Adams by Clair, Signed (3 results)

First French Edition, preceding all others. Copy No. 1 of seven copies on Japon, numbered 1-5, and two hors commerce copies numbered HCI and HCII. Warmly inscribed by the author on the half-title page: "a Monsieur Brun / qui a si cordialement accueilli mon debut. / Avec la reconnaisance de René Clair," translating roughly to "To Mr. Brun / Who so cordially welcomed my debut. / With appreciation, René Clair." Published about a year after Clair's film debut, "The Phantom of Moulin-Rouge" ("Le fantome du Moulin-Rouge") and translated ten years later in English as "Star Turn" by Chatto and Windus, in a hardcover edition. The great French film director's first book, a novel about a film star who becomes lost in his own character, and devises a scheme to make a film with God as a means of escape. Clair's evocative, fantastical style echoed the work of his American counterpart, Frank Borzage, and was a monstrous influence on the French New Wave. Some very slight wear to the first leaf from earlier erasures, else Fine and unread. A spectacular copy. Signed.

Softcover. Condition: Fine. First edition. Printed wrappers as issued. Very slight wrinkling on the front wrap, still easily fine. This is Copy #1 of seven copies on Japon (of the seven there were also two copies *hors commerce* numbered HCI and HCII). Very warmly Inscribed by the author: "á Monsieur Brun qui a si cordialement accueilli mon début. Avec la reconnaissance de René Clair," which translates roughly as "To Mr. Brun who so cordially welcomed my debut. With appreciation, René Clair." A nicely inscribed, and highly limited issue of the first novel by the famous French film director probably best known in the English-speaking world for his 1945 film of Agatha Christie's *And Then There Were None.* Rare.

Condition: Bon état. in-12, demi-chagrin vert sapin à coins, dos à nerfs, caissons ornés d'un fleuron doré, tête dorée, couvertures et dos conservés, 252 pp. Édition originale de ce roman d'inspiration surréaliste, hommage à un acteur comique d'Hollywood, "Cecil, Adams", dans lequel on reconnaît aisément Charlie Chaplin. Un des 7 exemplaires de tête numérotés sur Japon, avec un bel envoi autographe signé de l'auteur à Paul Eluard : "Un coup de dés, jamais n'empêchera cet exemplaire d'être à Paul Eluard, bien amicalement René Clair, 1930". En cet été 1930, Eluard et Nush passaient quelques jours sur la côte d'Azur en compagnie du cinéaste, proche des surréalistes depuis qu'il avait réalisé en 1924 le film Entr'acte où apparaissent notamment Francis Picabia, Erik Satie, Man Ray et Marcel Duchamp. Dos passé, mais excellente provenance.