STANISLAVSKI KONSTANTIN: (1863-1938) Russian Theatre Director. A.L.S., K Stanislavski, two pages, 4to, Nice, n.d. ('Monday, but I forgot the date', c.1929/30?), to 'Dear, sweet friend Liza!', in Cyrillic. Stanislavski announces that he is very worried about the problems with his correspondent's telephone, expressing his concern that, instead of two hours, it has now been 24 and he still hasn't received a telephone call, continuing 'Today they are going to the post office, and I decided not to wait for the telephone call, and to send a letter that I received from Dr. Roux' and further explaining 'He states that Dr. Mignou is known not only in Nice, but also in the whole of France, and considers him to be the best ear doctor here. Just in case, I asked him (Dr. Roux) to write him a letter……I am going to make another call now, after that, the letter will be dropped in the mailbox. If I manage to get through to you, I am going to do it in the evenings, although I used to avoid disturbing you at this time. Hospitals are better in the sense that bronchitis seems to get better, but whooping cough lasts for a long time.' Rare. VG Stanislavski's correspondent may have been Elizabeth Reynolds Hapgood (1894-1974) the renowned Russian translator and Soviet culture lecturer who worked as an English translator for Stanislavski. Stanislavski was recuperating in Nice at the end of 1929 and at the same time began work on a production plan for William Shakespeare's Othello. Stanislavski's plan for this work represents the earliest exposition of the rehearsal process that became known as his Method of Physical Action.
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BERNOUILLI DANIEL: (1700-1782) Swiss Mathematician and Physicist. Best remembered for his pioneering work in probability and statistics. His name is commemorated in the Bernouilli´s principle related to the conservation of energy. Very rare A.L.S., Daniel Bernouilli, one page, 4to, Bale, 7th July 1748, in French. Bernouilli thanks his correspondent and colleague for his support on the occasion of his new appointment, stating `The honour of being appreciated by the most illustrious Company of the world is, no doubt, priceless to any sensible man to glory.. to know that you have participated in my election, having no doubt that you contributed to it..´ With blank integral leaf. Professionally repaires to the fold. Small overall age wear, mostly to the upper and right edge, with creasing, otherwise G
ZURN UNICA: (1916-1970) German Author. Well remembered for her photographic collaborations with Hans Bellmer, her anagram poetry and automatic drawing works. Rare A.L.S., `Unica´, one page, 4to, Paris, 11th August 1957, to Jean Jacques Leveque, in French. Zurn accepts her correspondent´s proposal and states in part `..Yes, in principle, I agree with the small exhibition proposal…in exchange and to compensate expenses, you will choose a gouache, one of the unsold ones..´, further saying `For the invitation cards, I would suggest a small poem that Mr. Mandiargues has written for me a year or two ago… I intend to entitle the exhibition “A drawing notebook”, (“Un carnet de Dessins”) or something similar. The intention would be to exhibit twenty or twenty five small format sheets, pink paper, and interrupt the serie with 5 or 6 gouaches, or oil paintings of larger format.´ Before concluding Zurn explains that she is considering to leave Paris definitively in the very next future. Accompanied by the original envelope addressed in her hand, postmarked and stamped. VGAndré Pieyre de Mandiargues (1909-1991) French writer. Prix Goncourt, 1967.
![BIZET GEORGES: (1838-1875) French Composer. A rare and brief A.L.S., Georges Bizet, one page, 8vo, n.p. [Paris], n.d. [1866-6](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/e999f7c7-3654-40ec-97bd-ac6f00c99025/23e46c18-3495-4461-b253-ac7100c838c7/468x382.jpg)
BIZET GEORGES: (1838-1875) French Composer. A rare and brief A.L.S., Georges Bizet, one page, 8vo, n.p. [Paris], n.d. [1866-67], to a friend [Jules Adenis], in French. Bizet sends a short but very important message to Adenis, his librettist, stating ´Finally… here it is!....´ Bizet refers to the completion of his opera La Jolie Fille de Perth (1867), after the novel The Fair Maid of Perth (1828) by Scottish author Walter Scott. Further saying `I had to leave for.., but I have received a dispatch, it is postponed until next week. My best regards from your devoted collaborator.´ Extremely small overall minor age wear, otherwise VG Jules Adenis (1823-1900) French Dramatist and opera Librettist. Bizet´s librettists for his opera La Jolie Fille de Perth were Jules Adenis and Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges (1799-1875). The libretto took time to convince the young composer and its conclusion took longer than expected. The opera ended having the highest premiere´s success Bizet ever lived.
TOLSTOY LEO: (1828-1910) Russian Novelist. Rare vintage signed postcard photograph of Tolstoy in a head and shoulders pose. Signed `Leon Tolstoy´, in bold dark fountain pen ink to a clear area to the upper right corner of the image. Poststamped and addressed to Lisbon to the verso. Extremely small overall age wear, otherwise VG
RENOIR PIERRE-AUGUSTE: (1841-1919) French Impressionist Artist. Rare A.L.S., `Renoir´, two pages, 8vo, Paris, n.d., to Claude Monet, in French. Renoir informs his correspondent and lifelong friend Monet about a wine purchase opportunity, stating in part `It is at least eight days now that I wanted to write to you and tell you that there is a barrel available containing about 55 litres of marc 94, very good, and for 2fr. 25 cents the litre. Can you please write to me promptly in case you want some, and how much. It is a pity that there is so much, because this barrel of 5 years would be really marvellous with one more year in cask.´ Renoir further refers to his correspondent and his own situation, saying `I will get at the same time news from you, on my side I have not been lucky at all, and still don´t know… what will happen later. I have had a hard time trying to deal with my fingers...´ Renoir sends his warm regards to Madame Monet and to his children. Paper with attractive crowned watermark. Very small minor age wear, otherwise about VG Claude Monet (1840-1926) French Impressionist Painter.
![[TALLEYRAND-PÉRIGORD CHARLES MAURICE DE]: (1754-1838) French Diplomat and Statesman. Prime Minister of France July-September](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/e999f7c7-3654-40ec-97bd-ac6f00c99025/c2f29d01-2910-4ab4-a081-ac70011d8cff/468x382.jpg)
[TALLEYRAND-PÉRIGORD CHARLES MAURICE DE]: (1754-1838) French Diplomat and Statesman. Prime Minister of France July-September 1815. A Rare original 16 x 20 printed public notice, one page, Paris, 2nd April 1814, in French. The affiche bears the printed heading "To French Armies", and states in part "Soldiers, France has just broken the yoke under which was moaning for so many years. You have always and only fought for your Homeland, but now you can only fight against it under the flags of the man who guides you. See how much you have suffered because of his tyranny. You were once one million of soldiers, almost all have perished. They were sent to battle, without support, without hospitals, they were condemned to die in misery and hunger. Soldiers, it is time to put an end to the evils of the Homeland. Peace is in your hands." The poster affiche includes a lengthy harangue, intending to convince the French troops to give up the fight, and states before concluding "You are not any more the soldiers of Napoleon, the Senate and the whole of France release you all from your oaths." At the base the call bears the printed names of the "Members of the provisional government - Le Prince de Bénévent - Le General Beurnonville - F. Jaucourt - L´Abbé de Montesquiou - Le Duc de Dalberg" Folded, very small minor creasing, G to VGOn 1st of April 1814, the day before the present affiche was issued, the French Senate appoints a provisional government headed by Talleyrand. On 2nd April, as the affiche states, the Senate declares Napoleon Bonaparte and his family deprived of the throne, and the French people and army freed from their oath of fidelity. Two days later, on 4th of April, Napoleon signs at Fontainebleau a form of conditional abdication, which preserves the rights of his son and the Empress Regent. On 6th of April Napoleon renounces for himself and his family to the thrones of France and Italy.
