Nous Avons. (Original Maquette)
Miro, Joan. Char, René
Alès. PAB. (P[ierre]. A[ndré]. B[enoit].). 1958, février
The original maquette for PAB's edition of René Char's poem 'Nous Avons' - presented by Char to Doctor Marcel Zara - illustrated by Miróand here in an elegant binding by Martin.
René Char's presentation is in black ink to an inserted leaf of Auvergne paper serving too as the title for this maquette: 'NOUS AVONS / nous avons / regardé chez notre / ami le Docteur Zara / des livres privilegiés. / René Char / 21 - 2 - 57'; as the book was published in February 1958 it appears that Char may have misjudged the year.
Inscribed on the maquette for the wrapper 'maquette - épreuves', this minuscule demonstrates PAB's meticulous approach to the creation of his books. By using excised sections of printed text (the names of the artist and author, title, Char's verse etc.) PAB is able to manipulate the mise en page until its completion as here where the final printed book follows the maquette. The only differences to the printed version are Char's manuscript title with the presentation to Zara and PAB's justification in pencil to the verso of the final leaf.
PAB's justification, in pencil to the final leaf verso, is as follows: '40 et 6 exemplaires / février 1958 / 1/40 PAB'.
Dr. Marcel Zara (1911 - 1974) was an extraordinary bibliophile with an extraordinary collection: 'Passionné par le surréalisme, proche de figures telles que René CHar ou Man Ray, il prologea l'élan rabelaisien en explorant les liens entre savoir scientifique et imaginaire. Bibliophile exigeant, membre d'associations spécialisées, il fit réaliser des reliures de grande qualité et constitua une bibliothèque remarquable, reflet de son goût pour la littérature et l'avant-garde ... la bibliothèque de Marcel Zara demeure le témoignage vibrant d'une vie consacrée à la médecine, à la culture et à l'amour des livres.' (From the catalogue of the sale 'Bibliothèque Poétique du Docteur Zara: Avant-Garde, Surréalisme et Modernité - Livres et Manuscrits').
[Les Livres Réalisés par P. A. Benoit 315; Cramer 47].
René Char's presentation is in black ink to an inserted leaf of Auvergne paper serving too as the title for this maquette: 'NOUS AVONS / nous avons / regardé chez notre / ami le Docteur Zara / des livres privilegiés. / René Char / 21 - 2 - 57'; as the book was published in February 1958 it appears that Char may have misjudged the year.
Inscribed on the maquette for the wrapper 'maquette - épreuves', this minuscule demonstrates PAB's meticulous approach to the creation of his books. By using excised sections of printed text (the names of the artist and author, title, Char's verse etc.) PAB is able to manipulate the mise en page until its completion as here where the final printed book follows the maquette. The only differences to the printed version are Char's manuscript title with the presentation to Zara and PAB's justification in pencil to the verso of the final leaf.
PAB's justification, in pencil to the final leaf verso, is as follows: '40 et 6 exemplaires / février 1958 / 1/40 PAB'.
Dr. Marcel Zara (1911 - 1974) was an extraordinary bibliophile with an extraordinary collection: 'Passionné par le surréalisme, proche de figures telles que René CHar ou Man Ray, il prologea l'élan rabelaisien en explorant les liens entre savoir scientifique et imaginaire. Bibliophile exigeant, membre d'associations spécialisées, il fit réaliser des reliures de grande qualité et constitua une bibliothèque remarquable, reflet de son goût pour la littérature et l'avant-garde ... la bibliothèque de Marcel Zara demeure le témoignage vibrant d'une vie consacrée à la médecine, à la culture et à l'amour des livres.' (From the catalogue of the sale 'Bibliothèque Poétique du Docteur Zara: Avant-Garde, Surréalisme et Modernité - Livres et Manuscrits').
[Les Livres Réalisés par P. A. Benoit 315; Cramer 47].
[12 unnumbered leaves]. Minuscule. (88 x 94 mm). Leaf with applied sections of excised printed paper (i.e. the maquette for the front wrapper) inscribed in pencil 'maquette - épreuves' in pencil and underlined, two blank leaves, leaf with manuscript title and presentation from Char in black ink (see below), leaf with Miró's celluloid engraving as frontispiece signed in pencil, blank leaf, four leaves with applied sections of excised printed paper (ie. Char's verse) recto and verso, leaf with manuscript justification by PAB in pencil verso, two blank leaves; text and illustration in manuscript or as printed proofs applied to leaves of Auvergne paper as for the published book. Full dark chocolate crushed morocco by Pierre-Lucien Martin with his signature gilt and dated '1963', the names of the author, artist and title in blind to front cover in blind-ruled rectangular compartments, smooth spine with titles gilt, original wrappers and backstrip preserved, milk chocolate crushed suede doublures and endpapers, a.e.g., matching morocco-backed matching suede-lined tan paper board chemise and morocco-edged slipcase.
#48794
