Roger K.'s Copy of Quelques artistes et gens de lettres by Jean-Jacques Sempé

In 1992, Éditions Denoël published Quelques artistes et gens de lettres by Jean-Jacques Sempé, himself a cartoon artist and a man of letters. I don't think this book was ever printed in an English language edition. A superb copy is offered for sale by the Paris bookseller Librairie Le Feu Folet [Will-o'-the-Wisp, if you will]. It is reportedly inscribed to one Roger Karenvent although I don't believe that is the actual surname Sempé wrote. Nevertheless, the original recipient, Roger K., whoever he was, received a very nice drawing in his book of an artist at work on a still life. 

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A Letter From Jean-Jacques Sempé to Angelo Rinaldi

A letter from the year 2000 consists of a mailing envelope and its contents: a signed and inscribed postcard as well as a signed and inscribed note with a drawing of three men seated in a restaurant. The group of papers is offered for sale by AbeBooks seller L'Ancienne Librairie and is priced at $1,672.78 US. No doubt that considerable cost is because the sender, Jean-Jacques Sempé, was the extremely popular cartoonist based in Paris. In addition, the recipient of the mailing, Angelo Rinaldi, was the French writer and literary critic who passed away in May of 2025. The envelope is addressed to Rinaldi care of his publisher L'Express and it appears to be appropriately stamped and postmarked.

The French listing has been rendered in English by Google Translate:

Jean-Jacques Sempé
AbeBooks listing accessed February 15, 2026, translated by Google

https://www.abebooks.com/signed/Dessin-originale-sign%C3%A9-carte-postale-autographe/32390746684/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&ref_=pe_aep_AEP_wants_buyer-wants&cm_ite=viewbook

Jean-Jacques Sempé
AbeBooks item description, translated by Google

Note:  Any reader who was fortunate enough to be one of Sempé's correspondents is invited to share his missives on this blog.

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Jean-Jacques Sempé's Copy of the Japanese Edition of Teenage Romance: Or, How to Die of Embarrassment by Delia Ephron and Edward Koren

AbeBooks seller Librairie de pas sage in Paris informs us that Jean-Jacques Sempé and Edward Koren were cycling companions in their New York days and that Koren provided Sempé with the use of his office when the latter was in town. There must have been any number of opportunities, then, for Koren to present Sempé with a copy of Teenage Romance: Or, How to Die of Embarrassment (1983) by Delia Ephron with drawings by Koren. That it was the Japanese edition must have been quite the novelty, no doubt. Koren added a drawing of a bicyclist and a Japanese-style inscription that is, probably, nonsense.

Edward Koren
AbeBooks listing accessed December 27, 2025

https://www.abebooks.com/signed-first-edition/Dokidoki-Ephron-Delia-Shobunsha-Tokyo/32358248820/bd

Edward Koren
AbeBooks item description

The English translation:

Note:  Cartoon books with original drawings from one New Yorker cartoonist, such as Edward Koren, to another, say, Jean-Jacques Sempé, are of enduring interest to this blogger. Readers in possession of such books are asked to send scans or photographs, and to provide the story behind them, if possible.

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Carolyne's Copy of The Musicans by Sempé

Signed in Boston, one Carolyne's copy of The Musicans by Sempé—in full that's cartoonist Jean-Jacques Sempé—was dated in 1980, the year of publication. It's hard to believe that it's been forty-five years since the publication of this wonderful book of drawings on the subject of people who make music.

Sempé dedicated the book to this Carolyne with a drawing: a still life of a flower sitting in a vase sitting on a grand piano.

The book was priced at $250 by Lakeside Bookshop of Bradford, New Hamshire. While certainly not bargain-basement cheap, it was considerably less expensive than some comparable items on the European market.

The book quickly sold, more or less on the day it was listed.

Jean-Jacques Sempé
Abe Books listing sold November 12, 2025

https://www.abebooks.com/signed-first-edition/Musicians-Jean-Jacques-Semp%C3%A9-Workman-Pub/32341069458/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&ref_=pe_aep_AEP_wants_buyer-wants&cm_ite=viewbook

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Jean-Jacques Sempé: Soir de Fêtes

Cartoonist Jean-Jacques Sempé depicts the evening of a town festival with a light, understated touch, but he doesn't go light on the charm.

And Sempé's fans showed their appreciation. The online bidding at Heritage Auctions was appropriately festive, reaching $3800 twelve hours before the sale.