FABERGE PETER CARL: (1846-1920) Russian Jeweller, known for his Faberge eggs. Appointed Goldsmith and Jeweller to the Russian Imperial Court in 1885. A rare D.S., C. Faberge, in Cyrillic, one page, 8vo, n.p., 31st October 1916. The partially printed document, in Cyrillic, is a receipt issued to Otto Ottovich Bauer for his purchase of six shares of stock in Faberge's company at a cost of 5,000 rubles each, totalling 30,000 rubles, and states that the receipt will be 'exchanged for genuine shares once they have been printed by the State Printing Office'. With a partial revenue stamp affixed to the left edge. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VGIn 1916 the House of Faberge became a joint-stock company with a capital of three million rubles. Following the outbreak of the October Revolution the following year the business was taken over by a Committee of the Employees of the Company K. Faberge and in 1918 the House of Faberge was seized by the Bolsheviks. In early October the stock was confiscated and the House of Faberge was no more.
GOSCINNY & UDERZO: GOSCINNY RENÉ (1926-1977) UDERZO ALBERT (1927-2020) French comic book Artists. Best known for their comic book series Asterix. A rare signed and inscribed comic book by its authors, a hardcover copy, 4to, fifty pages, of the Asterix comic series Asterix et le Chaudron (1968) (“Asterix and the Cauldron”), edited by Dargaud, in French. Signed to the title page `Tres amicalement René Goscinny´ and `Uderzo´ respectively. Overall age wear and foxing with lose spine. About G
FORTON LOUIS: (1879-1934) French Cartoonist. A Pioneer in the field. Best known as the creator in 1908 of the comic strips Les Pieds Nickelés, as well as Bibi Fricotin. Very rare original ink drawn strip page, the ten vignettes being hand-drawn by Forton, corresponding to a 1947 comic strip of the Pieds Nickelés, and featuring the three main characters of the well-known comic series. The drawings and text clipped pieces are neatly and carefully affixed to a slightly larger card, to an overall of 9.5 x 12.5, composing the full comic strip plate for edition. One vignette is missing to the bottom left corner, otherwise G to VG
LOUIS XVI: (1754-1793) King of France and Navarre 1774-1791, King of the French 1791-92. The only King of France to have been executed. An 8vo hardback edition of the Defense de Louis, Prononcee a la Barre de la Convention Nationale, Le Mercredi 26 Decembre 1792…..Par le Citoyen Deseze…. ('The Defence of Louis XVI as Delivered at the Bar of the National Convention, Wednesday, 26th December 1792…..by Citizen Deseze….'), L'Imprimerie Nationale, by order of the Convention, Paris, 1792. With several pages of engravings and autograph letters etc. tipped into the binding following the front free endpapers including King Louis XVI fragment of an autograph note, unsigned, one page, 12mo, n.p., n.d., in French, being an order for a number of gold locks to be made for several chests, in part, '2 in the private cabinet, 1 between the black cabinet and the corridor to the dining room, 1 between the black cabinet and the jewellery cabinet, 1 between the jewellery cabinet and the private cabinet, 1 between the jewellery cabinet and the library…..there are only three copies, there still must be some in Paris'; Raymond Deseze (1750-1828) French Advocate who defended King Louis XVI when brought before the Convention for trial. A.L.S., Deseze, three pages, 8vo, Brevannes, n.d. ('Le lundi matin'), thanking his correspondent for the information supplied to him and remarking that he 'was right in thinking that I did not read a consultation….I don't even remember very well the evidence I could have had under my eyes and the way I made use of it', further referring to a lawyer in Brussels and a report which should be sent by courier; Francois Denis Tronchet (1726-1806) French Jurist who, alongside Deseze and Malesherbes, defended King Louis XVI when brought before the Convention for trial. A.L., unsigned, in the third person (his name Le Senateur TRONCHET printed at the beginning of the text), one page, small 8vo, Paris, 19 Vendimiaire year 12 of the Republic, to Monsieur Du Poirier, seeking a meeting with his correspondent regarding an urgent matter and suggesting 6pm and, if possible, dinner with his friend. With integral address leaf in Tronchet's hand (small area of paper loss to one corner caused by the original breaking of the seal); Guillaume-Chretien de Lamoignon de Malesherbes (1721-1794) French Statesman and Minister who, alongside Deseze and Tronchet, defended King Louis XVI when brought before the Convention for trial. A.L., unsigned, one page, 8vo, (place indecipherable), 29th October 1775, to a gentleman, in French, forwarding a response he has received and referring to various individuals and a court case. Attractively bound in half-morocco, with raised bands to spine and small gilt stamped title, mottled boards and marbled pastedowns and endpapers. A rare, unusual grouping and presentation related to one of the most important events in French history. Some light age wear, minor foxing in places and a few light stains to some pages, G
CASTRO FIDEL: (1926-2016) Cuban Prime Minister 1959-76, later President 1976- 2008. An extremely rare L.S., `Fidel Castro´, two pages, 4to, beige lined paper, Isle of Pines, Cuba, 6th December 1953, in Spanish. The multiple letter signed by the Moncada prisoners, probably smuggled out of the Isle of Pines, was written from prison and very shortly after Castro wrote his well-remembered manifesto "History Will Absolve Me". The letter, written by prisoner Agustin Cartaya, is addressed to a lady and is a letter of appreciation to all supporters of their cause, stating in part `Together with these sincere lines, attached are the affection and respect from all my partners. We read your poem and it inspired all of us.. In these difficult times.. I will remember your beautiful thoughts and incomparable ideals..´ further saying `You know that our tasks are firm to serve the ideals, our formula of action demands continuity of our efforts, that is why from here we will fight continuously…´ Signed by the 27 imprisoned comrades, including Fidel Castro, Raul Castro, Juan Almeida, Andres Garcia, Mario Chaves, Francisco Gonzalez, Gabriel Gil, Eduardo Rodriguez, Armando Mestre Martinez, Ramiro Valdes, etc.. Overall age wear and foxing stains, few traces of former staples and three small areas of paper loss, only affecting a few words of the letter, but not affecting the signatures. F Castro formed a group called "The Movement" in 1952 which operated along a clandestine cell system, while arming and training anti-Batista recruits. Castro stockpiled weapons for a planned attack on the Moncada Barracks, a military garrison outside Santiago de Cuba. The attack took place on 26th July 1953, but ran into trouble and most of the rebels pinned down by machine gun fire. Castro set out for the rugged Sierra Maestra mountains, where they established a guerrilla base. Responding to the attack, Batista's government proclaimed martial law, ordered violent crackdown on dissent and tortures. Rebels were rounded up, some were executed, and others including Castro transported to a prison. The government put 122 defendants on trial on 21st September 1953. Acting as his own defense counsel, Castro cited Jose Martí as the intellectual author of the attack and convinced the three judges to overrule the army's decision to keep all defendants handcuffed in court, proceeding to argue that the charge with which they were was incorrect, as they had risen up against Batista, who had seized power in an unconstitutional manner. The trial ended on 5th October, with the acquittal of most defendants. Castro was sentenced on 16th October 1953, during which he delivered a speech that would be printed under the title of "History Will Absolve Me"
FAULKNER WILLIAM: (1897-1962) American Writer, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1949. Autograph Telegram Signed, BILL, in capital letters, one page, oblong 8vo, Paris, n.d. (c.1955?), to Howard Hawks in Cairo, Egypt. The partially printed telegram is neatly completed in ink by Faulkner, entirely in capital letters, and states, in full, 'Booked N.Y. 19 April unless I hear from you. Of course will stay here on call or meet you at need if notified tel no.' The writer has also penned his name ('WILLIAM FAULKNER') in ink at the base, along with his address at the Hotel de Beaujolais in Paris. A rare autograph with an interesting association. A couple of very small, extremely minor tears to the edges, not affecting the text or signature, otherwise VG Howard Hawks (1896-1977) American Film Director, Academy Award winner. Hawks employed Faulkner as a screenwriter in Hollywood, and the two men became friends, sharing a passion for drinking and hunting. Indeed, Hawks' brother, the American film producer William Hawks (1901-1969), became Faulkner's Hollywood agent and the writer himself conducted an affair with Meta Carpenter, Hawks' secretary and script girl. In 1955 Hawks produced and directed the epic film Land of the Pharaohs starring Jack Hawkins and Joan Collins. Much of the film was shot on location in Egypt, and the present telegram most likely dates from the time of filming. The movie was Hawks' final collaboration with Faulkner before the author's death.
