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several old books are stacked on top of each other on a white surfacean open book with writing on it sitting on a white surfacean open book with a handwritten title on it sitting on top of a tablean open book with writing on it sitting on top of a tablean open book with a handwritten page on it sitting on a white surfacean old book with a red and black title on itthe cover of a book with a yellow cover and black letteringan image of a picture of a plane flying over a map
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284 - [MERMOZ – KESSEL – PRANVILLE]
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Estimate €600 - €800
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[MERMOZ – KESSEL – PRANVILLE] A collection of books from the library of Gabrielle Mermoz-Gillet. An interesting collection of books presented to Jean Mermoz’s mother.   – KESSEL (Joseph). *La Fontaine Médicis*. Paris, NRF, Gallimard, 1950. In-8 (20.8 x 13.9 cm), paperback. First edition of the first volume of *La Tour du malheur*. Limited edition of 160 copies; this is one of the 50 non-commercial copies, printed especially for Mrs G. Mermoz. Dedication by Kessel to Gabrielle Mermoz: ‘To you, dear Mum Gaby, with all my love’. Dirty cover and slightly torn spine. – KESSEL (Joseph). *Les Lauriers roses*. Paris, NRF, Gallimard, 1950. In-8 (20.8 x 13.9 cm), paperback. First edition of the third volume of *La Tour du malheur*. Limited edition of 160 copies; this is one of the 50 non-commercial copies, printed especially for Mrs G. Mermoz. Sent by Kessel to Gabrielle Mermoz: ‘Dear Mum Gaby, to welcome your return, here is this book and all my love’. Cover worn, front cover missing.   – KESSEL (Joseph). *L’Équipage*. Paris, NRF, Gallimard, 1928. In-12 (18.8 x 11.8 cm), paperback, uncut. A new edition following the original 1923 edition. It is marked as the 232nd edition. Dirty cover with a tear and a missing section. – [RESCHOFSKY].– KESSEL (Joseph). *Fortune carrée*. Paris, Hachette, 1949. In-12 (16.4 x 11.6 cm), green percaline Bradel binding, plain spine with gilt bands (publisher’s binding). Edition illustrated with artwork by Jean Reschofsky and a map. Spine sun-faded, corners worn. – SAINT-EXUPÉRY (Antoine de). *Courrier sud*. Paris, nrf, Gallimard, 1941. In-12 (18.7 x 11.8 cm), paperback. A new edition based on the original 1929 edition. It is marked as the 42nd edition. Dirty cover, stain at the bottom of the spine, small tears at the fore-edge, pinholes on some pages. – SAINT-EXUPÉRY (Antoine de). Œuvres complètes. Paris, nrf, Gallimard, 1950. In-8 (22.3 x 17.7 cm), cream percaline cloth decorated with lines, waves and blue and gold stars; plain spine decorated with blue and gold motifs (publisher’s binding based on a design by Paul Bonet). An edition of Saint-Exupéry’s complete works, richly illustrated with compositions based on watercolours and drawings by Derain, Segonzac, Saint-Exupéry, etc. A gift from Dora to Gabrielle Mermoz: ‘All three of us send you our love and wish you a happy return to “Douce France” and every success with your project, the Aérium des Croix […]’. In the 1950s, Gabrielle Mermoz founded the Jean Mermoz Foundation, also known as the ‘Aérium des Croix’, in honour of her son. Its primary mission was to take in the orphans of pilots from the military and commercial air forces, as well as from the army and navy.   – SAINT-EXUPÉRY (Antoine de). *Terre des Hommes*. Audenarde, Sanderus, 1950. In-12 (18.4 x 13.2 cm), paperback. New edition with an introduction by Armand Bottequin, Doctor of Philosophy and Literature, for the ‘Classiques et Modernes’ collection. Presented by Bottequin to Gabrielle Mermoz: ‘To Mrs Mermoz as a token of respectful gratitude. Mt St Amand (Ghent), 21 February 1950’. Cover partially detached.   – BOTTEQUIN (Armand). Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Essay. Oudenaarde, Sanderus; Brussels, Auguste de Boeck, 1949. In-8 (20.7 x 14.7 cm), paperback. First edition. Dedication by Bottequin: ‘To Mrs G. Mermoz as a token of gratitude and respectful sympathy. 30 September 49’. Dirty and worn cover with tears and a missing section.   – [COMPANIA DE LAS LINEAS AÉREAS LATÉCOÈRE] La red aérea. Paris, Lineas aéreas Latécoère, n.d. In-8 (18 x 13.1 cm), paperback. Copy dedicated to Jean Mermoz. A small booklet presented by the Société des Lignes Latécoère to ‘its friends’ in Spain and South America to thank them for the proposed air route between France, Spain and South America. In 1927, the company was taken over and became the Compagnie générale aéropostale, made famous by Saint-Exupéry and Mermoz. Cover slightly soiled and scuffed. – CHATEAUBRIAND (François-René de). Atala. The Last of the Abenceres. Paris, Librairie Gründ, n.d. In-8 (18.9 x 11.6 cm), paperback. A late edition of this famous work by Chateaubriand from the library of Gabrielle Mermoz. Cover slightly soiled and scuffed; pages browned. Included with this volume: – FLEURY (Jean-Gérard). *La ligne*. On Mermoz, Guillaumet, Saint-Exupéry and their contemporaries. Paris, NRF, Gallimard, 1949. In-8 (21.7 x 14.2 cm), paperback. A new edition following the original 1939 edition. It is marked as the 11th edition. Sent from Fleury to ‘Mr Pranville, son of one of the truest heroes of [the line], with my warmest regards’. Julien Arthur Pranville, an aviator, led several missions alongside Jean Mermoz. Spine detached, cover slightly soiled, binding weak. Provenance: - Jean Mermoz (1901–1936); - Gabrielle Gillet-Mermoz (1880–1955); - Then passed down through the family
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Auction time 11/03/2026 at 11:00 AM
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