Sale Highlights

Hypnerotomachia Poliphili (1499) left its mark on the history of books. Here, it is surrounded by other bibliophilic treasures such as the Apocalypse series by Dürer, an atlas of coloured maps by Jaillot and Mortier, and the edition of La Fontaine’s Fables illustrated by Oudry. The dictionary that Toulouse-Lautrec bedecked with more than 400 original drawings is a true marvel. The letters include an exceptional set of letters from Philip II of Spain to his ambassador in France, as well as letters from Camille Borghèse about his wedding with Napoleon’s sister.

Antique and 19th Century Books

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 <h3>First Editions, Modern Illustrated Books, the Lettrist and Situationist International, Cinema</h3>

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 </div> A journey through the twentieth century with unexpected stops: 1911, a Nobel Prize in literature, that of Maeterlinck ─ the only Belgian to have won it! ; 1921, the moving photograph of one of the greatest French novelists preserved by his brother Robert Proust, as well as numerous letters; 1932, a rare first edition in large paper of Voyage au bout de la nuit, paperback; the 50s with the Lettrist and then Situationist revolution; the 60s-70s with Lautner's cult films, from Tontons flingueurs to Guignolo

Original Editions, Modern Illustrated Books, the Lettrist and Situationist International, Cinema

20th Century Books

20th Century

Beginning in the ’60s, contemporary artists began to reinvent the book as a form of expression. For example, the Xerox Book was made of photocopies; Buren turned a painting into a book; Warhol created a pop-up book; and photographs were compiled into a legendary box called Artists &amp; Photographs. The book became an object in itself, with Fontana designing a sculptural casing and Graham Rodney creating a “travel sculpture”. Even the more traditional books by Boltanski, Louise Bourgeois, and Robert Therrien are no less innovative!

Contemporary Artist’s Books

Guy Dessicy – who worked as a colourist for Hergé and the Tintin magazine in the late ’40s – remains an important figure in Belgian comic book history. His camaraderie with the creator of Tintin is evident in Hergé’s friendly dedications. The colourist also kept original drawings by Hergé and Schuiten (a magnificent depiction of the Cauchie House), as well as other illustrators such as Peyo, Franquin, Tibet, etc.

Comics: The Dessicy Collection 

What a pleasure to share these moments of intimacy with Toulouse Lautrec when he draws on his Latin version dictionary; with Cocteau when he scribbles on his manuscript Renaud and Armide; with Edith Piaf writing to her "little blue butterfly"; with Garcia Lorca who draws inspired by his surrealist friends; or with Magritte describing his paintings thanks to small sketches.

Original Drawings, Correspondence and Manuscripts

Paris

Director | Head of Department

Anne Heilbronn

Director | Specialist

Patricia de Fougerolle

Benoit Puttemans

Meet our Specialists

For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact: enquiries@sothebys.com France +33 (0) 1 53 05 53 48 UK +44 (0)207 293 5000 US +1 212 606 7000 HK +852 2524 8121

This auction is eclectic, with a diversity in terms of both periods and themes: from incunables to books by contemporary artists to first editions to Letterist International, screenplays and comic books. It includes the medal awarded to Maeterlinck for his Nobel Prize in Literature, as well as a variety of letters: love letters from Edith Piaf, political letters from Philip II, and provocative letters from Debord. The original manuscript of Crooks in Clover mingles with the Latin/French dictionary that belonged to Toulouse-Lautrec, which he covered with more than 400 original drawings; not to mention drawings by Garcia Lorca, Miró and Foujita.

Livres et Manuscrits du XVe siècle à nos jours, dont Cinéma, Art contemporain et Bande dessinée