![[MAORI RANGATIRA]: NA HARE TE OWNUKU ( - ) Maori Rangatira of the 19th century. A rare A.L.S., Na Hare te Ownuku, one](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/e999f7c7-3654-40ec-97bd-ac6f00c99025/383c5996-8383-4b61-9437-ac70011e8a66/468x382.jpg)
[MAORI RANGATIRA]: NA HARE TE OWNUKU ( - ) Maori Rangatira of the 19th century. A rare A.L.S., Na Hare te Ownuku, one page, 8vo, Urenui, Taranaki, 5th August 1870, to Pattison, in Maori. The Maori Rangatira sends greetings to his correspondent and continues to write in warm terms, 'I shall never forget you both. Every day and every year (I think of you). My love for you is as great as it would be for my father. Greatly do I cry over your letter that has reached me'. With a contemporary English translation to the integral leaf in which the signature is translated as 'Hare the Rainbow'. Accompanied by the original hand addressed envelope (stamp torn away) which features several post marks including one at Wellington. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG
![[RASPUTIN GRIGORI]: (1869-1916) Russian Mystic who befriended the family of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. A rare vintage unsign](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/e999f7c7-3654-40ec-97bd-ac6f00c99025/dfaa09e8-6d1e-4de5-a116-ac70011e0655/468x382.jpg)
[RASPUTIN GRIGORI]: (1869-1916) Russian Mystic who befriended the family of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. A rare vintage unsigned cabinet photograph by A. Brockesch of Regensburg, the albumen print (from a photograph by Karl Bulla) depicting Rasputin seated in a three quarter length pose flanked by Colonel Dmitry Loman (left) and Prince Mikhail Putyatin (right) who both stand in full length poses wearing their uniforms and medals, c.1905-06. Photographer's imprint to the lower mount and verso. A few very minor, extremely light stains to the image and lower mount, otherwise VGKarl Bulla (1855-1929) German-Russian Photographer.Rasputin had travelled to St. Petersburg in around 1904-05 where he captivated some social leaders and formed friendships with several members of the aristocracy.At the end of October 1905 Tsar Nicholas II summoned Prince Mikhail Putyatin (seen in the present image), Captain of the Preobrazhensky Life Guards and later head of the Tsarskoe Selo Palace Administration, to meet Rasputin and bring him to the palace at Peterhof. The mystic arrived early in the evening of 1st November and was presented to the Emperor and Empress for the first time.
DUMAS ALEXANDRE: Fils (1824-1895) French Author and Dramatist. Autograph Manuscript, unsigned, two pages, folio, n.p., n.d. (watermark of 1857), in French. The substantial fragment of manuscript, with extensive corrections, is an unused portion of the comedy L'Ami des Femmes and represents dialogue between J[ane de Simerose] and de M[ontegre], the final version of which sees Jane passionately asking Montegre whether, if her husband has broken his word, that is a reason to break hers, in part, 'So long as I am to keep his name, I must respect it. Would she still be a wife who at my age had said to two men that she loved them, who belonging legally to one, should calmly give herself to the other, and whom each of the two would have this right to despise, for you would despise me in spite of yourself if I were to believe you, and already, to expect that I can believe you is to despise me - I am married, as you are - and you talk to me of love. Who do you take me for? To put me in a web of lies, terrors, insults, adulteries, to make me blush before another, before you, before myself, to lower myself in the esteem of others and my own - Never. Die if you have not the courage of duty - I do have - and I am alive'. Rare in this form. Some light overall creasing and minor age wear, GThe passage contained in the present manuscript fragment may have been a trial for part of Act IV. In the published play, Act I introduces de Royes, the 'friend' of the title, who claims to be an expert on women, and de Montegre, who has briefly met Jane two or three times before. She loved but is separated from her husband, who was unfaithful after a month of marriage, On meeting de Montegre again she wistfully thinks he might be someone she could trust and writes a note asking him to meet her 'tomorrow - I love you'. However, her husband turns up towards the end of Act III with adoption papers for a young orphan whom he hopes Jane will bring up with his support, and Jane is given pause. In Act IV she is followed by de Montegre to Paris, where she manages to evade him. On returning home she upbraids him for trailing her in secret rather than declaring himself openly, and refuses to trust him. At the end of Act V de Montegre arranges for Jane's note of assignation to be put in the hands of the husband, as if from Jane herself, de Royes 'expert' knowledge is confounded, and Jane and her husband are reconciled. The present manuscript fragment suggests an alternative which Dumas could not use, possibly because it seemed too final at this stage of the play.
CHODERLOS DE LACLOS PIERRE: (1741-1803) French Novelist, army General, and freemason. Best known for his novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses ("Dangerous Liaisons"), 1782, a masterpiece of the French literature of the 18th century which has inspired multiple plays, films and analytic commentaries. Rare L.S., `Laclos´, one page, folio, Verona, 10th February 1801, in French. Laclos, in his capacity as Commander of the reserve artillery regiment of the Army of Italy, gives his approval to General Michaud´s complaint `..against a military group of canonniers of the 8th regiment which has created the great disorders in a commune..´, further ordering to intervene as they look very guilty, despite the Commander´s report which explains the facts differently. Two extremely small pinholes to the upper left corner because of a former staple, otherwise VG
ESCOFFIER GEORGES AUGUSTE: (1846-1935) Famous French Chef. Arguably the most influential of his time, and considered the creator of Modern Cuisine. Known as “Le Roi des Cuisiniers et Cuisinier des Rois”, (“King of chefs and chef of Kings”). Escoffier popularized and modernized French cooking methods. Rare signed and inscribed book, to the title page, `A mon cher collegue et ami Monsieur Otto Bock, sincere et cordiale sympathie. A. Escoffier.´, being a hardcover copy of Le Livre des Menus, by Escoffier, 4to, 166 pages, published by Ernest Flammarion, Paris 1912. Escoffier adds alongside his inscription an attractive drawing of a flower, additionally signed with his initials to the leaf of the flower. Dated in Copenhagen, 28th September 1923 in Escoffier´s hand beneath his signature. Signatures of Escoffier are rare and desirable in any form. The book is in its original publisher´s binding. Very small overall minor age wear, otherwise VG Escoffier worked in partnership with hotelier Cesar Ritz. They rose to prominence at the Savoy in London serving the elite of society, and later at the Ritz Hotel in Paris and the Carlton in London. Escoffier published Le Guide Culinaire, which is still used as a major reference cooking work. Escoffier's recipes and techniques remain highly influential today, and have been adopted by chefs and restaurants throughout the world.
