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Description
CENDRARS (Blaise).
How White People Are Former Black People.
[Paris: Au Sans Pareil, 1930]. — In-16, 164 x 127: (4 leaves, first blank), 127 pp., (3 leaves, last two blank), printed cover. Paperback, covered binding.
First edition published in the ‘Plaisir du Bibliophile’ series.
This collection brings together tales and stories inspired by African oral traditions, in which Cendrars poetically reimagines the myths, legends and stories circulating within Black cultures.
The book is illustrated with five two-tone woodcuts by Alfred LATOUR (1888–1964), inspired by African masks and motifs.
A single print run of 500 numbered copies on vellum paper, plus a few copies for contributors. This copy bears the number 25.
Tears along the spine.
Also included, by the same author:
- Feuilles de route. I. le Formose. Paris: Au Sans Pareil, 1924. — In-16, 163 x 128: 75 pp., (2 ff. last blank), illustrated cover. Dark green Bradel-style leather, gilt title on the front cover, smooth spine, untrimmed, cover preserved (modern binding).
First edition of this travelogue in free verse, in which Cendrars records his impressions during his journey from Le Havre to São Paulo, via Bilbao and Dakar. It is illustrated with 8 drawings by the Brazilian painter Tarsila do AMARAL (1886–1973), one of the iconic figures of Brazilian modernism.
Printed in a run of 800 copies; this one is one of the 750 printed on Bulky laid paper (no. 336).
A well-bound copy.
Provenance:
Georges Flore and Geneviève Dubois, with bookplate.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale
Claude Mozis Library – Black Africa and the African diaspora
Auction location
Auction time
10/21/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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