VERCORS (Jean Bruller alias). Le Silence de la Mer. London, - Lot 112

VERCORS (Jean Bruller alias). Le Silence de la Mer. London, Les Cahiers du Silence, 1943. In-8, paperback, 2-color printed cover. Second edition - the first in London - of the famous French Resistance text. Preface by Maurice Druon (signed M. D.). The extremely rare first edition, which was also the first publication of Éditions de Minuit, founded in 1941, was printed clandestinely in 350 copies, 100 of which were distributed at the end of 1942 to prominent Parisians. Almost all the other copies were seized and destroyed by the Germans as they crossed the demarcation line. This second edition was produced on behalf of C. Divonne de Boisgelin, publisher of this collection "dedicated to writers who, on the soil of imprisoned France, fight the battle of the spirit". Handwritten bookplate dated 1943. Small tears at spine, traces of glue at stapling, large tear without missing p. 9-10, otherwise good ex.