![[GONE WITH THE WIND]: FLEMING VICTOR: (1889-1949) American Film Director of Gone With The Wind and The Wizard of Oz (both 193](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/e999f7c7-3654-40ec-97bd-ac6f00c99025/367b3c62-d5ee-41cc-9bba-ac7100c7c911/468x382.jpg)
[GONE WITH THE WIND]: FLEMING VICTOR: (1889-1949) American Film Director of Gone With The Wind and The Wizard of Oz (both 1939). Academy Award winner. An excellent, extremely rare vintage signed and inscribed 10.5 x 13 photograph, the image depicting Fleming in a head and shoulders pose intensely looking towards the camera. Photograph by Henry Waxman of Hollywood and bearing his blind embossed credit stamp to the lower right corner. Signed by Fleming in dark fountain pen ink to the image, 'Dear Baby, I love you, Victor'. Apparently inscribed to the actress Clara Bow, one of Fleming's lovers. A couple of very light, extremely small corner creases and a few very minor traces of former mounting to the verso, otherwise VG Clara Bow (1905-1965) American Actress, known as 'The It Girl'. Bow starred in the American silent comedy film Mantrap (1926) which was directed by Victor Fleming and was briefly engaged to the director in the same year. Fleming once likened Bow to a Stradivarius violin, stating 'touch her, and she responded with genius'.
DYLAN BOB: (1941- ) American Singer & Songwriter. Rare signed compact disc sleeve, `Bob Dylan´, corresponding to his album Modern Times, released by Columbia Records in 2006, with all songs written by Bob Dylan. The four colour pages folding sleeve bears to the front page a “Taxi, New York at Night” photograph, to the inside pages a photograph showing Dylan and his band performing for the Modern Times recording, and to the back cover the printed list of songs with a half profile portrait pose of Dylan. Signed in bold blue ink to a largely clear area of the front cover. Autograph obtained in 2006 on the occasion of the record presentation.
BRANCUSI CONSTANTIN: (1876-1957) Romanian Sculptor and Painter. A.L.S., C Brancusi, one page, small 4to, Paris, 3rd July 1939, to Ede, in broken French. The sculptor writes, in full, 'I am sorry to reply to you so late and to still have nothing precise to tell you. I wanted to complete The Bird before writing to you, but there you are: I restarted it twice and it's not yet ready. Wait a little longer - I will write to you when it is finished. I think of you often. My best to you and to Helene'. Autograph letters of Brancusi are rare, particularly when discussing his work. A few very light, extremely minor creases, VG Some of Brancusi's most famous sculptures represent birds in flight and became known as the Bird in Space series, with the original having been created in 1923.
SCHWARZENBERG KARL PHILIPP: (1771-1820) Prince of Schwarzenberg. Austrian field Marshal. He took part in the Battle of Wagram and was in charge of the negotiation in 1810 of the marriage between Napoleon and Archduchess Marie Louise of Austria. Very rare A.L.S., `Schwarzenberg´, one page, oblong 8vo, near Berezino, Minsk, Belarus, 9th August 1812, to General Jean Louis Reyner, in French. Schwarzenberg states in part `I have received the letter brought to me by the Hussards patrol. I will be tomorrow at 8h in the morning near Pruzanne to push the enemy, if possible, out of this location and therefore allow our junction. I invite you Monsieur le Comte, to help my military move, pushing with vigor any trops you may find before you.´ The present letter sheds light on these events, when the 30.000 men of the Austrian corps leaded by Schwarzenberg and the 7th corps leaded by Reynier joined and together obtained the victory at the Battle of Gorodetchna. Overall age wear, with uneven left edge and a very small area of paper loss to the bottom left corner. About GJean Louis Ebénézer Reynier (1771-1814) French army General during the French Revolutionary Wars. Schwarzenberg gave a ball in honour of the bride Marie Louise of Austria, on the occasion of her marriage to Napoleon in July 1810, which ended in a fire that killed many of the guests, including his own sister-in-law.Napoleon held Schwarzenberg in great esteem, and gave him the command of Austrian corps in the Russian campaign of 1812.
BABBAGE CHARLES: (1791-1871) English Mathematician & Inventor who originated the concept of a programmable computer. A good A.L.S., C Babbage, two pages, small 4to, n.p., 15th April 1827, to 'My dear Sir'. Babbage informs his correspondent that he feels the Royal Institution 'would be the best place for making public the views you mention respecting the illustration of mechanical subject' and adds 'I think there could be no objection to your lecturing in the same place where Davy, Dalton, Dr. Roget and Dr. Young have frequently done', further explaining that he has written to the manager of the Royal Institution 'in such a manner that they might if they chose propose some remuneration for the expense you might be at in bringing the necessary apparatus from Ireland' and also stating 'They however do not seem to have viewed it in that light, but they express a perfect willingness to allow you to give a few lectures on the subject and will make arrangements as to the time on your arrival in London'. Babbage further informs his correspondent that he is aware that the Royal Institution have a 'full supply of lectures for the season' although comments 'You however are not committed and if you disapprove of the plan can easily drop it. I think that no situation in London is so desirable with reference to your views'. Autograph letters by Babbage of this size are rare; the scientist generally preferring to use much smaller stationery for his correspondence. A few light spots of foxing and some slight traces of former mounting to the left edge, not affecting the text or signature. About VG
RAVEL MAURICE: (1875-1937) French Composer. A fine, rare vintage signed and inscribed 6.75 x 9 photograph by Ravel, the image (4 x 5.5) depicting him in a head and shoulders pose. Photograph by J. Heby (?) and bearing their studio stamp to the lower right corner of the photographer's mount. Signed in bold black fountain pen ink by Ravel to the upper photographer's mount, 'A mon cher editeur et ami E. Demets, bien cordialement, Maurice Ravel'. An excellent signed portrait with good association. Neatly mounted and with some very light, minor silvering to the edges of the image and some light age toning to the edges of the photographer's mount. About VG Eugene Demets (1858-1923) French Music Publisher, regarded as one of the most prestigious publishers of his day, who worked with Maurice Ravel, Erik Satie, Joaquin Turina as well as Les Six and others.
