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live October 29 | 02:00 PM
Leducq Maison de ventes aux enchères

221 - The Michaux Collection of Georgette and Jacques-Olivier Fourcade. 1923–1965. 34 volumes, green paper slipcases with sliding lids by Clara Gevaert. A collection of thirty-four volumes given by Henri Michaux to his friends, the Fourcades: it notably includes the two books edited by Jacques-Olivier Fourcade, *Mes propriétés* and *Nous deux encore*, each featuring magnificent dedications to… Georgette. All the volumes have been preserved in paperback, as originally published, and have been placed in ingenious green paper slipcases with sliding lids by the Belgian bookbinder Clara Gevaert. The thirty-four cases together form a magnificent and imposing set, adorned with an intaglio design consisting of the letters of the two names arranged head-to-toe: “Michaux” and “Fourcade.”

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Estimation

€40,000 - 50,000

Sale fees

30%

The Michaux Collection of Georgette and Jacques-Olivier Fourcade. 1923–1965. 34 volumes, green paper slipcases with sliding lids by Clara Gevaert. A collection of thirty-four volumes given by Henri Michaux to his friends, the Fourcades: it notably includes the two books edited by Jacques-Olivier Fourcade, *Mes propriétés* and *Nous deux encore*, each featuring magnificent dedications to… Georgette. All the volumes have been preserved in paperback, as originally published, and have been placed in ingenious green paper slipcases with sliding lids by the Belgian bookbinder Clara Gevaert. The thirty-four cases together form a magnificent and imposing set, adorned with an intaglio design consisting of the letters of the two names arranged head-to-toe: “Michaux” and “Fourcade.” List of works in chronological order: 1. *Les Rêves et la Jambe*. Philosophical essay. Antwerp, Ça ira, 1923. Small 12mo, paperback. First edition, self-published. One of 400 copies on publishing-quality vellum. Important autograph dedication signed on the half-title page: Your friend / Henry Michaux / but you’ve already lost faith in these / people we call writers. Well, / just say quickly that I’m a detestable one and / believe in my friendship. / To Jacques Fourcade 2. *Mes propriétés*. Paris, J.O. Fourcade, 1929. In-8, paperback. First edition: Number I of the very rare first 20 copies printed on Japanese paper. A lovely autographed dedication on the half-title page to the publisher’s wife: To Mrs. Georgette Fourcade. / Here are my properties, as always. I’m going to / take up gardening in earnest, and one day I’ll / offer you something that will be a pleasure / to behold. No doubt you do not see me / as a gardener, nor as a florist. But I want / in any case to invite you to estates / that are less inhuman. Please excuse me once again this time / your friend / Henry Michaux This copy was featured in the BnF exhibition, “Henri Michaux: Painting, Composing, Writing,” Paris, 1999, no. 31. Signs of wear on the cover. 3. Ecuador. Paris, Nouvelle Revue Française, 1929. In-12, paperback. First edition. Press copy. Autographed dedication on the half-title page: To Mr. Fourcade / a tribute from a friend / H. Michaux Stitches on the cover. 4. Un certain Plume. Paris, Éditions du Carrefour, 1930. In-12, paperback, padded cover. First edition, rare. One of 200 press copies on vellum (No. 200). Jacques Fourcade was forced to send a large portion of the 3,040 copies to the pulping machine, as Michaux was bound by an exclusivity contract with Gallimard. The number of surviving copies is estimated at 300. Autographed copy, signed on the preliminary leaf: to Jacques Fourcade / Old Jack / to you / Henri Michaux Pencil scribbles on the verso of the last leaf and on the inside back cover. Scattered foxing. (This copy was featured in the BnF exhibition, *Henri Michaux: Painting, Composing, Writing*, Paris, 1999, no. 34.) 5. *La Nuit remue*. Paris, Librairie Gallimard, 1935. In-8, paperback. Partially original edition. Press copy from which no hardcover editions were printed. Autograph dedication signed on the endpaper: To Jacques Fourcade / this night that will not fool him / his friend / Henri M 6. Voyage en Grande Garabagne. Paris, Gallimard (Métamorphoses collection), 1936. In-8, paperback, slipcase. First edition. Press copy on foam-backed paper. Autographed dedication on the half-title page: to Jacques Fourcade / his friend / H. Michaux / You don’t have to / read all this mediocrity, okay! / HM Included is an order form from Gallimard, printed on fine pink paper, announcing the publication of *Voyage en Grande Garabagne* in the *Métamorphoses* series edited by Jean Paulhan. Foxing in places. 7. Peintures. Seven poems and sixteen illustrations. Foreword by Louis Cheronnet. Paris, G.L.M., 1939. In-12, paperback. First edition. Print run of 580 copies; one of the 550 on white vellum (no. 74). Autograph dedication signed on a flyleaf: to Georgette and Jacques / Fourcade / tribute / from the old man at the garage / H Michaux Included are: - an off-print of 8 phototypes, three of which are annotated on the back in ink by Henri Michaux, likely indicating the prices of the original works. - three original photographs of works by Henri Michaux reproduced in the book (silver gelatin prints: one unmarked, one bearing the stamp of Maurice Poplin, and one bearing the stamp of Marc Vaux). - a glass negative of one of the illustrations. 8. Au pays de la magie. Paris, Gallimard, 1941. In-12, paperback. First edition, printing completed on November 12, 1941. Press copy bearing an autograph dedication signed on the half-title page: To Jacques / a few steps while waiting for him / Henri 9. You’re going to

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Auction details

Henri Michaux, the Sven Pitseys Collection
Thursday, October 29
02:00 PM
35, rue La Fayette
75009 Paris, France

Auction house

Leducq Maison de ventes aux enchères +33 1 81 70 36 56 ap@leducq-encheres.com
On Drouot for 3 years avec More than 13,000 lots published

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