Correspondance (1951-1970); Avec un choix de lettres de Paul Celan à son fils Eric

[Paris]: Éditions du Seuil, 2001. Hardcover. Fine/near fine. Two volumes (complete), octavo size, approx. 1530 pp., all text in French. Paul Celan (1920-1970) was born Paul Antschel in Romania to a German-speaking Jewish family, his surname was later spelled Ancel and he eventually adopted the anagram Celan as his nom de plume. Celan lived in France and was influenced by the French surrealists but wrote his poetry in German (he was well versed in at least six languages, and also translated the work of many notable poets).

In 1952, Celan married the artist Gisèle Lestrange (1926-1991); many of the works she produced after they met had links to the poetry of Paul Celan.

This work, "Correspondance", publishes letters between the two, as well as some letters from Paul to his son, Eric (b. 1955). Please note that this entire work is in French.

___DESCRIPTION: Bound in grey (Volume I) or black (Volume II) paper over boards, blind-debossed lettering on the spines, ribbon markers in corresponding colours; binding octavo size (9" by 5 3/4"), pagination: Vol. I, [1-6] 7-718 [1, colophon]; Vol. II, [1-6] 7-786 [14]. In dust jackets with a graphic design in grey on the front panels and spines, red and black lettering. Housed in a cardboard slipcase with a wrap-around black-and-white reproduction of a photograph of the couple.

___CONDITION: Volumes fine overall, the boards clean, straight corners without rubbing, strong, square text blocks with solid hinges, the interiors clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; note that the text block for Volume I was bound into the boards upside down, very minor bumping to the heads and tails, else fine. The jackets are near fine, clean, with corresponding light bumps to the heads and tails and a modicum of edgewear, including a short (approx. one-third inch) closed tear to the bottom of the front panel of Volume II. The cardboard slipcase near fine to fine, clean, without noticeable wear other than a corresponding bump to one of the top corners.

___POSTAGE: Please note that this is an unusually heavy set and additional postage may apply; please inquire for details.

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