MOORE GRACE: (1898-1947) American Actress and Soprano, nicknamed "The Tennessee Nightingale". Moore died in a plane crash at the age of 48. Rare signed 8 x 10 photograph by Moore, the Victor Red Seal promotional image depicting the singer and actress in a close-up smiling head and shoulders pose. Signed in bold blue fountain pen ink to a clear area of the image, also dated 1940 in her hand. Very small crease to corner, otherwise VG
CONSTANCE OF AUSTRIA: (1588-1631) Queen of Poland 1605-31. Second spouse of King Sigismund III Vasa and mother of King John II Casimir. Very rare L.S., `Constantia´, a bold black ink signature, one page, folio, Tykocin (small town north-east of Poland), 28th October 1630, to Archbishop Larissano, Apostolic Nuncio to Poland, in Latin. To the heading, Constance is referred to as Queen of Poland, Sweden, Grand Duchess of Lusatia, Rusia, Prusia, Masovia, Samogitia and Livonia, `Born Grand Duchess of Austria´. The Queen welcomes the new appointed nuncio to Warsaw, stating in part `..To what an extent your very clean origin and the excellent fame of your qualities precedes you.. We welcome you and your philosophy in this our Royal House.´ Queen Constance died of a stroke few months after the present letter was signed, at the early age of 42. With address leaf, letter from the `Regina´, bearing a royal paper seal affixed. Overall foxing, the text remaining fully legible, otherwise G
PEDRO V: (1837-1861) King of Portugal 1853-61. A rare A.L.S., Pedro, four pages, 4to, Lisbon, 5th January 1856, to General [William] Wylde. The King states that he has charged General Barrios to deliver his letter whilst 'studying military establishments and institutions particularly the ordnance in England, Belgium, Prussia, Austria, Piedmont and France' and further asking if Wylde may be of assistance to Barrios in his work, 'You will oblige me very much in obtaining for him an introduction to Lord Hardinge and in showing to him the military establishments at Woolwich. I hope you will too introduce him to Colonel Samuel Colt or in his absence to his brother the Judge whose revolver manufacture I wish the General to visit, as one of the most perfect establishments of that sort I have ever seen. The Senate arms factory at Enfield I would also wish General Barrios to visit and to be able to study'. In concluding the King also reflects on the happy days he previously spent in England. Autograph letters of King Pedro V are rare as a result of his tragically early death at the age of 24. Some very light creasing and minor age wear and with a contemporary ink annotation at the head of the first page, about VGWilliam Wylde (1788-1877) British General, Master Gunner, St. James's Park 1868-77. Wylde also served as a Groom of the Bedchamber to Prince Albert.Samuel Colt (1814-1862) American Inventor & Industrialist who made the mass production of revolvers commercially viable. Colt had established a factory in London in 1853 although closed it during the course of 1856, the same year as the present letter.
YOUNG NEIL: (1945- ) Canadian-American Singer and Songwriter. Nicknamed the “Godfather of Grunge”. Rare signed 8 x 10 photograph by Young, the New World Pictures image depicting the artist outdoors, in a half-length pose, in a scene of `68 (1988). Signed in bold black ink to a clear area of the image. Autograph obtained in person by collector. EX
VANDERBILT WHITNEY GERTRUDE: (1877-1942) American Sculptor. Art Patron and Founder of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. Author of several important works such as the Women´s Titanic Memorial in Washington, or the Peter Stuyvesant statue in New York city. Rare A.L.S., `Gertrude V. Whitney´, two pages, on two sheets, small 4to, Paris, 29th April, n.y., [1912], on her personal printed stationery, to Leon Roger Miles, in French. The letter bears an embossed monogram with Vanderbilt-Whitney initials and Gertrude Vanderbilt states in part `Before leaving Paris I would like to express my deep gratitude feelings to you for the gracious and benevolent welcome I´ve had. I have been very touched for the generous welcome given to my works by the Parisian artistic world. Your testimony overall, expressing a friendly understanding of my work will always remain as a great inspiration..´ EX
ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER: (1900-2002) Queen Consort of King George VI. An excellent A.N.S., Granny, on one side of a printed Windsor Castle correspondence card, n.p. (Windsor, Berkshire), n.d. (1960s). In blue ink the Queen Mother has penned a brief message, in full, 'Darling Charles, with loving Christmas wishes from Granny', the card evidently having been originally accompanied by a Christmas gift for her grandson, Prince Charles. A rare example with excellent association. Some very light, extremely minor age wear and scuffing, otherwise about VG Charles (1948- ) Prince of Wales, eldest child of Queen Elizabeth & Prince Philip.
KOLLONTAI ALEXANDRA: (1872-1952) Russian Communist Revolutionary. A member of the Mensheviks first, and further Bolshevik Party, she was one of the first and few women appointed as Soviet Ambassador. Rare T.L.S., `A.Kollontay´, two pages, 4to, Oslo, 17th February 1925, in Cyrillic. Signed by Alexandra Kollontai in her capacity as Plenipotentiary Minister of the U.S.S.R to Norway. The letter bearing the printed heading, in French and Cyrillic, of the U.S.S.R legation in Norway, is a license approval stating in part `..is hereby authorized for sea-hunting in the territorial waters of Russia on the North cost of European Russia from the Finnish frontier up to Novaya Zemlya along the seaside of the continent and islands, except water zone of the White Sea, south of the Orlovsky Light-house and Cape Kanushin line, where the hunting is forbidden.´, further saying `This certificate is issued on the basis of the contract agreement signed by the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics with the "Aaalesund Navigation Union, group of seal hunters", and ratified by the Council of Peoples' Commissars on 16th December 1924.´ Also bearing two countersignatures beneath Kollontai´s one, and alongside a C.C.C.P. ink stamp. Four binder holes to the left border with very small area of paper loss around them, none affecting the text or signatures. G
MARIE CASIMIRE QUEEN OF POLAND: (1641-1716) Marie Casimire Louise de la Grange d´Arquien, also known as Marysienka. Queen consort of Poland 1676-96, as spouse of King John III Sobieski, and Grand Duchess of Lithuania. Extremely rare A.L.S., `La plus obéissante de ses filles et sa tres humble servante. Marie Casimire´, three pages, 4to, n.p. [France], n.d. [November 1714 - early 1715], to the Pope, in French. A lengthy letter in the Queen´s hand, in an often "written as it sounds" French. Marie Casimire thanks his Holiness for the help given and blessings to her son who has passed away, stating in part `..the expressions of goodness shown by your Holiness, honouring my dear child all along his illness, and the distinction awarded after his death, cruel word for me to pronounce..´ With provenance from Morrison collection. Small professional repair to the fold, otherwise VG Clement XI (1649-1721) Born Giovanni Albani, Pope of the Catholic Church and Ruler of the Papal States 1700-21. Correspondent of Marie Casimire in the present letter.The Queen refers to her son Alexander Stanislaw Sobieski (1677-1714) Polish Prince, diplomat and scholar. Son of John III Sobieski, King of Poland. Alexander was a candidate for election to the Polish throne in 1697, following his father's death, but was unsuccessful. He died at the early age of 37 in Rome, in 1714, having recently become a Capuchin friar.
FRENCH REVOLUTION MATRIX SEAL: A rare and unusual wooden matrix seal, used for wax seals, dating from the French Revolution era. Matrix made in brass, showing French revolutionary republican symbols, such as Marianne personifying the Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, and the bonnet hanging to the head of a spear. Also bearing initials to a shield. The height being 8 cm, and the matrix seal 2 x 2.5 cm. VG
PICASSO PABLO: (1881-1973) Spanish Painter, a co-founder of the Cubist movement. A rare slim small 8vo colour printed admittance ticket to a bullfight signed by Picasso, the event taking place at the Plaza Toros de Nimes on Sunday, 24th May 1953 and the ticket (marked Premiere B, Rang 1) featuring a colour illustration to the centre of two toreros. Signed (‘Picasso’) by Picasso in blue ink to the upper border and dated 24th May 1953 in his hand. The signature is a little light in places although perfectly legible. Very slightly irregularly torn to the lower edge and right corner with the loss of only a few letters of printed text, G Signed souvenirs by Picasso related to his great passion for bullfighting are rare and desirable and, as Paloma Alarco of Madrid’s Thyssen-Bornemisza Museo Nacional so accurately observed, ‘The close relationship between the world of bullfighting and Picasso’s oeuvre is unquestionable. From his childhood days in Malaga, where his father often took him to the bullring, he was greatly fascinated by the national sport. In addition to the artistic possibilities of the bullfight…..Picasso regarded it as an expression of Spanishness’. Picasso regularly attended the Plaza Toros at Nimes from the autumn of 1947 until 1955, quite often with the bullfighting chronicler Andre Castel, as well as Picasso’s lover at the time, Francoise Gilot, the surrealist writer Michel Leiris, and his friend Jean Cocteau.
