ELUARD, Paul. Poésie initerrompue.

Paris: Gallimard 1946-1953.

2 vols. 8vo. (188 x 122mm.). Inscribed by Eluard in black ink on fly of volume one, both volumes almost entirely unopened, volume two with portrait of Eluard after Picasso, and publisher’s original yellow advertisement for the volume loosely inserted (shallow crease to middle). A little very light foxing to some pages of volume one. Publisher’s paper wrappers printed in red and black, glassine wrappers. Two unobtrusive brown flecks on upper cover of volume two, a few very minor creases. A fine set.

First editions, unopened service de presse copies, volume one INSCRIBED by Eluard to the Surrealists’ publisher Albert Skira “trés affectueusement”.

Published in 1946 (part I) and posthumously in 1953 (part II), Poésie Ininterrompu was Eluard’s final collection of poetry. It marked his break with war poetry, and remains one of Eluard’s major collections of poems in a career spanning more than three decades; an elegant expression of his mature poetic voice in a dialogue with his muse, Nusch, reinforcing his belief in the capacity for human happiness.

The poem ‘Le travail du peintre’ was written for Picasso (who did the frontispiece for volume two), from a perspective of both knowledge and happiness. Aragon wrote that: “[Eluard] prolonge cette experience de l’expression humaine qu’il s’est forgé au Coeur meme de nos dangers” (Aragon, Chronique du Bel Canto, 1946).

Bels exemplaires en excellent état de l’édition originale, exemplaires service de presse, non coupés, la premiére volume portant un joli envoi de l’auteur á son ami l’éditeur Albert Skira; volume deux preserve l’avertissement originale d’éditeur.