There are different ways to love the book

There are different ways to love the book. There are those who are interested only in the text and those that require the original editions. There are those who want the books as objects, beautiful outdoors with precious bindings and beautiful on the inside with illustrations.

Fred Feinsilber, sixty-six years, is a curious mixture of this and its library, fully sold on 11 and 12 next October at Sotheby's in Paris, reflects its multiple quests. 518 Lots making up the estimated 4.5 million euros, ranging from 1460 to 1960, from Holbein to Picasso, a book of hours to Albert Camus, from 200 to 300,000 euros. This eclecticism is not a proxy. Customers of the auction like locate collectors by stories, those who create a legend about their person. For the at Sotheby's, even though he likes to say "I did not raise, I built," its library is simply a curious who loves beautiful things. It has a unique definition of the collection: "you buy something that overwhelms you, you pedal in an attempt to apprehend him, to be at his level, then, once that you resell."

Fred Feinsilber was the owner of a Parisian chemistry society that has made a fortune in 1993 by selling his firm specializing in the glue for the automotive industry. Therefore, he devoted himself as he said "the beauty", by creating a garden in Provence but also from books hunting for his own pleasure. "Initially, I thought me rich and I have tried to buy modern paintings, but, very quickly, I realized that the exceptional pieces not me were not financially accessible. The illustrated book is a great distraction. The chemical engineer has a great passion for Picasso: "I think it's the greatest engraver since Goya." And, in respect of one of his most famous compositions, "guernica", he said even with intensity, by referring to painful memories of war, "" guernica", and particularly its head of horse, is registered in me almost genetically". Sotheby's offers for sale not less 45 lots illustrated by Picasso, which include a reference to the horses... "The horses of midnight", a book of poetry of Hélène Oettingen accompanied by 12 equestrian prints to the burin by the master of Malaga, edited 68 copies in 1956, estimated 40,000 euros.

Fred Feinsilber purchased many books before his professional activities. Invariably, on Saturday, it was the Tower of its booksellers of choice for the exhibit that aiguiserait his literary envy. His favourite author was always Camus. He speaks as of a long friendship. "It has much helped me." It gives important answers to questions about the absurdity of life. His loss was terrible. "For him, the contact with the book is essential. But the books that make up its library "are not those that are taken every day." "It's faithful friends and their presence warms you the heart". Indeed, he confesses to read and re-read Camus in editions of "La Pléiade".

Original bindings

In the sale, 31 lots have Camus author since "Wedding", a collection of essays from youth between 1936 and 1937, published in Algiers (300 euros) to the original edition of "Man up" by Gallimard in 1951. Connected by one of the references of the 20th century, Georges Leroux, the book is one of ten copies printed on a luxurious paper Commerce (talking head drawing) Commerce. Its value is mainly the fact that it bears a dedication (experts say sending) intended for the poet René Char. "Camus was stingy in shipments," Note Bertrand Meaudre, bookseller and consultant for sale. The writer drew from his regular and readable writing a few moving words: "was René Char this book lived with him, wrote to him and some others, in memory of what unites us and in tribute to his own work, fraternally.". The book is estimated 30,000 euros.

In 1956, he published a story which Sartre says that it is "a masterpiece or book of Camus" under the title of "The fall" and sends one of ten copies on paper Alfa Navarre to his friend Char accompanied by a delicious "with the affection of his brother from planet faithful." (estimate: 12,000 euros). But, in the "RADIUS" Camus, the highest estimate of the sale goes to the "myth of Sisyphus", the full autograph manuscript in 108 pages of this book published in 1942 (estimated 200,000 euros).

Fred Feinsilber also loved to "mark" the passage of books in his hands by or even baroque original bindings. The work was itself an object with complicity with the binder. This was the case with "1 Life" a collection of 62 lithographs pop and Cobra appeared in 1964 as an artistic manifesto. He was related by Georges Leroux on a background of barber pole green leather with varnish leather orange or green flowers and multicoloured mobile elements. The result is spectacular. "Some bindings help me to understand the book." "At the time, I was looking for bindings that flashaient", comments the collector with a smile (estimate: 70,000 euros).

The sale of the collection Feinsilber also has the merit to offer financially accessible parts. This is the case for example of a rare book for child with a text of Camus "The last flower", published in 1952 by Gallimard (300 euros). More classic and today underestimated in the literary collection, there is the romantic poetry of the 19th century. 300 are requested for an original edition of the "new poetic meditations" of Lamartine published in 1823 and 200 euros for an original book of 1822 by Alfred de Vigny.

But the page is turned. Since 1999, Fred Feinsilber discovered primitive art and spent now all his energy. "The objects are not signed, they are generally not provenance. It is still prey to the questioning. Is it a masterpiece or not "Involves a lot of time to acquire what is called an eye", concludes always curious human.