MARTI JOSE: (1853-1895) Cuban Poet, Writer and Revolutionary Philosopher. Martí is considered a national hero as well as a leading figure in Latin American literature. He became a symbol for Cuba's fight for independence in the 19th century, and is referred to as the "Apostle of Cuban Independence”. A good and rare A.L.S., `José Martí´, one page, 4to, New York, 19th March 1893, bearing the New York Delegation of the Cuban Revolutionary Party printed letterhead, to the Council President on the Board of Advisors for Key West, in Spanish. Marti refers to the newspaper El Yara, and states in part `..a journal of strict honesty, the only Cuban newspaper that with nothing more than the fervent patriotism of his chief editor, day after day convey to the emigration the voice of concord, and to Cuba the voice of revolution; no fear to honour those who deserve it!´ A letter of good content. Small overall age wear, mostly to edges, and overall foxing. About G El Yara was a revolutionary newspaper printed in Key West for distribution in Cuba.
TOULOUSE-LAUTREC HENRI DE: (1864-1901) French Painter and Illustrator. A rare and unpublished A.L.S., `Henri´, four pages, 8vo, n.p., 13th June 1893, to his mother 'Ma chere Maman´, in French. Toulouse-Lautrec starts his letter with a statement `I am extremely busy´, and explaining that his spends his mornings with printings and in the afternoon supervising the decorations for `La fin d´Antonia´, and lists three things he expects his correspondent to do promptly stating in part `You must send me as soon as possible my summer dark grey suit which you must have in your trunks… 2) Make a barrel of wine be prepared, which you will send and which we will bottle to drink it in winter.. 3) I will send you the exact nuance for the paper. Meanwhile make the bathroom furniture be painted and also the wall stain.´ Further again and before concluding Toulouse-Lautrec states `I intend to depart in 15 or 20 days. I still have two posters to do before my departure. Have a careful look to the Figaro when the June illustrated Figaro will be announced. There will be a story on me..´ Tear to the centre fold edge, otherwise G Edouard Dujardin (1861-1949) French Writer. Author of La Fin ´Antonia (1891)
ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER: (1900-2002) Queen Consort of King George VI. A good A.N.S., MaMA (E), on one side of a printed Windsor Castle correspondence card, n.p. (Windsor, Berkshire), n.d. (1960s). In blue ink the Queen Mother has penned a brief message, in full, 'For Tony, with loving Christmas wishes from MaMA (E)', the card evidently having been originally accompanied by a Christmas gift for her son-in-law. A rare example with good association. Some very light, extremely minor age wear and scuffing, otherwise about VG Antony Armstrong-Jones (1930-2017) 1st Earl of Snowdon. British Photographer, husband of Princess Margaret from 1960-78.
NAPOLEON IV: (1856-1879) Prince Imperial, the only child of Emperor Napoleon III and his Empress consort Eugenie de Montijo. Very rare signed 2.5 x 4 carte de visite photograph (c.1874), the image depicting the young Prince in a formal head and shoulders pose. Signed `Napoleon´ in bold black ink to the lower white border of the photograph. Prince Imperial Napoleon Bonaparte died at the very early age of 23, killed by Zulus during the Zulu War. Overall small foxing stains. About G
BLUCHER GEBHARD VON: (1742-1819) Prince von Wahlstatt. Prussian field Marshal. Von Blucher leaded the Prussian army against Napoleon At the battles of Leipzig and Waterloo playing a decisive role in the allied victory. He is the highest-decorated Prussian soldier in history. An excellent and rare A.L.S., `Blucher´, two pages, 4to, Namur, 16th June 1815, to his brother-in-law, in German. Blucher writes the present letter on the morning of the Battle of Ligny, and only two days before the Battle of Waterloo. Blucher reports on the course of the present campaign, and states in part `I have been called again to the battle field, I hope and wish that the war will not be of long duration..´, further mentioning that he is recommending his brother to retain a "Gaull" as long as the war lasts, and that he has also commented this with his daughter-in-law in Berlin. A historical date letter. With blank integral leaf with upper right corner clipped. Small overall age wear and creasing, otherwise GThe Battle of Ligny, 16th June 1815, on the day of the present letter. The battle of Ligny was the last victory in Napoleon's military career.The French troops leaded by Napoleon I defeated part of the Prussian army under Field Marshal Blucher. The battle resulted in a tactical victory for Napoleon, but the bulk of the Prussian army survived the battle, and played a pivotal role two days later at the Battle of Waterloo.The Battle of Waterloo, two days later, ensured as Blucher´s wished that the war was not going to be of long duration. Ligny is in the Wallonian region, in Belgium.
BOLIVAR SIMON: (1783-1830) Venezuelan-born Military and Political leader. President of Gran Colombia 1819-30, President of Bolivia 1825 & President of Peru 1824-27. Bolívar played an important role in Latin America's successful struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire, and is today considered one of the most influential politicians in the history of the Americas. Rare L.S., Bolivar, two pages, folio, Angostura, 18th December 1817, to the Governor and General Commander of the province of Guayana, in Spanish. The partially printed document bearing to the heading the printed text “Simon Bolivar - Chief Supreme of the Republic, Captain-General of the Venezuela and New-Granada armies” refers to Commandant De Miguel unacceptable behaviour, stating in part `..he is not only reluctant and negligent when fulfilling the orders given but he is also demanding and accepting dishonourable bribes, which is degrading for an officer of the Republic. Such a behaviour, on top of being a criminal conduct is shameful for our government and ruins our credit with foreigners..´ Few pinholes not affecting the text or signature. G
CARRIER JEAN BAPTISTE: (1756-1794) French Revolutionary and member of the Convention. Well-remembered for his infamous Drownings at Nantes (`Noyades de Nantes´). After the fall of Robespierre, Carrier was tried for war crimes, sentenced to death and guillotined. Rare multiple L.S., Carrier, one page, 4to, n.p., [Paris], n.d. [1794], in French. The letter is written and also signed by Louis Turreau de Linieres, and by Albert Ruelle, all members of the National Convention, and states in part `We, deputies, declare and undersign that during our stay at the Vendée we have recognized citizen La Chevardiere, former vice-President of the Paris department, as a very good patriot, and we have not found any thing which would identify him with opposing the Republican government..´, further referring to additional reports on La Chevardiere´s patriotic behaviour. The document bears to the heading a red ink stamp. Small overall age wear and foxing stains, with slightly uneven edges. G
JINNAH MUHAMMAD ALI: (1876-1948) Indian Muslim Politician, the founder of Pakistan. 1st Governor-General of Pakistan 1947-48. Rare blue ink signature ('M. A. Jinnah') on a 3.5 x 5 card with an affixed newspaper portrait to the left edge. Annotated in blue ink in the hand of a collector to the upper edge. Some light age wear and very minor traces of former mounting to the verso, about VG
CEZANNE PAUL: (1839-1906) French Artist & Post-Impressionist Painter. A good and rare A.L.S., Paul Cezanne, two pages, 8vo, n.p., Wednesday April 1881, to Monsieur Huijsmans, in French. Cezanne states in full, 'I received before yesterday in the evening the volume you kindly sent to me. I deeply thank you for your kindness. Together with your parcel was attached the one of monsieur Ceard. In the ignorance that I find myself of his address because of my negligence, I would ask you to send to him my gratitude for the testimony of his esteem towards me for the matters related to the mind..´ The paper bears an Original Oxford Mill watermark. Accompanied by the original envelope in Cezanne´s hand. Overall age wear and foxing stains, otherwise GJoris-Karl Huysmans (1848-1907) French Novelist and art Critic. A founding member of the Academy Goncourt and an early advocate of Impressionism.
