Le Bookiniste

Pièces Grinçantes [Grating Plays]

Anouilh, Jean

Paris: La Table Ronde, 1956. First Edition, First Printing.

A collection of plays INSCRIBED by Jean Anouilh on the half title: "Pour ce gamin de Claude Sainval souvenir de la representation d'adieux de son ainè. Affectuesement, Jean Anouilh, 10 Janvier 62." ("For this kid of Claude Sainval, a memory of his elder brother's farewell performance. Affectionately, Jean Anouilh, January 10, 1962."

Claude Sainval was an actor as well as a film and theatre director. He acted in and directed a number of Anouilh's plays, especially in the 1940s and '50s. A nice association.

The plays here are: Ardèle ou la Marguerite; La Valse des Toréadors; Ornifle ou le courant d'air; and Pauvre Bitos ou le dîner de têtes. Sainval acted in two of these plays at the Comédie des Champs-Elysées in Paris: Ardèle ou la Marguerite (1948 and 1958) and in La Valse des Toréadors (1952).

This is one of 100 numbered copies on vélin pur fil Lafuma after 12 on Madagascar paper. Copies of the first edition inscribed by Anouilh are scarce to the market.

PHYSICAL DETAILS: Octavo (8.125 x 5.75 inches; 206 x 147 mm), 507, [5] pages, in printed paper dust jacket over card wrappers (soft cover).

CONDITION: Foxing and soiling to spine and to jacket covers, small tear to bottom of spine, pages mostly unopened. About Very Good.

. Item #789

Price: $400.00