Southern Mail Saint-ExupéRy, Antoine De Fiction/Literature,Illustration

A nice example ofSaint-Exupéry's scarce first book which was originally published in France,Courrier sud,in 1929. This English translation by Stuart Gilbert followed the author's first publication in the U.S. ofNight Flight,his second novel, in 1932. This work, like his first published short story "The Aviator," chronicled his flying adventures in the French airmail service, being set in both France and the Sahara Desert. The publication showcases two very attractive lithographs by Lynd Ward, who had published hisGods' Manwith Jonathan Cape and Harrison Smith just a few years prior. Examples of the book in any condition jacket are exceedingly hard to come by. 8vo, 251pp. Jacket, frontis, and endpapers illustrated by Lynd Ward. Review copy with publisher's slip laid in. Publisher's blue cloth with gilt stamped vignette illustration on front cover and lettering on spine, top edge stained blue. Boards lightly bumped and toned, adhesive residue to small section of front endpaper where review slip was attached else a near fine book in very good example of the jacket, with some toning, mainly to spine, and use at spine ends and corners, most notable being a small tear at upper corner of front panel