GASTON DUKE OF ORLEANS: (1608-1660) Born Fils de France (“Son of France”), as son of King Henry IV of France and Marie de´ Medici. As the eldest surviving brother of King Louis XIII, he was known at court as Monsieur. Rare L.S., `Gaston´, one page, 4to, 25th July 1649, to `Mon Cousin´, a member of the Royalty, in French. The Duke of Orleans states in part `Our soldiers have arrived to Abbevile, I press the Governor of Calais to escort them to St. Omer and I try with this letter..´ With two water stains to the upper and bottom left corners, not affecting the signature, otherwise G
GLAZUNOV ALEXANDER: (1865-1936) Russian Composer and music Teacher. He was the direct successor of most of the Group of five Russian composer´s legacy. Director of the Saint Petersburg Conservatory 1905-28, he left the Soviet Union in 1928 and never returned. His best-known student was Dmitri Shostakovich. A rare and excellent A.M.Q.S., Alexander Glazounov, one page, removed from an autograph album, oblong 4to, London, 9th January 1929, dated in his hand. Glazounov has cleanly penned a three bars musical quotation, unidentified, adding to the heading the musical tempo `Allegro´. VG
DUNANT HENRI: (1828-1910) Swiss Promoter and co-Founder of the Red Cross. Dunant was a Humanitarian social Activist. The 1864 Geneva Convention was based on Dunant´s idea for an organisation to take care for wounded soldiers. Dunant was awarded with the first Nobel Peace Prize, being also the first Swiss Nobel laureate. An excellent and very rare A.L.S., H. Dunant, four pages, Heiden, 6th June 1902, to Madame Severine, Hotel Beau Rivage, Luzern, in French. The letter bears to the heading two large written underlined words `Personal´ and `In a Hurry´ , Dunant stating in part `Do you want details about the very first origins of the Red Cross? I can give you some; different to the ones which have been published by various newspapers..´, further saying `Three months ago I was asked to write an article to be published in an important American journal. I started the first pages, but the whole remained there…´, and further again `It is thirty years now that "A Memory of Solferino" is out of print; nobody and nowhere it is known except by its name. This week the new edition has been published..´. A letter of very good content. Accompanied by the original envelope in Dunant´s hand, postmarked and post-stamped, bearing two black seals to the verso. Small overall age wear, with tears to centre folds and a very small area of paper loss to the bottom edge, not affecting the text or signature. G
GOETHE JOHANN WOLFGANG VON: (1749-1832) German Writer and Philosopher. His poetry and dramatic works provided source material for Beethoven, Schubert and Berlioz among others. Very rare autograph text in the hand of Goethe, one page, oblong 8vo, n.p., n.d., in German. The text being a poem, a quatrain verse, related to the birthday of Princess Louise, spouse of his patron Grand Duke Charles Augustus. Goethe states `Vorüber führt ein herrliches Geschick - Erhabene Helden, hochverehrte Frauen - Nun fesselt uns des heutigen Tages Glück - Als Bleibende dich unter uns zu schauen.´ ("A glorious fate leads past the noble heroes, the highly esteemed women - Now today's day brings us luck - As if you stay with us."). An exceptional original piece in the hand of Goethe. Irregular edges, otherwise in very fine condition, VG Princess Louise of Hesse-Darmstadt (1757-1830) daughter of Landgrave Ludwig IX of Hessen-Darmstadt. She Married in 1775 Grand-Duke Charles Augustus of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. Goethe was court poet and minister to Louise´s husband, and his companion in his extra-marital affairs, but was moved by her charm, noble-heartedness and her eyes "the colour of cornflowers". Goethe dedicated several works to her. To the verso, in the hand of Dr. Edmund Kraüter, dated 1860, and as a proof of provenance, Kraüter states "The lines written to the front are handwritten by J. W. Göethe, attested by Dr. Edmund Kräuter, son of the councilor and librarian Dr. Friedrich Theodor Kräuter, Goethe's longstanding private secretary. Weimar, 14th August 1860." Krauter further reports on the content and context of Goethe´s poem. The present poem is recorded in Goethe´s works, 1827 edition, page 9.
FONCK RENE: (1894-1953) French Aviator, the top Allied Fighter Ace of World War I, considered the all-time Allied Ace of Aces with 75 confirmed victories. Vintage signed sepia postcard photograph of Fonck in a half length pose wearing his uniform and medals. Signed with his name alone in ink to the image. Fonck has experienced some pen trouble in signing his name and the signature has poor contrast. Rare. Some very light, minor age wear, about VG
NAPOLEON II: (1811-1832) Prince Imperial of France, King of Rome (1811-14), disputed Emperor of the French June-July 1815 and titular Emperor of the French 1815-32. An extremely rare ink signature ('Herzog von Reichstadt Oberstltn') in German, in his capacity as Duke of Reichstadt (1818-32), on a small oblong 12mo piece, presumably neatly clipped from the conclusion of a letter or document. Neatly laid down to a 4to page removed from a scrapbook beneath an inlaid engraving of the young King of Rome. With a contemporary ink annotation in the hand of a collector, in English, to the upper edge. Autographs of Napoleon II are extremely rare in any form as a result of his untimely death at the age of 21. The four corners of the page are neatly clipped, not affecting the signature. About VG
CHE GUEVARA ERNESTO: (1928-1967) Argentine Marxist Revolutionary and guerrilla Leader. An iconic symbol of rebellion. Guevara joined the Cuban communist revolutionary movement leaded by Fidel Castro. Assassinated. A rare signed and inscribed 8 x 10 (20cm x 25cm) photograph, Che, to the verso, the attractive historical image showing a group of Cuban revolutionary, including Camilo Cienfuegos, holding a machine gun. Inscribed by the Comandante to the upper left corner, to the verso, stating in part and in his usual small writing `…keep this photograph of this great friend…what a revolutionary.´ Overall silvering and very few small stains to the upper edge, otherwise about G
SCHWARZENEGGER ARNOLD: (1947- ) Austrian-born American Actor, former Bodybuilder and Politician. A scarce signed 8 x 10 photograph by Schwarzenegger, the Universal release image depicting the artist outdoors, in a full length pose, in costume in a scene of the film Conan the Barbarian (1982). Signed in bold blue ink across the image. Signed photographs of Schwarzenegger in his role as Conan are rare and desirable. Autograph obtained in person by collector. VG
BONNIER JOAKIM: (1930-1972) Swedish Formula One racing Driver. First Swedish driver ever entering a Formula One Grand Prix. Rare signed 5 x 7 photograph by Bonnier, the attractive image depicting the Swedish driver, wearing his helmet, in a close-up portrait pose. Signed in bold blue ink `Avec mes meilleurs voeux, Joakim Bonnier´ to the upper clear area of the image. Signed photographs of Bonnier are rare and desirable in any form after his tragic death in a crash during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 1972, when his Lola T280-Cosworth collided with a Ferrari Daytona and Bonnier was catapulted over the barriers and into the trees. Extremely small remnants of former affixing to the edges, and corner crease to the upper left corner. G
RONSIN CHARLES PHILIPPE: (1751-1794) French General, Commander of the revolutionary army. Ronsin, a radical Leader of the French Revolution and follower of Jacques-René Hébert, was called by Fouquier Tinville `The new Cromwell´. Guillotined in 1794 together with the Hebertists. A rare letter signed only a month before he was guillotined. L.S., `Ronsin´, one page, 4to, Paris, 17th February 1794, to the post offices administrators, in French. The partially printed document bears the printed heading of the “French Republic - Head Quarters” beneath an attractive revolutionary vignette and the printed French revolution motto “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity or Death”. Ronsin, in his capacity as General in chief of the Revolutionary army, sends an order, and states `I ask you to supply to Adjutant Berger all the letters addressed this year to the Generals of the Revolutionary Armies, same with the ones sent to the General Chief of Head Staff.´ Very small minor age wear, and toning to right edge. VG
SCOTT ROBERT FALCON: (1868-1912) British Antarctic Explorer. A very fine, rare vintage signed sepia 7 x 10 photograph, the photogravure image depicting Scott standing in a half length pose, c.1900. Photograph by J. Thomson of London and bearing his blind embossed Royal Warrant to the lower photographer's mount. Signed ('Con') by Scott with his family name in dark fountain pen ink to a light area of the image. Some light age wear and very minor mottling to the photographer's mount and very slightly irregularly trimmed to the left and right edges, about VG 'Scott of the Antarctic' led two expeditions to the Antarctic regions: The Discovery Expedition of 1901-04 and the ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition of 1910-13. On the first expedition he set a new southern record and discovered the Polar Plateau on which the South Pole is located. During the second venture Scott led a party of five which reached the South Pole on 17th January 1912 after Roald Amundsen's Norwegian Expedition.On their return journey, Scott and his companions died from a combination of exhaustion, starvation and extreme cold. Following the news of his death Scott became a celebrated hero and national icon.
