Hans Bellmer. Vingt-Cinq Reproductions. 1934 - 1950.

Paris.: (Christian d'Orgeix)., 1950.. Loose as issued in original publisher's printed wrappers, printed titles to front cover in black and magenta, later brown crushed morocco protective box, boards ruled in gilt, banded spine with gilt title in six compartments.. 4to. (254 x 200 mm).. Frontispiece on glossy paper (Bellmer's self-portrait), leaf with printed title in magenta and black, 11 leaves with text (see below), section title and 9 leaves of glossy paper with 23 monochrome reproductions of works by Bellmer, leaf with 'Table' recto and verso, leaf with 'Notes Bibliographiques', final leaf with achevé d'imprimer and justification and a reproduction by Bellmer in magenta; also included, loosely inserted, is Bellmer's original engraving with numbering to match the book. One of the first books dedicated to the work of Hans Bellmer, the scarce issue signed by Bellmer, with an original signed engraving and contributions by his friends and collaborators.From the edition limited to 415 numbered copies, with this one of 99 on vélin de Lana signed by Bellmer and with an original engraving numbered from the edition of 30 and matching the number of the book; Bellmer's engraving is after his original drawing 'Le Vermoulu et le Plissé' (see pg. 38).Although the justification indicates that 415 copies were issued, a note by the editor in another copy (the Filipacchi copy - see below) indicates that in reality only 30 copies - not 99 - were issued with an engraving and of those 30, only 20 were, in fact, signed: 'Il n'existe en réalité qu'un tirage à 30 ex[emplaires]. au lieu de 99 ex[emplaires]. dont 20 ex[emplaires]. seulement ont été signés ... '.The texts or poems in the book, each on the subject of Bellmer, his work and philosophy, are by the following: Nora Mitrani ('Rose au Coeur Violet'), Jehan Mayoux ('On Discute sur les Effets de l'Abandon'), André Pierre de Mandriargues ('Anandrine ou l'Empourpreuse'), Jean Brun ('Techniques de la Désoccultation'), Jacques de Caso ('L'Affection est Interdite'), Yves Bonnefoy ('De la Corruption des Lois') and Gisèle Prassinos ('Tour Menthe Poivrée').[see lot 14 'Bibliothèque de Daniel Filipacchi - Deuxième Partie', 2005].