Jean Cocteau – Le Testament d’Orphee – SIGNED First Edition 1961

A first edition, first printing of Le Testament d’Orphee by Jean Cocteau, published by Editions du Rocher, Monaco in 1961. A near fine copy SIGNED by Cocteau with inscription and original pen and ink drawing depicting Orpheus, dated October 21st, 1961 to the half title page, hard cover with black and white photograph bearing the title in orange, some creasing and loss to the upper right corner of the photograph, with toning and rubbing to the extremities of the boards, a little toning to the text block. In custom made quarter black Morocco coral clamshell box with gilt lettered spine.

From the Kenneth W. Rendell Gallery. With script from the famous surreal film featuring Cocteau as an 18th century poet, with cameo’s from Picasso, Jean Marais, Jean-Pierre Leaud and Yul Brynner, and featuring stalwarts of French cinema, Maria Casares and Henri Cremieux. The final section of the book is a series of stills from the film. The original illustration is almost identical to the image of Orpheus from the poster for the film’s release.