René CHAR (1907-1988) - Lot 23

René CHAR (1907-1988) Autograph manuscript signed, Quatre fascinants, 1950; booklet of 2 and 7 pages in-4 (32.5 x 25 cm). Original manuscript used as a model for the edition. The manuscript is carefully calligraphed in India ink on large sheets of Auvergne laid paper, with a few typographical indications. Paginated in pencil from 1 to 7, it includes: - title page (unencrypted): "René Char/ Quatre fascinants/ La Minutieuse /[Etching by Pierre Charbonnier crossed out]/ [Paris/ 1951 crossed out]", with, in the upper left-hand corner, the indication: "Tirage 80 exemplaires - ce format"; - p. 1: list of poems; - p. 2: Le taureau (5 verses): "Il ne fait jamais nuit quand tu meurs"... - p. 3: The trout (9 verses): "Rives qui croulez en parure"... - p. 4: The serpent (8 verses): "Prince of misunderstandings, make my love"... - p. 5: The lark (4 verses): "Extreme ember of the sky and first ardor of the day"... - p.6: title of La Minutieuse (this prose text does not appear here); - p.7: explanatory note: "A la main en tout 13 exemplaires numérotés de 1 à 13 sur papier des moulins du Val de Laga. Exemplaire N° / René Char / 24 avril 1950"; - on last page, unencrypted, pencil note: "achevé d'imprimer". 2 copies of the first edition are enclosed: René CHAR, Quatre fascinants. La Minutieuse. Frontispiece by Pierre Charbonnier (Paris, 1951, [impr. Tournon]); limited edition of 86 copies on Estampes Arches Chamois paper, signed by the author and the artist; in-4, leaves in filled cover. - One of 6 copies (no. 5) containing a color suite of drypoints by Pierre Charbonnier, in a folder annotated by the artist: "This case contains: - a drypoint colored by the artist - four drypoints: one printed in blue, two printed in black, one striped print by P. Charbonnier", each plate justified 5/6. On the title page, autograph dispatch: "à Bernadette et à Roger Louis, sur la Tour du Cinquième Fascinant: Gordes, où flotte leur étendard, leur frère solaire René Char". - Copy no. 37 with autograph dispatch: "to my dear friend, to my dear Poet Yves de Bayser whose poems and friendship are of a great and constant presence. René Char Paris, Noël 1951".