Jean-Jacques Sempé
Heritage Auctions listing accessed the night prior to the sale

https://fineart.ha.com/itm/mainstream-illustration/jean-jacques-sempe-french-1932-2022-soir-de-fetes-1989-ink-and-watercolor-on-paper-21-3-4-x-30-inches-552-x-762/a/8224-71067.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515

And by the close of the auction on November 4, the hammer price of Soir de Fêtes reached $5,500 or nearly $7,000 with the buyer's premium. 

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Barry Humphries's Copy of Sempé à New York

Sempé à New York—known here as Sempé in New York for those who need a translation—shows cartoonist Jean-Jacques Sempé's love for a great city even though it is not Paris. 

The book was published in 2009. Barry Humphrie's copy was personalized by the artist in 2010 with an inscription and a drawing of a saxophonist playing to the canyons of Manhattan.

Humphries was the Australian comic actor and author best known for his portrayal of Dame Edna Everage. He was a lifelong bibliophile and art collector.

Sempé was deft at balancing the city's overwhelming scale with the people who inhabit it.

I believe I am sensing a trend toward moderation in the prices booksellers are asking. Yes, $575 is a lot of money, but this is an outstanding copy of this book.

Jean-Jacques Sempé
AbeBooks listing accessed November 2, 2025

https://www.abebooks.com/signed/Sempe-New-York-Inscribed-Copy-Sketch/32334226764/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&ref_=pe_aep_AEP_wants_buyer-wants&cm_ite=viewbook

Jean-Jacques Sempé
AbeBooks item description 

Note:  For more on Barry Humphries's exquisite collection, see Christie's.

If you'd like to know what cartoonist Charles Addams thought of a Humphries performance as Dame Edna, you need only to dive into this blog's archives.

I personally have been loathe to purchase anything from the U.K. since the August 29 repeal of the de minimus tarriff exemption for packages under $800. 

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Mia Milstein's Copy of Monsieur Lambert by Jean-Jacques Sempé

Mia Milstein, to whom a copy of Monsieur Lambert (Paris: Denoël, 1965) is dedicated by author Jean-Jacques Sempé, may be a shortening of Maria, daughter of the violin virtuoso Nathan Milstein. This is explained on AbeBooks where the volume is listed by Undercover Books of Norwich, U.K.

Jean-Jacques Sempé
AbeBooks listing accessed October 10, 2025

https://www.abebooks.com/signed-first-edition/Monsieur-Lambert-Semp%C3%A9-Jean-Jacques-Paris-Deno%C3%ABl/32317055621/bd

Jean-Jacques Sempé
AbeBooks item description

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Jean-Jacques Sempé: Life and Art

Few cartoonists have taken more delight in depicting musicians than Jean-Jacques Sempé (1932-2022). His untitled 1981 drawing of a violinist walking home was sold at auction yesterday in Berlin.

The sophisticated man is sensibly dressed for winter. Only his hair is unkempt. He carries a bag of groceries and a violin case. He's got everything he needs to sustain himself, body and soul.

Jean-Jacques Sempé
Bassenge Auctions listing accessed four days before the sale

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/sempe-jean-jacques-ohne-titel-geiger-mit-einkaufs-7295-c-59f4884bf9?utm_source=egemail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=lot_abandonment&utm_content=&utm_content=day2

Sold!

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Olivier's Copy of Monsieur Lambert by Jean-Jacques Sempé

Author and artist Jean-Jacques Sempé figuratively raises a hand-sketched glass to a book recipient. The volume, Monsieur Lambert (1985), originally belonged to one Olivier and it has a delightful souvenir drawing.

Jean-Jacques Sempé
AbeBooks listing accessed April 6, 2025

https://www.abebooks.com/signed/Monsieur-Lambert-dessin-original-d%C3%A9dicac%C3%A9-Jean-Jacques/32172759875/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&ref_=pe_aep_AEP_wants_buyer-wants&cm_ite=readmore

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Sempé Books at Drouot

On Wednesday, a generous selection of cartoon books with original, personalized drawings by Jean-Jacques Sempé was sold at Drouot, Paris. A few of the sketches may have been separated from their books, or perhaps they were never a part of any books at all. The prices realized are available to subscribers only, but I did at least manage to capture a record of the presale estimates.

Note:  My thanks to Claude Haber for informing me of this auction. This is his fifth contribution to the blog. See, that's all it takes.

I would appreciate hearing from "subscribers" who can access the prices realized for this Drouot sale.

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