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Description
KESSEL (Joseph).
The 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 an initiation 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).
Enclosed is a loose half-title page from a copy of the standard edition, 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
Lot description modified on 10/12/2026 at 10:12 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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