FLEURY — THE LINE. MERMOZ, GUILLAUMET, SAINT-EXUPÉRY — GALLI - Lot 99

FLEURY — THE LINE. MERMOZ, GUILLAUMET, SAINT-EXUPÉRY — GALLIMARD, 1944 FLEURY (Jean-Gérard). La Ligne. Mermoz, Guillaumet, Saint-Exupéry, and Their Companions on This Epic Journey. Illustrations by Yvonne Préveraud de Sonneville. Paris, Gallimard, NRF, 1944. In-4, publisher’s red cardboard binding, fully decorated: a map of the airmail route on the covers, with an airplane and titles in gold on the front cover and spine. First edition, printing completed on February 14, 1944. The book belongs to the now-sought-after series of NRF hardcover editions known as the “Incunables.” The commercial bibliography consulted lists 286 pages and a format of approximately 23.5 × 17.5 cm. A narrative dedicated to the epic story of the Aéropostale and “La Ligne,” focusing in particular on Jean Mermoz, Henri Guillaumet, and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Numerous black-and-white illustrations by Yvonne Préveraud de Sonneville, some of which are full-page. The appeal is twofold: aviation, the Aéropostale, and Saint-Exupéry on the one hand, and the NRF hardcover collection on the other. The illustrated hardcover is particularly well-done. Good copy; the hardcover is well-preserved with a few minor marks and signs of wear; the spine is slightly faded; the interior is clean.