[Surrealism]

Le Surréalisme, même. [Number] 1. [Together with Numbers 2, 3, 4 and 5 (the complete set)]

Paris, Librairie Jean-Jacques Pauvert, 1957 to 1959.

Square octavo (approximately 195 × 195 mm), five volumes, 72, 121-156; 114, 143-168; 96, [4]; 64, [4]; and 64 pages with numerous illustrations (some in colour) plus printed pictorial leaves of patterned tissue-paper (4 in the second number, 2 in the third number). The discrepancies in pagination in the first two numbers are made good with loosely-inserted smaller-format contributions described below.

Flush-cut card covers a little rubbed, marked or sunned; the spine of the first number is moderately rubbed, with minor loss near the tail; overall, in very good condition.

The complete run of this important French journal ('Surrealism, itself'). The print run and quality of the production went down as time passed, with the editions limited to 5030, 5030, unstated, 3530, and 1975 copies respectively (with our copy of the last one being numbered 19). The run contains the two inserts essential for completeness: 'Les Détraquées' by P-L. Palau (pages 73-120), and 'Le Royaume de la Terre' by Abel Gance and Nelly Kaplan (pages 115-142), with the wrappers included in the pagination in each case. The cover artwork is by Marcel Duchamp, Pierre Molinier, Gabriel Max, Hans Bellmer and Hans Arp, respectively: other contributors include Jean-Louis Bédouin, André Breton, Leonora Carrington, Octavio Paz, and Man Ray. [5 items].