WITH A WONDERFUL ORIGINAL DRAWING BY COCTEAU

COCTEAU, Jean. Dessins. Paris: Libraire Stock, 1923 [i.e. 1924]. Large quarto, original paper wrappers, uncut. Housed in a custom clamshell box. $8000.

First edition, one of only 625 copies, this being one of 100 “sur Madagascar,” with a large original pen-and-ink drawing initialed by Cocteau of two baboons and a howling dog.

Dessins contains more than 100 line cuts of Cocteau's early drawings, dedicated to Picasso with the apology: "Poets do not draw. They untie the knots in handwriting and then retie them differently." Because some plates were spoiled in the printing and therefore had to be restruck, the work did not actually appear until 1924. Cocteau's large original drawing on the front fly leaf depicts two baboons picking nits and a howling dog. Bookplate of music bibliographer Cecil Hopkinson. From the collection of George Verdak, who danced with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo from 1942-1951— later became Artistic Director of the Indianapolis Ballet Theater and chairman of the Dance Department at Butler University.

Interior fine, inner hinge reinforced. Original wrappers unusually nice. Most desirable and scarce with an original drawing by Cocteau.