12 - Pierre BETTENCOURT. *Le Bal des ardents*. Illustration by J. Dubuffet. Solstice [Saint-Maurice d’Ételan, 1953]. In-12, paperback, illustrated hardcover.

Pierre BETTENCOURT. *Le Bal des ardents*. Illustration by J. Dubuffet. Solstice [Saint-Maurice d’Ételan, 1953]. In-12, paperback, illustrated hardcover. First edition. Limited edition of 150 copies: one of the 30 first-edition copies featuring 5 butterfly illustrations, including one on the cover and 4 enhanced with watercolor. Autographed dedication on the half-title page to the poet’s wife and printer: On the descent / backward, / LE BAL DES ARDENTS / to dance / with Monique / her faithful husband / Pierre / Christmas 1982 A writer and painter, Monique Apple (1937–1998) met Pierre Bettencourt through Henri Michaux, who had already encouraged her to publish when she was only 22 years old. Bettencourt published *Que mal y soit* in 1961 before marrying her. (Imbert, *Nomenclature des livres et plaquettes publiés ou édités par Pierre Bettencourt*, pp. 20, 36: features, as here, 5 booklets.)