Signé ; Claude Farrère - Job, siècle XX [envoi autographe + cdv + carton d'invitation] - 1949

Claude FARRÈRE – Job, XXth century – 1949 – Original edition numbered no. 165 – Signed autograph inscription – Invitation and business card of the author

Claude FARRÈRE (1876-1957)
Job, XXth century
Paris, Flammarion, 1949.

Original edition, numbered copy no. 155, printed on pure rag paper from the Vosges, accompanied by a signed autograph inscription from Claude Farrère to Georges Bach.

The work is kept in a leather back and corners binding, boards covered with marbled paper, spine with raised bands.

Two period documents accompany the copy: an invitation to the signing session of March 19, 1949 at the Flammarion bookstore and a personal business card of Claude Farrère.

The work: Job, XXth century

Published in 1949, Job, XXth century belongs to the final period of Claude Farrère’s literary career.

By its title, the work directly refers to the biblical figure of Job, embodiment of man confronted with trial, suffering, and questions about justice and human destiny.

This reference takes on particular resonance in the postwar context, as Europe emerges from World War II and political, social, and moral upheavals lead to deep reflection on the human condition.

Thus the novel forms part of the late production of a writer who lived through two world wars and witnessed major transformations in the first half of the 20th century.

The author: Claude Farrère (1876-1957)

Born Frédéric-Charles Bargone, Claude Farrère was a naval officer, novelist, and member of the French Academy.

His maritime career, travels, and knowledge of the Orient deeply marked his literary work.

He gained recognition in 1905 with Les Civilisés, a novel awarded the Goncourt Prize, before publishing numerous works, including La Bataille (1909) and Les Hommes nouveaux (1922).

Elected to the French Academy in 1935, he remains an important figure in French literature of the first half of the 20th century.

Job, XXth century, published when he was 73, testifies to the longevity of his literary career.

Original edition and numbered print run

The offered copy belongs to the limited print run on fine paper of the original edition published by Flammarion in 1949.

It bears the number 155, corresponding to the print run on Velin paper from Vosges, numbered from 76 to 275.

The print justification is present in the volume.

Signed autograph inscription

The copy bears on its half-title a signed autograph inscription from Claude Farrère to Mr. Georges Bach, expressed in homage.

This named inscription adds extra interest to the work for collectors of literary autographs and original editions.

The precise identity of Georges Bach and the nature of any possible relations with the writer have not been established.

Two period documents kept with the work

1. Invitation to the signing session of March 19, 1949

Printed card announcing Claude Farrère’s presence for a signing session on Saturday, March 19, 1949, from 2:30 p.m., at the Flammarion bookstore, 25 boulevard des Italiens, Paris.

This invitation serves as a contemporary witness to the book’s publication and its presentation to the public.

2. Claude Farrère’s personal business card

Printed card bearing the details:

Claude Farrère
Member of the French Academy
10, square Henry-Paté

This address corresponds to the writer’s office in Paris.

The preservation of these two documents with the inscribed copy constitutes a coherent ensemble around the 1949 publication of the novel.

However, their presence does not allow us to affirm that Georges Bach was personally invited by the author or that the inscription was made during the March 19 session.

Binding and condition

Bound copy, with backstrips, title pieces, and marbled boards.

Binding showing signs of age and use: rubbing, leather wear, and wear to the boards, especially visible on the spine, the raised bands, and the edges.

Interior appearance satisfactory on the photographed leaves, with the presence of the print justification and the autograph inscription.

The photographs allow for a precise assessment of the overall condition of the copy.