ELUARD, Paul Poésie ininterrompue. Paris: Gallimard, 1946-1953.
8vo., 2 vols; original publisher's paper wrappers printed in red and black, together with the glassine wrappers; publisher's advert printed on yellow paper loosely inserted; pp. [x], 11-88, [viii]; [x], 11-92, [iv]; almost entirely unopened, inscribed by the author to the ffep of vol. 1; small shadow crease to publisher's advert, very light foxing to prelims of Vol. 1, two unobtrusive brown specks to the upper cover of vol. 2, a couple of very minor creases but a near-fine set otherwise, pages lightly toned, as always.
First editions on ordinary paper, service de presse copies, with volume 1 inscribed by Eluard to the publisher Albert Skira "trés affectueusement"
Published in 1946 (Part I) and posthumously in 1953 (Part II), Poésie Ininterrompu was Eluard's final collection of poetry. It marked his break with war poetry, and remains one of his major collections of poems in a career spanning more than three decades. An elegant expression of his mature poetic voice in a dialogue with his muse, Nusch, the poems reinforce his belief in the capacity for human happiness, with the poem Le travail du peintre written especially for Picasso (who did the frontispiece for volume two).
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