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an open book with a bunch of papers on top of itan open book with a drawing of two people sitting on a benchpencil drawing of a person standing in a field with a hat onan old piece of paper with a drawing on itan open book with a black and white title on it
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147 - Henri MICHAUX. *Apparitions*. Paris, Le Calligraphe, 1946.
See original version (French)

Estimate €10,000 - €15,000
Sale commission
Description
Henri MICHAUX. *Apparitions*. Paris, Le Calligraphe, 1946. In-8, paperback, padded cover, a Renaud Vernier-designed box in ivory morocco leather that opens like a reliquary. First edition: illustrated with seven full-page compositions by Henri Michaux. On 4 May 1946, Marie-Louise Michaux wrote to the publisher René Bertelé expressing her appreciation for the colours of the typography and the quality of the reproduction of the drawings. She added: “Henri is delighted.” One of the nine first-print copies printed in Madagascar, this one for the publisher and friend René Bertelé. The first two first-print copies were reserved for the author, whilst the other seven were accompanied by an original drawing used for the illustrations; this copy, printed especially for his publisher, René Bertelé, features the original charcoal drawing of an anthropomorphic tree, executed around 1944–1945 and appearing opposite page 28: a sheet taken from a spiral-bound notebook (20.5 x 13.5 cm). I An important autographed dedication on the half-title page, illustrated with an original drawing in charcoal and grease pencil: ‘To René Bertelé, the most patient of friends and publishers, whose name, if there is any justice amongst bibliophiles, will be remembered more than that of the author associated with these APPARITIONS. Tribute and gratitude from his friend, H. Michaux’. The beautiful original drawing depicting three figures in the lower half of the page is initialled. *Apparitions* is the first book by Michaux published by René Bertelé: in that same year, 1946, he published *Peintures et Dessins* (see no. 150) and the monograph devoted to Michaux in Seghers’ *Poètes d’aujourd’hui* collection (Raymond Bellour and Ysé Tran, Œuvres complètes de Michaux, Pléiade III, pp. 1113–1114: with a reproduction of the dedication page). Enclosed is the complete, heavily corrected and signed typescript comprising a title page and 38 quarto folios. The whole is housed in a spectacular Renaud Vernier box in ivory morocco leather, crafted in 2002. It opens like a reliquary, with each half protected by a Plexiglas window, revealing, on the left, the book opened at the illustrated dedication page and, on the right, the drawing and proofs, each contained within a separate compartment. The box closes like a suitcase and fits into a slipcase edged with the same ivory morocco leather. (René Bertelé Collection Sale, 1997, lot 183, for the book.)
See original version (French)
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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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