LES CHAMPS MAGNETIQUES. 1920. SECOND PRINTING OF THIS INAUGURAL SURREALIST TEXT.

Paris: Au sansPareil, 1920

19.4 x 14.4cm, 120pp. Original wrappers. The ‘stated’ second issue (of 120 copies), following (about three months before) the first edition of 180 examples. Produced in late 1919, while both authors were engaged in the Parisian Dada adventure. This work was directly influenced by their crucial (to the Surrealist family tree that is)re-reading of Lautremont’s ‘Chants de Maldoror’ and ‘Poesies’; the latter which Breton had copied out by hand from the (then) only known copy of the first edition deposited in the Bibliotheque Nationale.

‘Les Champs Magnetiques’ is (traditionally) considered to be the inaugural Surrealist text collection, as it embodies the later movement’s automatic/mediumistic methodology. Chronologically, this is Breton’s second published book and Soupault’s third. Some minor wear to wrappers, typical internal browning (owing to stock quality), else a very good example of this landmark work. Rare in both first and second editions.