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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 constitutes 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 autograph dedication signed on the half-title page:
To Dr Borel, // these dreams which add to // all those I have told him. //
Yours sincerely // 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 modern slipcase and dust jacket.
First edition.
A copy printed on chestnut-coloured paper, enhanced by this autograph dedication signed by the author:
To Dr Adrien Borel // with warmest regards from // Michel Leiris // 9 July 1943
Enclosed is the insert.
- *Possession and its theatrical aspects amongst the Ethiopians of Gondar*. Paris: Plon, [1958]. — In-8, 216 x 136: 103 pp., (4 ff., last blank), printed cover. Paperback, with modern slipcase and dust jacket.
First edition, of which no large-format edition was produced.
Copy enhanced by this signed autograph dedication:
To Dr Borel // a very friendly memento // from // Michel Leiris
Accompanied by the insert.
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
Lot description modified on 10/12/2026 at 10:25 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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