Jean Louis Brau - Unoriginal Sins

UR. LA DICTATURE LETTRISTE N°2. 1951.

paul robertson — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 10:00:47 +0000

Paris: Imprimerie Baumann et Ochs, 1951.

27 x 20.8cm, 20 pp (includes slightly heavier paper weight cover). First edition of the second issue of this now very scarce journal, edited by Lemaitre and Isou (which only had three issues). Texts by Maurice Lemaître, Gabriel Pomerand, Jean-Louis Brau, Gil J. Wolman, Isidore Isou, most notably the preface to the film "Le film est déjà commencé" by Maurice Lemaître. UInternal pages are browned due to cheap paper, cover slightly so else VG+. Rare.

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DEUXIÈME INTERNATIONALE LETTRISTE. 1963. THE ONLY PUBLICATION ISSUED BY THIS OFFSHOOT OF LETTERISM.

paul robertson — Tue, 20 May 2025 12:57:08 +0000

Paris: Deuxième Internationale Lettriste, n.d. (1963)

27 x 10.5cm , 4pp plus brown 4pp wrappers (unprinted kraft paper). Internally mimeographed pages. This is the first and only publication of the short-lived Deuxième internationale lettriste, which was founded by Jean-Louis Brau, Gil Wolman and François Dufrêne splitting from Letterisme. Short signed texts by Brau "L’Asymptote toujours" and Wolman “L’Art a posteriori” are conjoined by two unsigned texts (“Positions II” and “Eloge d’Isou”). Some covers included thumbprints by the artists but this example does not. Staple slightly rusted else VG. Very rare.

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LA NUIT DU CINÉMA. 1952.

paul robertson — Sun, 18 May 2025 13:12:20 +0000

June 1952, 
27.5 x 21.5cm 1pp b/w offset announcement for a night of Letteriste cinema which included sou's film "Traité de Bave et d'Eternité" from April 1951; Gil Wolman's "L'Anticoncept" (1952), Guy Debord's "Hurlements en faveur de Sade" from June 1952, Jean Louis Brau's "La barque de la vie courante" and Serge Berna's "Du léger rire qu'il y a autour de la mort" although the last two were still in production.
The leaflet ends with the statement "NOUS FAISONS LA REVOLUTION A NOS MOMENTS PERDUS". The leaflet as issued just as the Letterist movement was spliting apart with Berna, Brau, Debord and Wolman deciding to form the Letterist International. VG although some edge wear including a closed tear left and handling soft creases apxparent.

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UR. CAHIERS POUR UN DICTAT CULTUREL. NR 1. 1950,

paul robertson — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 18:55:12 +0000

Paris, Aux escaliers de Lausanne, December 1950.

24.5 x 16 cm, 184 pp. Original wrappers with cover design by Serge de Turville. Edited by Maurice Lemaitre.

The first number of this Letteriste/early situationist journal with texts and illustrations by Lemaître, Matricon, Legros, Dufrêne, Wolman, Berna, Brau, Guillaumin, and Isou. The most renowned of the series with both theoretical and artistic contributions by the group.

Wear to spine with some paper loss at the bottom and crease marks. Paper as always browned. Over all close to VG.

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FRONT DE LA JEUNESSE NR 1. 1950. FIRST EVER LETTRISTE PUBLICATION & A KEY THEORETICAL TRACT. HALF NORMAL PRICE.

paul robertson — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 10:12:53 +0000

N.p. (Paris): Sans lieu, n.d. (1950)] Softcover First Edition Sans lieu, (1950) 4 pages,
22.9 x 25.5cm, 4pp. The single number of this first ever political publication of the Lettristes edited by Maurice Lemaître and en editorial board of J.L. Brau, Maurice Lemaître, G. Pomerand, G J Wolman and texts and contributions by Isidore Isou, Jean-Louis Brau, and Gil J Wolman.
The importance of this publication cannot be over-stated - not only the introduction of Isou and others into the political diatribe but also regarded as the first major theoretical paper to stress the role of young people in revolution and change.
This is not in great condition (see photographs) there are closed tears, folds, edge damage and the paper is browned and stained throughout - and we have priced it at half the normal value (usually 1500 uk pounds). However all the texts are clear and unaffected by the wear and tear. Very rare in any condition.

