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RACINE JEAN: (1639-1669) French dramatist, one of the three great playwrights of 17th century France. An extremely rare ownership signature ('Racine') to the base of a slim 8vo title page (3 x 6”; 8 x 15.5 cm) removed from a second edition of Histoire de l'état présent de l'empire Ottoman, contenant le maximes politiques des Turcs, les principaux points de la religion Mahométane, ses sectes, ses hérésies, & ses diverses sortes de religieux; leur discipline militaire, avec une supputation exacte de leurs forces par mer & par terre, & du revenu de l'Etat, translated from the English of [Paul] Rycaut by Monsieur Briot, published by Sebastien Mabre-Cramoisy, Paris, 1670. Neatly inlaid and with some extremely minor, light age wear, about VG Provenance: From the celebrated collection of Robert de Flers (1872-1927) French playwright, opera librettist and journalist. The manuscripts amassed by de Flers were dispersed in 2014 at an auction in Paris conducted by Beaussant Lefevre. 

MAUPERTUIS PIERRE LOUIS: (1698-1759) French Mathematician and Philosopher. Maupertuis was the first President of the Prussian Academy of Sciences at the invitation of Frederick the Great. He is credited with the invention of the “Principle of Least Action”, and the Maupertuis´s principle, an integral equation that determines the path followed by a physical system, is named after him. Rare A.L.S., Maupertuis, one page, 4to, n.p., n.d., to Count François Algarotti, in French. Maupertuis wishes to travel to Postdam but explains the reason that prevent him of doing so and states in part `…ma santé n'est pas encore bonne, mais elle va sur son rétablissement. Mettez-moi au pieds du Roy ; et comptez que malgré le peu de lettres que vous m'écrivez, je vous aime toujours´ (“…my health is not yet good, but it is on its way to recovery. Forward my devote service to the King; and note that despite the few letters you write to me, I still love you”) Further and beneath his signature Maupertuis adds `Quand comptez-vous que le Roy revienne? Mr. de Hesse a t-il reçu le livre que je lui ai envoyé?´ (“When do you expect that the King will return? Has Mr. de Hesse received the book I sent him?”) Paper with watermark. Very small area of paper loss to the bottom left edge not affecting the text, otherwise G to VG Francesco Algarotti (1712-1764) Venetian writer. 

MÉLIÈS GEORGES: (1861-1938) French Film Director, a pioneer of cinema and innovator in the use of special effects. Rare D.S., G. Melies, two pages, 4to, 16 Passage de l´Opéra, Paris, 9th October 1912, being a receipt issued on Melies' attractive printed stationery "Manufacture de Films pour Cinématographes - G. Melies". The manuscript receipt, in French, is for the sum of 390 Francs, being the payment of royalties due from the sales, in New York, of some of Melies' films. To the second typed page, the document states "On New York sales - Forgive Us Our Trespasses…" Bearing to the front page a payment red ink stamp cancelling the debt with tax cancellation stamp. Three file holes to the left edge of the document, not affecting the text or signature. VG

BARRYMORE DREW: (1975-     ) American actress. Signed colour 8 x 10 photograph of the young Barrymore seated in a half-length pose in costume as Charlie McGee from the science fiction horror-thriller film Firestarter (1984). Signed by the actress with her early, full signature in blue ink to the base of the image. Rare in this form. About EX

CRISP DONALD: (1882-1974) English actor, Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actor in 1941 for his role as Gwilym Morgan in How Green Was My Valley. An excellent, rare vintage signed 8 x 10 photograph, the original 20th Century-Fox publicity portrait depicting Crisp in a close-up head and shoulders pose in costume from his Oscar winning performance as Gwilym Morgan, patriarch of the hard-working Welsh mining family, from the drama film How Green Was My Valley which also won the Oscar for Best Picture. Signed by Crisp in fountain pen ink with his name alone to a light area at the base of the image. A couple of very light, extremely minor corner creases, VG

LAUGHTON CHARLES: (1899-1962) English actor, Academy Award winner for Best Actor in 1932/33 for his role as King Henry VIII in The Private Life of Henry VIII. An excellent vintage signed 7 x 9.5 photograph of Laughton in a head and shoulders pose in costume from his Oscar winning performance as King Henry VIII. Signed by Laughton in bold black fountain pen ink with his name alone to a clear area of the image. Rare in this form. Some light surface creasing, otherwise VG

