine sunned. More

London: The Academy Publishing Company (1909). 30pp. The first collection of these sonnets, which include one dedicated to his soon to be estranged wife Olive Custance. Good in buff paper boards, bookplate on pastedown, some staining and wear to covers. Warmly inscribed to Christopher Jarchow (in 1931). Custom chemise and slipcase. More

Graz: Neugebauer (2016). 277pp. Volume 8 of the Norman Douglas Selected Correspondence series, the correspondence commences in 1928 and ends shortly before Douglas' death in 1952. Fine in red fabric boards, as issued. Photographic frontispiece. More