10 Poemes [INSCRIBED AND SIGNED]

[Paris]: Caractères Imprimerie-Editions des Poètes, 1955. First edition. Softcover. vg- to vg+. Folio. 12 loose folded leaves. Unpaginated. Heavy stock white paper portfolio, with an illustration in black on the front cover. Inscribed and signed in French by artist Pinchas Schaar to Alsatian French politician Georges Weill (1882-1970), on the front of the first loose leave.

The portfolio consists of a group of 10 sardonic poems by Yiddish poet Moyshe-Leyb Halpern (1886-1932), here translated into French. The text of each poem in finely printed, (truncated) with an historiated woodblock initial and an accompanying full-page lithographic illustration in black, by artist Pinchas Schaar (1923-1996). Each image is has a protective tissue guard.

Text in French.

Portfolio with some chipping to the head and tail of the spine. Spine sunned and lightly stained. Front cover of portfolio with a few minor stains. Interior and all images very clean. A few of the text pages, with very minor stains or smudges. Portfolio in very good-, interior and plates in very good+ condition overall. Alternate title: Dix poèmes de M.L. Halpern

Moyshe-Leyb Halpern (1886-1932) was a Yiddish poet, noted for his sardonic individualistic style. Raised in Galicia and Vienna, he emigrated to New York in 1908, where he wrote most of his known work. He became a founding and prominent member of a group of modernist Yiddish poets who became known as "Di Yunge" (The Young Ones). He also was a frequent contributor to various New York Yiddish magazines and newspapers. (Inventory #: 53793)