MOULIN JEAN: (1899-1943) French civil servant who served as the first President of the National Council of the Resistance during World War II and is remembered as one of the main heroes of the French Resistance. A rare, brief World War II date A.N.S., Jean Moulin, to one side of his printed correspondence card as Prefect of the Eure-et-Loir department, n.p. (Chartres?), 9th January 1940, to a friend, in French. Moulin writes, in full, 'Entendu, cher ami, je fais une nouvelle demarche' (Translation: 'Understood, dear friend, I'm taking a new step'). With a pencil annotation and date in an unidentified hand to the lower left corner. Some light ink brushing to the text and signature and with a paperclip rust stain to the upper left corner, about VG 

JONES JENNIFER: (1919-2009) American actress, Academy Award winner for Best Actress in 1943 for her role as Bernadette Soubirous in The Song of Bernadette. A good vintage signed sepia 8 x 10 photograph, an original United Artists publicity portrait of Jones in a half-length pose outdoors in costume as Pearl Chavez from Duel in the Sun (1946). It was for her performance in this film that Jones was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar. Signed in bold purple fountain pen ink with her name alone to a light area at the head of the image. Rare. A couple of very slight, extremely minor surface and corner creases, VG

MAHFOUZ NAGUIB: (1911-2006) Egyptian writer, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1988. A rare A.L.S., one page, folio, n.p. (Egypt), 2nd May 1988, to Philippe Vigreux, in Egyptian Arabic. The untranslated letter, penned in bold red ink on feint ruled notepaper was written by Mahfouz to his French translator. Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Mahfouz to Vigreux in Paris. About EX

WRIGHT RICHARD: (1908-1960) American author whose literature largely concerns racial themes and the plight of African Americans in the late 19th and mid-20th centuries. A rare, large vintage signed and inscribed 11 x 14 photograph of Wright seated in a three-quarter length pose with a bookcase in the background. Signed in dark fountain pen ink to a clear area of the image, 'For The Frederick Douglass Book Center, Sincerely yours, Richard Wright'. Some light overall cracking to the image, some corner creasing and a few small tears and areas of paper loss to the upper white borders and edges, FR 

HEPBURN KATHARINE: (1907-2003) American actress, Academy Award winner for Best Actress in 1968 for her role as Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter and again in 1981 for her role as Ethel Thayer in On Golden Pond. A good vintage signed and inscribed 6.5 x 10 photograph of Hepburn in a relaxed semi-profile head and shoulders pose in costume from her Oscar winning performance as Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife of King Henry II of England, from the historical drama film The Lion in Winter, set around the Christmas of 1183. Signed by Hepburn in bold black ink to a light area of the image and inscribed to Lucy Guffey, wife of cinematographer Burnett Guffey, 'For Lucy, affectionately, Kate'. Rare in this form. About EXBurnett Guffey (1905-1983) American cinematographer, Academy Award winner for From Here to Eternity (1953) and Bonnie and Clyde (1967).

MITCHELL THOMAS: (1892-1962) American actor, Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actor in 1939 for his role as Doc Boone in Stagecoach. An excellent vintage signed and inscribed 8 x 10 photograph of Mitchell seated in a full-length pose in the back of a horse drawn carriage, alongside an actress, in a scene from a Western film. Signed in bold blue fountain pen ink to a light area at the head of the image, 'To Pete - Best wishes, Thomas Mitchell'. Rare. Some very light, minor creasing to the edges and corners, otherwise VG

KELLER GOTTFRIED: (1819-1890) Swiss poet and writer of German literature. A.N.S., with his initial, to the recto and verso of the poet's personal printed oblong 12mo Visiting Card, featuring his printed name ('Dr. Gottfried Keller') to the centre, n.p., n.d., in German. Keller expresses his gratitude and adds that he will have the honour to be present tomorrow 'to endure what is God's will'. Rare. Some very light, minimal age wear and two small traces of former mounting to the verso, otherwise VG

PINK FLOYD: An extremely rare vintage signed and inscribed 3.5 x 3.5 magazine photograph by all four original members of the English rock band Pink Floyd individually, comprising Roger Waters ('Hi! There, Rog'), Richard Wright ('Rick'), Syd Barrett ('Syd') and Nick Mason ('Nick, to Ella'), the image depicting the musicians outdoors in full-length poses together, several of them jumping in the air. Signed by each in blue ink to the image, some with slightly weaker contrast. Laid down and neatly irregularly trimmed to the base. About VGThe present set of signatures most likely date from 1966 when the band played very small and largely unadvertised shows at the Marquee Club in London, where there were generally no more than fifty fans in attendance.