PELLOS: (1900-1998) René Pellarin, French Cartoonist. Pellos was the Tour de France cartoonist in the 1930´s. Rare signed original cover `Pellos´, for the Pieds-Nickelés, number 54, `Les Pieds-Nickelés Agents Secrets´, showing the three main characters of the comic series, one page, drawing paper card, folio, drawn by Pellos in black ink and gouache. Pellos has neatly affixed several drawn clipped pieces to create the cover. Les Pieds-Nickelés, was a comic strip series, published for the first time in 1908, and is considered one of the most important pioneering comic series by French cartoonists. Created by Louis Forton in 1908, who published the comic strips from 1908 to 1938. Ten years after Forton´s death, Pellos took back the Pieds Nickelés, and published over a hundred new comic series from 1948 to 1981. G Louis Forton (1879-1934) French Cartoonist. Considered one of the main French pioneers in the field. Best known as the creator in 1908 of the comic strips Les Pieds Nickelés.
COUBERTIN PIERRE DE: (1863-1937) Charles Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin. French Educator, Founder of the International Olympic Committee. Widely known as the father of the modern Olympic Games. Rare A.L.S. `P.C´, three pages, 4to, Lausanne, 18th December 1928, to Hector Barbe, in French. Coubertin states in part `I fully ignored that the Tribune de Geneve had published any “portrait” of myself… As far as I know, Mr. L.H. Bury, Director of the “Gymnaste Suisse”, 10 Valentin, Lausanne, has clichés showing a skiff with me inside, also the marble seat that the city of Athens dedicated to me at the Pericles stadium, and the inauguration ceremony of the monument of Olympia.´ Coubertin further says `I read with strong interest everything I receive from your journal…I wonder if in today´s date world, so inorganic, we can live in a different way, I mean to live in the sense of creating.´ A letter of interesting content. With two binder holes to the left border. G to VG Hector Barbe, French Educator. Barbe was a passionate Hebertist. Editor of the popular education magazine "La Synthèse Pédagogique".
SIKORSKI WLADYSLAW: (1881-1943) Polish military and political leading figure who promoted the cause of the independence of Poland from the Russian Empire. He served as Prime Minister of Poland 1922-23, and of the Polish government in exile during WWII. Sikorski died in a plane crash, the circumstances of the accident still remaining unclear. A very good signed and inscribed 5 x 7 photograph, the Vandyk image showing Sikorski in a head and shoulders pose, wearing his military uniform and decorations. Signed in bold blue ink to the lower white border `Sikorski´, in Polish, and dated beneath `London 22nd July 1942´ in his hand. Bearing to the verso an ink stamp of the London Photographer Vandyk, 41, Buckingham Palace Road. Signed portraits of Sikorsky are rare in any form. Very small age ear and toning, otherwise G Sikorski visited the England and the United States in 1942 looking for the allies support and pleading in favour of his invaded homeland. In his speeches he would say `The Polish Armed Forces have been fighting, are fighting and shall continue to fight on land, on sea and in the air, wherever the military forces of Germany can be destroyed.´
FOUQUIER-TINVILLE ANTOINE QUENTIN: (1746-1795) French Revolutionary and Prosecutor during the Revolution and Reign of Terror periods. Sentenced to death and guillotined. Rare A.N.S., `Fouquier de Tinville´, four pages, 4to, Paris, 4th March 1778, in French. A rare pre-revolutionary signature in this form, with the noble form `de Tinville´. The document being a report on several minutes referring to the purchase of a house in Paris, "rue Traversiere, bought by Monsieur Melchior Adam, haberdasher, living at rue des Bouchers St-Honoré, paroisse St. Roch, assisted by maitre Antoine-Quentin Fouquier de Tinville, his attorney at the Chatelet, living in Paris, rue Pavée, paroisse St. Sauveur..´ At the base of the document and in order to certify that the original minutes were all kept by `Monsieur Laudelle, Commissaire´ Fouquier-Tinville annotates `I, the undersigned, prosecutor at the Chatelet and on behalf of M. Adam, certify that the above referred minutes and others, exist and are with commissar Laudelle. Paris, fourth March…´ Overall age wear and creasing, with trimmed edges, not affecting Fouquier´s annotation and signature. G
ROUSSEAU JEAN-JACQUES: (1712-1778) French Writer and Philosopher. An extremely rare A.L.S., `J.J. Rousseau´, one page, 4to, Montmorency, 31st January 1762, [to French bookseller Duchesne], in French. An excellent autograph letter by Rousseau, referring to one his masterpiece works Emile or On Education (1762), an educational treatise, stating `Epine told me long ago that you took at your own charge the shipping costs, and because paying from both sides would only be duplicating unnecessarily the expense, I have let you do so. We will sort this out together when the task will be finished, same with the book you provided to me and those I might still need. It is also true that suggesting to you this way of proceeding, the quickest and the less expensive, I was expecting more diligence and more straightness and consequently less packages.´ Rousseau further refers to the printing of his book which will be done in Amsterdam, saying `I am worried with the way Mr. Neaulme prints my book, I have requested some pages to him by post, and he answers that I have to ask previously for your permission. So I am asking you for it now. Greetings from deep in my heart.´ Very small foxing and remnants of former affixing to the verso, otherwise G Rousseau will publish few months later, in May 1762, his work Emile, ou de l´Education (Emile, or On Education). Rousseau considered this work the “best and most important” of all his writings. Due to a section of the book referring to “Faith”, it was banned in Paris and Geneva and publicly burned in 1762. Few decades later, during the French Revolution, Emile served as an inspiration for a new system of education. Rousseau refers to l´Epine, his messenger, and refers to Mr. Neaulme, the printer in Amsterdam.
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