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Description
LEIRIS (Michel).
Nights Without Night.
Paris: Fontaine, 1945. — In-18, 140 x 115: (1 blank leaf), 67 pp., (1 leaf), illustrated cover. Paperback, reinforced cover, with a modern slipcase and dust jacket.
First edition of this work, which forms the fourth volume in the ‘L’âge d’or’ collection.
It consists of a series of dream narratives, some of which refer to memories of Africa, such as the one marked ‘undated’ on pages 52–53, or the one dated March 1934: ‘ I am wearing a mahogany colonial helmet that I brought back from Africa. It is splendid, but its chin strap is almost broken. Upon waking, I am left with an unpleasant feeling, as I interpret this as a symbol of castration’ (page 47).
One of 25 non-commercial copies, printed on green paper.
A copy belonging to the psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Adrien Borel, featuring this autographed dedication on the half-title page:
To Dr Borel, // these dreams which add to // all those I have told him. //
Kind regards // Michel Leiris
A very well-preserved copy, despite slight wear to the cover.
Also included, by the same author and from the same provenance:
- *Haut mal*. Paris: Gallimard, 1943. — In-8, 190 x 141: 187 pp., (2 ff.), printed cover. Paperback, with a modern slipcase and dust jacket.
First edition.
Copy on chestnut-coloured paper, featuring this autograph dedication signed by the author:
To Dr Adrien Borel // with warmest regards from // Michel Leiris // 9 July 1943
Insert enclosed.
- Possession and its theatrical aspects amongst the Ethiopians of Gondar. Paris: Plon, [1958]. — In-8, 216 x 136: 103 pp., (4 leaves, the last one blank), printed cover. Paperback, with modern slipcase and dust jacket.
First edition, of which few copies were printed.
Copy enhanced by this signed autograph dedication:
To Dr Borel // with warmest regards // from // Michel Leiris
Insert enclosed.
Spine and cover edges faded.
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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