One of the copies stamped as a press copy.
Accompanied by an autograph letter from Maurice Genevoix to his publisher.
In 1913, Ernest Flammarion and his sons entrusted the literary direction of their publishing house to Max and Alex Fischer. These two brothers, authors of fantasy novels, took charge of the “Select-Collection,” a 50-centime series launched in February 1914 that would enjoy lasting success: each volume contained a complete novel in octavo format, printed in two columns, with cover illustrations executed by contemporary artists (Jacques Nam, Charles Roussel, Félix Lorioux, Henri Guillaume).
The covers evolved over time, first illustrated by drawings, then by photographs reproduced in photogravure, with volumes sometimes issued as double or triple numbers. The first series of 319 titles was halted by the outbreak of the Second World War, a few weeks after Genevoix sent his letter to Fischer. The collection resumed in 1945 and ceased in 1950.
A publisher of the nationalist and antiparliamentary right, Flammarion nevertheless sought to remain a “librairie d’information,” with no exclusive line. Following Ernest Flammarion’s withdrawal from business and the death of Auguste Vaillant, his brother-in-law and principal associate, his two sons Charles and Albert took full control of the publishing and bookselling companies. As for the Fischer brothers, a serious dispute set them against each other in 1928, so that Max Fischer alone assumed literary direction of the firm and remained Maurice Genevoix’s principal contact, despite the latter’s move to Grasset.
From the library of Maurice Genevoix, at “Les Vernelles” (bookplate).