TROTSKY LEON:(1879-1940) Russian Marxist Revolutionary. Founder and first Leader of the Red Army. Assassinated. Very rare A.L.S., `Leo Trotski´, one page, to a postcard, Halifax, 30th April 1917, to Mr. L. B. Boudin, Counselor at Law, 302 Broadway, New York City, Un Stat of Am, in Cyrillic. The postcard is postmarked four days later, 4th May 1917, and stamped. The postcard is sent by Trotsky from Halifax, in Canada, where he was imprisoned for over a month, and is written the day after the British government had freed him and he has embarked towards Norway. Trotsky states `Dear Tovarish, Since yesterday, A. and I are finally on the steamship, heading to Christiania. Warm regards to you and your wife´ To the front the postcard shows an image of the Danish ship “S./S. Hellig Olav. - Copenhagen - New York” which brought him back to Europe. Small overall age wear, otherwise GLouis B. Boudin (1874-1952) Russian-born American Marxist theoretician, writer politician and lawyer.  As a war correspondent Trotsky moved to France on 19th November 1914. In 1915 he started editing a journal, his slogan being "peace without indemnities or annexations, peace without conquerors or conquered”. In September 1916, Trotsky was deported from France to Spain for his anti-war activities. Spanish authorities did not want him and deported him to the United States on 25th December 1916. He arrived in New York City on 13th January 1917 where he stayed for nearly three months, in The Bronx. Trotsky was living in New York City when the February Revolution of 1917 overthrew Tsar Nicholas II. He left New York on 27 March 1917, but his ship, the SS Kristianiaford, was intercepted by British naval officials in Canada at Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was detained for a month. While imprisoned in the camp, Trotsky established an increasing friendship with the workers and sailors, describing his month at the camp as "one continual mass meeting". Trotsky's speeches and agitation incurred the wrath of German officers who complained to the British camp commander, Colonel Morris, about Trotsky's "anti-patriotic" attitude. Morris then forbade Trotsky to make any more public speeches, leading to 530 prisoners protesting and signing a petition against Morris' order. After initial hesitation and facing pressure from the workers' and peasants' Soviets, the Russian foreign minister Milyukov was compelled to demand the release of Trotsky as a Russian citizen, and the British government freed him on 29th April 1917. Only a day before the present letter was written. He reached Russia on 17th May 1917. 

COOPER JACKIE: (1922-2011) American child actor, an Academy Award nominee. An excellent, rare vintage signed and inscribed sepia 8 x 10 photograph of the young Cooper in a profile head and shoulders pose in costume as the feisty Skippy Skinner from the comedy film Skippy (1931). Signed by Cooper as a juvenile in bold black fountain pen ink with an inscription to Bing Crosby, 'To Bing, your (sic) a great “singer”, Best wishes always, Jackie Cooper', also adding his character name Skippy in his hand beneath his signature. It was for his performance in this role that Cooper, aged nine, became the youngest person to earn an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. A wonderful signed portrait with excellent association. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG Bing Crosby (1903-1977) American singer and actor, Academy Award winner.  

LA CONDAMINE CHARLES MARIE DE: (1701-1774) French Explorer, Geographer and Mathematician. He measured the length of a degree latitude at the equator, spending ten years in Ecuador, and prepared the first map of the Amazon. Rare A.L.S., `La Condamine´, one page, 8vo, n.p., 11th December 1752, in French. La Condamine states `Je reçois dans le moment, Monsieur, par un courier du cabinet arrivant de berlin un paquet de M. de Maupertuis avec deux exemplaires de ses lettres dont un pour vous que j´ai l´honneur de vous envoyer´ (Translation: "I have received right now, Sir, by a courier of the cabinet, arriving from Berlin, a parcel from M. de Maupertuis containing two copies of his letters, one of them for you which I am honoured sending to you") La Condamine referring to Maupertuis, further states `Sa santé est un peu meilleure. Le roi est venu passer quelques heures à Berlin et lui a fait dire que son intention avait été d'aller le voir, mais que les affaires l'en avaient empêché… Vous aurez vu la lettre apologétique du roi qu'on imprime actuellement, ainsi que le tombeau de la Sorbonne…´ ("His health is a little better. The King came to spend a few hours in Berlin and told him that his intention had been to go and see him, but that work had prevented him from doing so... You will have seen the King's apologetic letter which is currently being printed, as well as that the tomb of the Sorbonne…") Tear to the bottom right edge, not affecting the text or the signature. Overall minor age wear, clipped right bottom corner and few small stains, otherwise G Pierre Louis Maupertuis(1698-1759) French Mathematician and Philosopher. Maupertuis was the first President of the Prussian Academy of Sciences at the invitation of Frederick the Great. He is credited with the invention of the "Principle of Least Action", and the Maupertuis´s principle, an integral equation that determines the path followed by a physical system, is named after him. 

