CHAGALL (Marc) - PAULHAN (Jean). De mauvais sujets. Paris, Les bibliophiles de l'Union française, 1958. In-folio (435 x 330 mm) in sheets, filled cover, illustrated folder and slipcase. First edition. One of Chagall's most beautiful books, commissioned by Paulhan, who at the same time published his Hommage à Chagall : Chagall à sa juste place in Derrière le miroir. The initiative came from Paulhan, who was close to Lélia Féal, who in 1948 with her husband had founded the Bibliophiles de l'Union Française, which hosted prestigious meetings: in 1955 Paulhan and Braque in Les Paroles transparentes, in 1956 Paulhan and Masson in les Hain-Tenys (Chapon p. 165). It was thanks in part to Paulhan's support that Chagall was granted French nationality in early 1937. A 1946 note ("Ne me renvoyez pas l'Ange, il est à votre depuis longtemps"), which appeared, along with a photograph of Paulhan seated beneath Chagall's Angel, in the exhibition Jean Paulhan à travers ses peintres (Paris, Grand Palais, 1974, nos. 11 and 167), bears witness to their relationship. Paulhan's text is illustrated with 10 superb off-text colour etchings, THE FIRST COLOUR ENGRAVINGS BY CHAGALL. Edition of 153 copies, signed by the author, the artist and the president of the society. One of 112 nominative copies on Arches vellum pur chiffon, n°22 for M. Charles Schweisguth. A very fine copy. Provenance: Sale of 27 January 1995, No. 112. Spine of dust jacket slightly faded, small tear and corners of slipcase rubbed. Cramer Chagall 35; Monod 8903.