Signé ; Léon-Paul Fargue / Touchagues - Charme de Paris [envoi et dessin original] - 1941

This is an exceptional and unique copy of a highly sought-after art book for bibliophiles. You describe a precious edition of Charme de Paris by the poet Léon-Paul Fargue (often spelled Fargues), illustrated by Louis Touchagues, published by Denoël in 1945.

What makes your copy truly extraordinary and one of a kind in the collectible market are its unique features (the inscriptions and the original drawing).

The base book: Charme de Paris (1945) is a large folio-format work (a very large book). It contains 50 color lithographs by Louis Touchagues, printed by the renowned Mourlot workshop. The normal edition total typically ranges between 350 and 420 copies depending on the paper used.

The original drawing by Touchagues: This is a major addition. In addition to the 50 lithographs printed in series, the artist drew an original work on a separate sheet.

The first autographed inscription: An “envoi” is a signed dedication. Here, the text or drawing is dedicated to “my friend Paul.” It may be a dedication signed by the illustrator Touchagues (which accompanies his drawing) or by the author Léon-Paul Fargue (who would be addressing another Paul).

The second inscription the following month: This is the greatest curiosity in your description. A second inscription, written one month after the first, testifies to a particular human story. For example, the book may have been given once, then shown to the author or the illustrator a month later to add a note, a private joke, or a further expression of affection.

The drawing appears to be signed by both – Touchagues and Fargues, thus widening the circle of the “Paul.”
Paul Valéry, Paul Éluard, Paul Claudel, Paul Poiret, Paul Léautaud

Unpaginated work.