NEWMAN PAUL: (1925-2008) American actor, Academy Award winner for Best Actor in 1986 for his role as Fast Eddie Felson in The Color of Money. An excellent vintage signed and inscribed 8 x 10 photograph of the young, handsome Newman in a three-quarter length pose. Signed in blue ink to a clear area at the base of the image. Rare. VG

GAUGUIN PAUL: (1848-1903) French Post-Impressionist artist. A very fine A.L.S., P Gauguin, two pages, 8vo, Lutece (Lutetia, i.e. Paris), 20 Fructidor an 91 (7th September 1883), to his wife, Mette-Sophie Gad ('Chere Madame'), in French. Gauguin writes an affectionate love letter on his wife's birthday, at a time when the artist's marriage was strained and his wife expecting their fifth child, 'Il est important que vous sachiez si le 7 septembre est un jour de fête; peut-être l'avez-vous oublié, vos amis se souviennent et vous félicitent. Vous regardez d'un oeil humide les feuilles tomber sur la terre vous pensez au printemps passé, songez que tout s'en va mais que tout renaît. Vos enfants sont les jeunes pousses qu'un rayon de soleil ranime et fortifie, vous avez une année de moins mais un enfant de plus. Si la vie a quelquefois ses revers à côté de ce grognon de Paul en revanche le bonheur est là où on aime; chez l'époux il y a la sévérité, interrogez son coeur il vous répondra (I elske) [ j'aime, en danois]. Je le connais votre chenapan de mari, il n'ose vous dire aujourd'hui que le 17 Sept. lui rappelle une heureuse naissance; c'est un sceptique d'apparence mais n'en croyez rien je vous réponds de lui. Il me charge de vous l'écrire en peu de mots, la meilleure éloquence c'est la vérité et j'espère chère madame que vous avez confiance dans ma sincérité' (Translation: 'It is important that you know if 7th September is a day of celebration; maybe you forgot it, your friends remember and congratulate you. You watch with a tearful eye the leaves falling on the earth, you think of the past spring, think that everything is going away but that everything is reborn. Your children are young shoots that a ray of sunshine revives and strengthens, you are one year younger but a child older. If life sometimes has its setbacks next to that grumpy Paul, on the other hand happiness is where one loves; in the husband there is severity, ask his heart he will answer you (I elske) ('I love you' in Danish) I know your rascal of a husband, he doesn't dare tell you today that the 17th September reminds him of a happy birth; he looks like a sceptic, but don't believe it, I can vouch for him. He asks me to write it to you in a few words, the best eloquence is the truth and I hope, dear Madame, that you have confidence in my sincerity'). With blank integral leaf. A remarkable and extremely rare letter. Some very light, extremely minor staining and age wear, VG Mette-Sophie Gad (1850-1920) Danis translator, wife of Paul Gauguin from 1873-94. Gad gave birth to their fifth child, Paul Rollon Gauguin (known as Pola), three months after the present letter, on 6th December 1883. Pola Gauguin was to have little interaction with his father, and no direct content after 1890. At the time of the present letter relations between Gauguin and his wife were particularly tense. They had met in 1872 when Gauguin was working as a stockbroker and earning a very considerable amount of money, however in 1882 the Paris stock market crashed, and Gauguin's income deteriorated sharply. He announced to Mette that he was going to pursue painting full-time, although the family quickly fell into poverty which led to them taking refuge in Denmark with Mette's parents. The mention of 17th September in the present letter remains something of a mystery, although clearly had a certain significance between Gauguin and his wife. Could it be a reference to their first romantic encounter? The Institut national d'histoire de l'art (INHA) hold some eighty letters by Gauguin, although the earliest to Mette dates from May 1885. The tone of the present letter, in which Gauguin speaks of himself in the third person, is unusual, and as public collections do not contain any letters to Mette from a similar period, it is difficult to establish whether the artist frequently adopted this falsely light and playful tone, most likely adopted to charm his wife and seek 'forgiveness' on her birthday. It is tempting to feel here the presence, or at least the positive bonhomie influence, of Gauguin's best friend and intimate adviser, Emile Shuffenecker, under whose dictation it may have been written.  

LEIGH VIVIEN: (1913-1967) English actress, Academy Award winner for Best Actress in 1939 for her role as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind. An exceptional vintage signed 8 x 10 photograph of Leigh standing in a full-length pose in costume from her Oscar winning performance as the iconic Southern belle Scarlett O'Hara from the epic historical romance film Gone with the Wind. Signed by Leigh in blue fountain pen ink with her name alone to a light area of the image. The signature is a little light in places although perfectly legible. Signed photographs of Leigh in costume from her most famous role are rare, and seldom encountered in this size. A couple of very light, extremely minor corner creases, otherwise about EX 

