91. Jean Cocteau (1889-1963) The White Book First illustrated edition and the first in trade, printed in an edition of 450 copies, one of 22 copies HC, this one a nominative "d" copy printed for Germaine Krull, with a frontispiece and 17 out-of-text drawings by Jean Cocteau, hand-coloured by M.B. Armington, artist-painter, paperback, publisher's white glossy paper jacket and slipcase, small in-4 (282 x 228 mm), Paris, Éditions du Signe, 1930. Beautiful autograph letter signed in ink to the photographer Germaine [Krull] (1897-1965), illustrated with a beautiful head of a man in profile surrounded by stars, on a white sheet of paper: "To my dear Germaine this book of deforming, reforming and transparent mirrors. With my grateful friendship Jean Cocteau". Germaine Krull in turn gave the copy to the Brazilian poet Augusto Frederico Schmidt (1906-1965): "to my great friend Augusto Frederico Schmidt in return and as a token of my wholehearted friendship Germaine Krull Nice juillet 42". Sent in ink on verso of previous page Eerste geïllustreerde editie en de eerste in de handel, gedrukt in een oplage van 450 exemplaren, een van de 22 exemplaren HC, dit is een nominatief "d" exemplaar gedrukt voor Germaine Krull, inclusief een frontispice en 17 uit de tekst tekeningen van Jean Cocteau, met de hand ingekleurd door M.B. Armington, schilder, gebonden in paperback, witte glanzende papieren omslag en slipcase van de uitgever, small in-4 (282 x 228 mm), Parijs, Éditions du Signe, 1930 Zeer fraaie autograafbrief gesigneerd in inkt aan de fotografe Germaine [Krull] (1897-1965), geïllustreerd met een prachtig hoofd van een man in profiel omringd door sterren, op een wit vel papier: "aan mijn lieve Germaine dit boek van vervormende, hervormende en transparante spiegels. met mijn dankbare vriendschap Jean Cocteau". Germaine Krull gaf op haar beurt het exemplaar aan de Braziliaanse dichter Augusto Frederico Schmidt (1906-1965): "aan mijn grote vriend Augusto Frederico Schmidt als tegenprestatie en als blijk van mijn innige vriendschap Germaine Krull Nice juillet 42". Verzonden in inkt op verso van vorige pagina First illustrated edition and the first in trade, printed in an edition of 450 copies, one of 22 copies HC, this one a nominative "d" copy printed for Germaine Krull, including a frontispiece and 17 out-of-text drawings by Jean Cocteau, hand-coloured by M.B. Armington, painter, paperback, publisher's white glossy paper sleeve and slipcase, small in-4 (282 x 228 mm), Paris, Éditions du Signe, 1930 Beautiful autograph letter signed in ink to the photographer Germaine [Krull] (1897-1965), illustrated with a beautiful head of a man in profile surrounded by stars, on a white sheet of paper: "To my dear Germaine this book of deforming, reforming and transparent mirrors. With my grateful friendship Jean Cocteau". Germaine Krull in turn gave the copy to the Brazilian poet Augusto Frederico Schmidt (1906-1965): "to my great friend Augusto Frederico Schmidt in return and as a token of my wholehearted friendship Germaine Krull Nice juillet 42". Ink inscription on the verso of the preceding leaf Provenance Germaine Krull (consignment) Augusto Frederico Schmidt (consignment) Sale, Sotheby's, Paris, Livres et Manuscrits, 15 December 2020, lot 133 Private collection, France acquired from the above Sold with Annie Guédras certificate of authenticity dated 1 February 2021 The anonymous publication of the text in 1928 caused a scandal. For this illustrated edition, Jean Cocteau appears here only as the illustrator of the work and not as its author. He acknowledges his authorship half-heartedly in a text reproduced in facsimile concerning the illustration: "It has been said that Le Livre blanc was my work. I suppose that's why you asked me to illustrate it, and why I agreed [...] But whatever good I think of this book -- if it were mine -- I wouldn't want to sign it because it would take the form of an autobiography, and I reserve the right to write my own, which is even more singular. So I'm content to give my stamp of approval to this anonymous effort to clear a field that has remained too uncultivated. May 1930. Jean Cocteau"