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Description
KESSEL (Joseph).
*Le Lion*. Novel.
Paris: Gallimard, [1958]. — In-8, 183 x 116: 316 pp., (2 ff.), printed cover. Burgundy half-chagrin with Bradel-style corners, smooth spine, gilt head, untrimmed, cover and spine preserved (C. Dreneau).
First edition.
In this novel, Kessel recounts the deeply moving friendship between Patricia, a ten-year-old girl, and King, a lion she raised in Kenya, in a nature reserve near Kilimanjaro. Although returned to the wild, King comes back every day to see her. But when Oriounga, a young Maasai, is forced to face him during a coming-of-age ritual, the lion kills him. John Bullit, Patricia’s father, is then compelled to kill King to protect the people.
One of 110 copies printed on pure-fibre vellum from the Papeteries Lafuma-Navarre, this one being one of the 10 non-commercial copies (ex. J).
A loose half-title page from a copy of the standard edition is enclosed, bearing the following inscription:
For Emile Henriot // with the // warmest // regards // from // J. Kessel
A fine copy, bound in its day by Constant Dreneau (1907–1972).
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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