‘The shirt that changed everything forever’  [WESTWOOD VIVIENNE]: (1941-2022) English fashion designer closely associated with Malcolm McLaren and the Sex Pistols. Westwood was largely responsible for bringing modern punk and new wave fashions into the mainstream. An extremely rare original Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren designed 'Anarchy Shirt', the pale pink dyed cotton Wemblex shirt (size Medium) with hand-painted darker pink and pale blue stripes, featuring the stencilled slogans Only Anarchists are Pretty to the front and No Future to the right arm, two further fabric patches stitched to the shirt, both with hand-painted statements and quotations, including Every Punk has the right to be Stupid!, a further silk patch featuring the image of Karl Marx, an original God Save The Queen Sex Pistols badge pinned to the front, and an original Chaos armband loosely attached to the left arm with a safety pin. The shirt dates from around 1976-77 and features a label to the inside stating Malcolm McLaren Vivienne Westwood Seditionaries Personal Collection. A wonderful original piece of punk fashion from the King's Road Seditionaries boutique which ran from December 1976 to September 1980. There are no obvious signs of previous wear. VGProvenance: Acquired by our vendor from a Bonhams Entertainment auction held in Chelsea on 13th September 2001 (lot 374). A detail of the shirt was used on the front cover of the auction catalogue (an annotated copy of which is included with the lot) and their catalogue description stated that 'This shirt is considered to be the definitive Westwood/McLaren item and possibly the rarest'. The 'Anarchy Shirt' has been described as 'the visual equivalent of the music made by McLaren's charges the Sex Pistols; jarring, violently expressive and an act of collage representing an exciting and scrambled manifesto of desires'. Indeed, Glen Matlock and Steve Jones wore original variants of the shirt during the Sex Pistols' first live television performance in August 1976 when they performed Anarchy in the U.K.The writer and biographer of Malcolm McLaren, Paul Gorman, discussed the 'Anarchy Shirt' in an interview with the impresario in May 2013. McLaren declared 'I was working towards the idea of the Anarchy Shirt but in the event only made three or four' and Gorman's article continues 'Amid the surplus stock held at McLaren and Westwood's flat in south London were boxes containing 50 or so deadstock shirts bearing the 60s Wemblex brand brought by McLaren from an east London warehouse…..Westwood experimented with adapting one of these by adding paint stripes and showed it to McLaren, who suggested violent dyes and patches containing inflammatory slogans….', McLaren also telling Gorman 'Vivienne and I turned the shirts inside out, hand-painted each with dyes, stencilled slogans and attached specific hand-made patches…..Using my son's stencil we adorned them with slogans such as 'Only Anarchists Are Pretty'…..so that they took on the look of something disorderly and uncared for. Each shirt took four or five days to complete….As well as layering the stencils to increase the impact, Vivienne and I came up with Mao-style red armbands declaiming 'Chaos' and I attached silk patches of Karl Marx I had discovered in shops in Chinatown…..I chose him because his book started the Socialist and workers' movements in the 19th century. Also Vivienne and I liked his beard…..He represented a great significance and was important to us because he lived in London at one point'.  

MACEO Y GRAJALES JOSE ANTONIO: (1845-1896) Guerrilla iconic Leader and second-in-command of the Cuban army of independence. Cubans nicknamed Maceo ''The Bronze Titan'' because of his multiple wounds in battle, while Spanish nicknamed him ''The elder Lion''. Maceo was killed near Punta Brava by Spanish forces after being betrayed by the physician of his headquarters. Rare D.S., `Jose Maceo´, one page, folio, Head Quarters of El Perico, 14th March 1896, in Spanish. The present letter was signed by Maceo six months before being killed. The partially printed document bears a printed coat of arms to the upper left corner and is the appointment of vice-Lieutenant Miguel Fernandez as Lieutenant, and signed by Mateo y Grajales in his capacity as General Major of the Liberation Army of Cuba. Overall important age wear, creasing and staining, with few holes and small tears to edges. Large repairs to the verso. P 

LE BLOND DE SAINT-HILAIRE LOUIS: (1766-1809) French Cavalry General. Count of Saint Hilaire. Killed at the Essling battle. Napoleon ordered his burial in the Pantheon alongside Marshal Lannes. Rare A.L.S., `St-Hilaire´, one page, 4to, Toulon, 9th May 1798, with the printed heading  `Liberté - Egalité´ and beneath his printed name and rank, as General of Brigade, to the War Commissioner Lajague, in French. Also bearing to the heading a small revolutionary vignette. Saint-Hilaire states in part `The impossibility of finding a suitable accommodation in Toulon, pledges me to ask you for a full bed to be delivered..´, further also requesting for bread from the hospital because the one he is eating is making him feel ill because of the wound. Very small overall minor age wear, otherwise G

