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35
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René CHAR. Retour amont. Illustrated by Giacometti.
See original version (French)
35
-
René CHAR. Retour amont. Illustrated by Giacometti.
See original version (French)
Estimate €2,500 - €3,500
Voluntary lot
Description
René CHAR. Retour amont. Illustrated by Giacometti. Paris, GLM, 1965. Large in-8, tab-bound, mastic box, smooth spine, covers covered with a raised mosaic design of wooden slats, cold-stamped, grey deerskin endpapers, untrimmed, cover and spine preserved, half-box slipcase in grey (N. Kiyomiya 2018).
First edition. Limited edition of 188 copies on Rives vellum: no. 49 signed by the author and dated 11 January 1966.
This copy is complete with the printed insert announcing: “Alberto Giacometti died on 11 January 1966. *Retour amont*, completed at the time of his illness, could not be signed by him.”
The book features four original full-page black-ground etchings by Alberto Giacometti.
“Giacometti’s negative etchings – among the finest he ever produced – were his last. This book, which perfectly matched René Char’s vision at the time for an illustrated collection of this scale, reflected a special relationship between the author and his publisher. Guy Lévis Mano shared with Pierre-André Benoit the privilege of acting as a private printer for the poet, entrusted with his complete confidence” (Coron, 50 livres illustrés depuis 1947, 1988, no. 35.- Coron, Les Éditions GLM, bibliography, no. 489.)
An autograph letter signed by the poet, dated 21 August 1965, concerning corrections to manuscripts—notably *Retour amont* (2 pages, oblong in-8 format, on Busclats letterhead)—has been bound in at the end.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale
Henri Michaux, the Sven Pitsey collection
Auction location
Auction time
10/29/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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