AVELINE (Claude) - BRULLER (Jean). - Lot 104

AVELINE (Claude) - BRULLER (Jean). Baba Diène and Morceau-de-Sucre. Paris: Gallimard, [1937]. — In-8, 182 x 115: 142 pp., (1 f.), illustrated cover. Black half-shagreen with corners, smooth spine with decorative lettering, gilt head, untrimmed, cover and spine preserved (R. and R. Mativet). A sought-after first edition of this children’s book by Claude Aveline, an enchanting tale set “in the good-natured land of the sun.” It follows the whimsical adventures of Baba Diène, a young Black boy, and Morceau-de-Sucre, a white child who fell from the sky. Between “Mr. Director” and “Mr. President’s” mysterious bottle, the story culminates in a joyful journey to Paris, pulled by the mule Téléphone. This edition is illustrated with 32 charming drawings by Jean Bruller (1902–1991), including two in color on the cover and 30 in black-and-white, distributed across the frontispiece, the title page, and throughout the text. One of 57 copies on alfa paper (no. 44), the only edition printed on large-format paper, featuring on the half-title page this autographed dedication by the illustrator, addressed to Maurice Leclère: to Maurice Leclère // this apparition in // black and white,// with warm regards // Jean Bruller A very fine copy bound for Maurice Leclère by René and Roger Mativet, enhanced by a signed letter from Jean Bruller, under his pseudonym Vercors, dated May 12, 1980, addressed to Leclère, 1 page, in-4: “I am not responsible for the black-and-white illustrations in ‘Babadienne,’ nor for the fat and skinny characters in ‘Pif et Paf,’ nor for those in ‘Patapouf’: they were imposed on me each time!” Very well-preserved copy. Provenance: Maurice Leclère, with a dedication and bookplate.