MONTEZ LOLA: (1821-1861) Irish courtesan, dancer and actress, the mistress of King Ludwig I of Bavaria and composer Franz Liszt. A rare A.L.S., Lola Montez, one page, 8vo, n.p. (Paris), n.d., to a gentleman, in French. Montez writes, in full, 'Comme nous partirons samedi matin de bonne heure je serais tres content si vous pouvez venir un instant a la maison dans la matinee ou la journee pour entretenir de mes ennuyeuses affaires' (Translation: 'As we will be leaving early on Saturday morning, I would be very happy if you could come to the house for a moment in the morning or during the day to talk about my boring business'). With integral address leaf in Montez's hand, the name of the recipient at 11 Rue de Choiseul somewhat indecipherable. Autograph letters of Montez are rare as a result of her early death at the age of 39. Some light traces of former mounting and minor age wear, otherwise VG 

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

CUTRTIZ MICHAEL: (1886-1962) Hungarian-American film director, Academy Award winner for Best Director for Casablanca (1943). Vintage signed and inscribed 9.5 x 7 photograph of Curtiz seated outdoors in a three-quarter length pose on the set of one of his films, with a number of crew members, cameras and other film equipment in the background. Signed in blue fountain pen ink to a light area of the image, also adding the place, Vienna, in his hand alongside his signature. Signed photographs of Curtiz are surprisingly rare. VG 

MIRABEAU COMTE DE: (1749-1791) Honore Gabriel Riqueti. French nobleman and orator, a leader of the early stages of the French Revolution. A.L.S., Mirabeau fils, one page (possibly only the concluding page of a once longer letter), 8vo, n.p., 23rd May 1785, to Gerard de Melei ('Procureur au Parlement'), in French. Mirabeau announces that he will soon have to leave for Versailles ('for reasons that you can guess') and further asks to be informed of which day he can find his correspondent 'and if my trial is judged'. With integral address leaf bearing the remnants of a red wax seal. Rare. Some light age wear, one small hole at the base of the page and with minor traces of former mounting to the left edge, GProvenance: From the collection of the bibliophile Hans Fellner (1925-1996), a specialist in the Department of Printed Books and Manuscripts at Christie's.

WRIGHT FRANK LLOYD: (1867-1959) American architect and designer. Vintage signed 7 x 10 photograph of Wright standing in a three-quarter length pose sharpening a pencil, being one of the two celebrated images of the architect caught by photographer Pedro E. Guerrero in 1947. Signed by Wright with his name alone in fountain pen ink to the lower white border. Rare in this form. Some very light, minor age wear and a few stains and with some very slight traces of former mounting to the verso, about VG Pedro E. Guerrero (1917-2012) American architectural photographer, remembered for his extraordinary access to Frank Lloyd Wright, as well as his work in documenting the lives and art of Alexander Calder and Louise Nevelson. Guerrero was first hired by Wright in 1939 to record the ongoing construction of Taliesin West and the two continued to work together until a few days before the architect's death in 1959.  

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 

GALL FRANZ JOSEPH: (1758-1828) German Neuroanatomist & Physiologist, a pioneer in the study of the localisation of mental functions in the brain. Gall is widely considered as the founder of phrenology. An oblong 12mo partially printed admittance ticket, in French, to a lecture by Gall on the physiology of the brain, numbered 27 and bearing a small red wax seal and with Gall's intertwined initials printed at the centre, signed ('Gall') in bold black ink at the base. Extremely rare. Some light overall age wear and a few minor stains, not affecting the signature, G   

