KESSEL (Joseph). Des Hommes. Paris: Gallimard, [1972]. — In-8, 205 x 140: (1 blank folio), 319 pp., (3 blank folios at the end), printed cover. Paperback, padded cover. First edition of this tribute book, introduced by the author at the beginning of the book as follows: “By bringing together today these prefaces, notes, and portraits that span so many years, I simply wanted to say thank you to the men whose works or lives have made my life more beautiful and helped me live it better.” The book is divided into 5 sections: Writers (Cocteau, Romain Gary, André Malraux, Raymond Radiguet, Mondor, Steinbeck…) - Painters (Iacovleff, Kisling, Raymond Moretti). - Singers, Russia (Volodia, Vaia, Novski). - Men of Action (René Jacquemaire, Henry de Montfreid, Rémy, Jacques Zimmermann, Mermoz, Saint-Exupéry…) - Israel (Herbert Agar, Rubi…). Joseph Kessel discusses Africa in the chapter devoted to Henri de Montfreid. There, he recounts the adventurer’s life, particularly his immersion among the indigenous peoples of the Ethiopian highlands (Abyssinia). One of 60 copies printed on Lafuma-Navarre pure-fiber vellum (No. 43), the second paper used after 30 copies printed on Van Gelder white Dutch vellum.