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LE PAVE, TRACT NO. 1, MAI 1968 (1 = ALL).

paul robertson — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 10:26:18 +0000

Paris: Comite d'Information revolutionnaire, MAI 1968
42 x 30cm, 4pp. Only number of this artist led broadside printed by Brau, Lebel and others with a large drawing by Topor. Folded for storage else VG. Scarce.

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LES MAUVAIS LIEUX DE LONDRES. 1969.

paul robertson — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 19:04:12 +0000

Paris: André Balland, 1969
20 x 14cm, 223pp. Pictorial covers. Travelogue. Lettrisme's eye turned upon the English and London with the red light district of Soho being one place of particular interest to the writer. Very good.

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LES ARMES DE GUERILLA. 1972. FIRST EDITION BANNED BY THE FRENCH POLICE.

paul robertson — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 18:49:45 +0000

Paris: Balland, 1972
25 x 17cm, 214pp. Card wrappers with metallic dustjacket(which deliberately references the format of the International Situationiste journal). Photographs throughout. Brau produced this manual of home-made terrorism and syndicalism - which includes details of how to make bombs. The book was prohibited by the French police. This is not the reprint of Balland of 1974. Very good condition.

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LE VOYAGE DE BERYL MARQUEES. 1968.

paul robertson — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 18:37:42 +0000

Paris, Le Terrain Vague, 1968
30 x 25cm, 64 pages of b&w photos. Original printed wrappers. A photo-novel (text by Brau and photos by Claude Palmer) dealing with the counter culture and drugs. Heavily influenced by pop art, this is the only illustrated book by Brau. Brau whilst being an active Lettriste was also fascinated (as was Isou) by youth and counter culture. Illustrated dust jacket is worn with minor scuffs but is more usually not present. Internally very good. Fun to read.

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COURS, CAMARADE, LE VIEUX MONDE EST DERRIERE TOI ! HISTOIRE DU MOUVEMENT REVOLUTIONNAIRE ETUDIANT EN EUROPE. 1968.

paul robertson — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 21:55:04 +0000

Paris: Albin Michel, Paris, October 1968
21.5 x 15cm, 352pp plus pictorial card covers. First edition of this study of student protest written by the International Lettriste Brau who himself was a major influence on Situationiste and other counter culture thought through his writings - including an active role in the May1968 uprising. This copy has some spine creases but is otherwise very good. there are 19 b/w plates hors texte of photographs primarily of the events of May. All Brau books are hard to find.

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ON THE BARRICADES. JOURNAL FOR THE PROTECTION OF ALL BEINGS NR. 2 . 1968.

paul robertson — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 20:05:26 +0000

San Francisco: Beach Books/City Lights Books, 1968

30 x 16.5cm, 20pp plus card covers. Stiff paper throughout. A photo-book published by the radical bookshop and press soon after the repression of the student revolt in France. The book is more than typical propaganda of the time - the images, 28 in all, are mostly of the students fighting the police and the harsh retaliation carried out by the state forces alongside the Compagnies Republicaines des Securitie are printed opposite poetic slogans of opposition from the left translated into English. There are also five b/w images of street posters and one cartoon and a quote from Marcuse (taken from the Los Angeles Free Press). A very scarce period document with pro to-situ overtones. Photos were all taken by Caron, cartoons by Topor and some of the images and background information was provided by JJ Lebel and J.L. Brau. The first number of this sometime journal was printed in 1961 so it is likely that this nr 2 was the last of the series to be published. Staples are rusty and there is browning around the cover else VG.

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