NOBEL ALFRED: (1833-1896) Swedish chemist, engineer, inventor, businessman and philanthropist who bequeathed his fortune to establish the Nobel Prize. The scientist's most famous invention was that of dynamite, which was patented in 1867. An outstanding archive relating to the establishment of a dynamite factory in Italy, comprising - (i) A.L.S., A Nobel, three pages, 4to, Paris, 6th September 1872, to [Paul] Barbe, in French. Nobel provides his detailed requirements for establishing a factory to produce dynamite at Avigliana, near Turin, under the guidance of his agent Casimir Robaudi ('Voici le petit devis pour la Fabrique Italienne et le projet de contrat avec Robaudi') setting out his requirements in a detailed table, with their immediate and defrayable costs, including specifications for brick buildings, power of the traction engines, nitrite grinders, and other machinery, a building to house nitric acid, an ice room, various other wooden buildings for the production and washing of glycerine and dynamite, and for packing the dynamite, cartridge making, water heaters, and enclosures, and remarking that he envisages the quick production and sale of the dynamite, financed by three months' credit. Nobel then proceeds to define the terms of the contract under which the business should operate, giving the outlines for a five-year contract with Robaudi in nine numbered paragraphs, explaining that Robaudi will be named as agent for the Italian business and will be responsible for the costs of selling the dynamite sent to him, for which he can set a price above market rates, provided that the company can cancel the contract if Robaudi's consumption and marketing contravenes their policies, or if the company does not receive payment for the dynamite. Nobel advises Barbe to revise the contract as he sees fit before sending it to Carstens, the merchant in Hamburg. (ii) A fine, large original pen and ink plan of the proposed site of the dynamite factory in the Commune di Avigliana, prepared and signed by the surveyor Giuseppe Ferando, one page, large oblong folio, Turin, 27th July 1872, entitled Planimetria di parte della regione Valoja presso il trucco di San Martino, coloured in two shades of blue (one defining the waterways) and also featuring light pencil drawings of buildings to the left margin. (iii) A pencil sketch of several buildings at Avigliana entitled Croquis de fabrique de nitroglycerine a Avigliana, one page, oblong 4to, n.p., n.d., including the facilities labelled for 'Preparation, separation et lavage a l'eau'. (iv) A finely executed and detailed pen and ink plan of various constructions and buildings, one page, oblong folio, n.p., n.d., captioned in French, including cartoucheries, magasin, filtrage & dynamiterie, lavages, pompe pour l'appareil, glacier & magasin a glycerine, hanger a bomb acide nitrique. Maison de garde, chien de garde etc. (v) A scale drawing from a patent application on transparency paper (some tears and a few large areas of paper loss to the edges) bearing the official oval stamp of Jannot ('Constructeur - Mecanicien') and two other pen and ink and pencil sketches and drawings of machinery and apparatus. (vi) An autograph manuscript entitled Regolamento dei transporti delle Materie infiammabili ed esplodenti ('Regulations for the transportation of flammable and explosive materials') approved by the administrators Bolmira and Guglianetti, twelve pages, 4to, n.p. (Italy), 9th April 1872, commencing 'Flammable materials, such as phosphorus, phosphor matches, gun powder, turpentine, alcohol, and derivatives, objects for fireworks and any other material…..that easily starts or transmits fire, are excluded from transport if the sender has not subjected himself to the cautionary measures established by the administration' and continuing to outline the regulations concerning packaging, supervision, means of transport and other precautions which it is necessary to adhere to. (vii) Small collection of ten manuscript technical and legal documents, in Italian and French, over twenty pages in total, largely 4to, various places, 1870s, some regarding Nobel's patent and one on the printed stationery of the Dinamite Nobel factory at Avigliana. (viii) Autograph manuscript of the Atto di Costituzione della Societa per la Fabbricazione della Dinamite and Statuto della Scoieta Anonima per la Fabbricazione della Dinamite, in all over sixty pages, folio, Turin, 5th June 1873, in Italian, identifying the main shareholders, and accompanied by an eleven-page summary including a manuscript list of the shares allocated to each shareholder. A comprehensive archive relating to the Swedish chemist's important invention of dynamite and featuring an extremely rare autograph letter signed by Nobel himself, particularly desirable owing to its content. Some light overall age wear and minor faults and Nobel's letter with some light, minor staining and a few small tears to the edges. Generally G to about VG, Sml Qty. At the end of December 1871, Alfred Nobel obtained a six-year patent for the exploitation of dynamite from the Italian government, to be financed by both French and German investors. In April 1872, Nobel reached an agreement with five Parisian financiers (and engineers) to found a public limited company. Among the shareholders mentioned in the present archive were Paul Barbe, Amedeo Hoffer (director of the factory), Casimir Robaudi (agent for the Nobel company in Hamburg), Antonio Campagna (formerly mayor of Avigliana), the Hamburg merchants Carl Ferdinand Carstens and Edouard Bandmann, and the Parisian banker Gunzbourg. They acquired land near Avigliana, some thirty kilometres west of Turin, and set up a factory through a commissionaire, Robaudi, obtaining a patent for the manufacture of dynamite. The company established by Nobel continued production until being destroyed during the World War II.  

