“BETWEEN ITS THREE CAFÉS, ITS THREE BARS, ITS THREE CELLARS…”: SERG JACQUES’ PHOTO-ESSAY ON A DAY IN SAINT-GERMAIN-DES-PRÉS ONE OF ONLY 50 COPIES

JACQUES, Serge and TAVRIGER, Michel. La Légende de Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Paris: La Roulotte, (1950). Slim octavo, original cream paper boards, photographic endpapers, original dust jacket. $1000.

Limited first edition of this documentary photo-essay on the famous Paris neighborhood, number 40 of only 50 copies, with 88 candid black-and-white halftones of people and events on a typical day.

Pioneer of the modern photographic pin-up, Serge Jacques is credited with launching the career of Brigitte Bardot with a single sexy snapshot. There is nothing erotic, however, about this captivating photo-essay of the Paris neighborhood of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Serge Jacques’ first and only book for the next 30 years, a documentary of a full day starting at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 7:00 a.m., captured in 88 candid images, two of which are by fellow photographers, Robert Doisneau and Izis (Israel Bidermanas). Historical text in French and English by Michel Tavriger.

Book fine. Hairline blue pen-mark and minor soiling to original photographic dust jacket. A near-fine copy. Scarce.