SENGHOR (Léopold Sédar) - CHAGALL (Marc). - Lot 195

SENGHOR (Léopold Sédar) - CHAGALL (Marc). Letters from Winter. Paris: Éditions du Seuil, 1973. — In-4, 284 x 225: 59 pp., (2 blank leaves at the end), 8 plates, illustrated cover. — Unbound, folded cover, with the publisher’s gray cloth slipcase and folder. First edition of this collection of 30 poems exploring themes dear to Senghor, such as love, nature, spirituality, and African identity. It is one of the author’s most important works. By way of introduction, Senghor offers this definition of the term “hivernage”: “In the Sudano-Sahelian zone, it is the rainy season. In Senegal, it begins in June and ends in the second half of October.” The word was coined by the colonial army, which, like the Roman army, wintered during the rainy season. ‘Hivernage,’ therefore, refers to summer and early fall. But there is also the ‘hivernage’ of Woman. ” The collection is illustrated with nine original lithographs in bistre or color by Marc CHAGALL (1887–1985), including one on the cover and eight as inserts. Senghor had a deep admiration for Chagall; they met for the first time in December 1968 at the Grand Palais. The artist illustrated two of Senghor’s works, the second being *Elégies des Alizés*, published in 1969. One of the first 180 copies printed on Arches vellum, signed by the author and the artist on the colophon. This copy is one of 30 not for sale (no. V). A precious and moving copy by Guy-Waly Senghor (1948–1983), enhanced by this double dedication in the colophon: To my son Guy-Waly // hoping that he too // will be a creator—I mean // a poet of philosophy //—with all my love // Sédar For Guy // Senghor // Marc Chagall Guy-Waly was the second son of the author and Ginette Éboué. An intellectual and philosopher, he died prematurely at the age of 36 following an accidental fall. Very well-preserved copy. Provenance: Guy-Waly Senghor, with a dedication from the author and the artist. - Bookplate bearing the initials AL.