Description

COLLECTION OF 6 COPIES BY GEORGES DUHAMEL'S SISTER AND BROTHER-IN-LAW: ROSE AND CHARLES VILDRAC.

It was in 1901 - and to a tune by Wagner - that Georges Duhamel first met Charles Vildrac in front of the bandstand in the Luxembourg Gardens.
At the age of 17, Duhamel was quick to admire Vildrac, two years his senior. With their baggy trousers, lavaliere ties and wide-brimmed hats, the two young men immediately recognised each other as poets and struck up a warm friendship that would last the rest of their lives.
"He] brought us a vehement desire for emancipation, for a happy and harmonious life, for poetic grace, for adventure, for deliverance and salvation through art, through beauty".
This meeting marked the very beginning of the Abbaye adventure, as it was the meeting of the two writers who would form the nucleus of the group, joined in 1906 by René Arcos, Albert Gleizes, Henri-Martin Barzun and Alexandre Mercereau. They were inspired by Rabelais's Thélème and a poem by Charles Vildrac entitled "je rêve l'Abbaye" ("I dream of the Abbey"),  the six young poets and artists founded a phalanstery and published literary works for almost three years.

In 1905, Vildrac married Rose, Georges Duhamel's elder sister, with whom he opened the first art gallery on the Left Bank, at 11 rue de Seine, and exhibited works by Vlaminck, Marquet, Lebasque and Signac.

The Abandoned Men
Paris, Mercure de France, 1921.
FIRST EDITION. ONE OF THE 387 FIRST COPIES ON HOLLANDE.
Inscribed and signed by the author :

"to Charles and Rose
affectionately
their brother
Georges

The Day of Confession followed by Whenever you want
Paris, Mercure de France, 1924.
FIRST EDITION. ONE OF 195 FIRST COPIES ON RIVES, this one not numbered.
Inscribed and signed by the author :

  to Charles and Rose
their old brother
G. Duhamel
June 1924

The Lyon Club
Paris, Mercure de France, 1929.
FIRST EDITION. ONE OF 25 OFF-TRADE COPIES in in-16 format
Inscribed and signed by the author :

to Rose Vildrac
his old brother
A Charles
that I'm not tired of
to look and to love
Duhamel

As it is
Paris, Mercure de France, 1932.
FIRST EDITION. ONE OF 25 OFF-TRADE COPIES in in-16 format
Inscribed and signed by the author :

For Charles
my brother
Duhamel
October 32

La Nuit de la Saint-Jean - Chronicle of the Pasquier family
Paris, Mercure de France, 1935.
FIRST EDITION. Press copy.
Inscribed and signed by the author :

For Charles
of a faithful heart
Duhamel
October 35

Les Maîtres - Chronicle of the Pasquiers
Paris, Mercure de France, 1937.
FIRST EDITION. Press copy.
Inscribed and signed by the author :

For Charles
Fond memories
Duhamel
November 37