FISHER CARRIE: (1956-2016) American actress. An excellent signed and inscribed 10 x 8 photograph by Fisher, the original 1977 publicity still depicting Fisher in a full-length profile pose, in costume as Princess Leia, opposite the robot R2-D2 (named as Artoo-Detoo in the printed caption to the lower white border), in a scene from the epic space opera film Star Wars (1977). Signed by Fisher in blue fountain pen ink to a light area of the image, adding her character name in her hand, 'For Tony, Best Wishes, Carrie Fisher (Princess L)'. A rare and desirable signed photograph. One very small, extremely minor corner crease, VG

GROS JULES: (1829-1891) French journalist and Secretary of the Societe de geographie who became the President of the unrecognised Republic of Independent Guyana in South America in May 1887, only to be deposed in September 1887. A.L.S., Jules Gros, to one side of his personal printed oblong large 12mo (5 x 3) Visiting Card, featuring his printed name to the centre, as President de la Republique de la Guyane Independante, Vanves, 19th September 1887. Gros writes to authorise Auguste Rey 'a chercher une somme modeste pour la mise en train de l'affaire de la Guyane Indepte. M. Rey, du reste, ne doit rien conclure sans que l´affaire m´ait été soumise' (Translation: 'to seek a modest sum for the start of the Guyana Indept. affair. Mr. Rey, moreover, cannot conclude anything without the matter having been submitted to me'). The card also features the official circular ink stamp of the President. A rare and interesting example of the autograph of Gros dating from the end of his short term as President. VG 

FINCH PETER: (1912-1977) English-born Australian actor, posthumous Academy Award winner for Best Actor in 1976 for his role as Howard Beale in Network. A good vintage signed and inscribed 8 x 10 photograph of Finch in a head and shoulders pose. Signed in bold blue fountain pen ink to a clear area of the background. Rare. A couple of very light, extremely minor corner creases, VG

EISENSTEIN SERGEI: (1898-1948) Soviet film director & film theorist, a pioneer in the theory and practice of montage. A rare vintage signed and inscribed 7 x 8.5 photograph of Eisenstein standing in a happy three-quarter length pose alongside a camera. Signed ('S. Eisenstein') in bold red crayon to the verso with an inscription, in Cyrillic, 'To my dear friend tovarish Moussinac, from all my heart', and dated Moscow, 22nd November 1928, in his hand. The verso also bears the ink credit stamp of the photographer, Debabov, in Cyrillic, which runs slightly across the signature, and a small pencil annotation in an unidentified hand. Some heavy creasing to the lower right corner and a small tear to the lower edge (repaired to the verso). G

 ‘I cannot resist the desire to repeat these words from your burning pen and adapt them to friendship although traced by love’  FERNIG THEOPHILE: (1775-1819) French military officer who, with her sister Felicite, enlisted in the French Army dressed as men during the French Revolutionary Wars, Once their gender was discovered they were granted permission to remain in service, becoming celebrities frequently mentioned in the contemporary French press. Appointed aide-de-camp officers under General Charles Francois Dumouriez, the Soeurs Fernig were sentenced to exile after Dumouriez’s treason of 1793. A rare A.L.S., Theophile (twice), four pages, 4to, Brussels, 18 Fructidor an 9 (5th September 1801), to Isidore Audeval, her cousin, in French. Fernig writes a lengthy letter, in essence a love letter, flowing with warmth and affection, stating, in part, ‘Oui, je suis encore ici..... Console-toi, mon ami, ta cousine n'etait point gaie quand tu t'affligeais, et s'il existe une heureuse sympathie entre les gens qui se conviennent, les notres en sont une preuve.......vous savez combien je me proposais de plaisir a vous y rencontrer.......Guilleminot n'arriva point, et au lieu de lui, je recus une lettre qui m'annoncait le retard de son voyage de 15 jours, trois semaines! J'ecrivis a ta soeur, je t'ecrivis aussi, et je dechirai ma lettre. Je te croyais a Mortagne, au milieu de tes amies, oubliant les absentes. Je t'accusais meme d'etre passe par Bruxelles sans etre venu les voir....que sais-je ce que je ne pensais pas!......La douleur est mere de l'injustice, et par elle je suis excusable: n'est-ce pas, mon ami? J'ai senti tout mon sang s'agiter, courir dans mes veines et refluer vers mon coeur, en apprenant votre chute de cheval. J'espere qu'elle n'aura pas de suite, mais prenez toutes les precautions et les menagements possibles: vous vous devez a vos amis autant qu'a vous-meme. Pourquoi trouverais-je mauvais le rapprochement de nos deux noms, quand l'amitie nous lie si  etroitement?........Que ton ame honnete, delicate et sensible se penetre, se convainque bien de la purete de la mienne dans mon acquiescement a ce que tu fais, et de mon plaisir a faire le tien: Dieu m'en est temoin, et j'implore du ciel toute sa colere si ma candeur n'egale pas ma protestation. Croiriez-vous que je n'eprouve plus l'ombre de mes regrets de ne point avoir partage les plaisirs de Mortagne depuis que je sais que vous n'y etiez pas? C'est cependant la verite! Je n'ai de ma vie ete plus triste qu'en voyant ecoule le premier jour de cette fete, ne pouvant y aller et vous y croyant......Ne n'apesentis point sur le desagrement de ton metier. Tu es esclave, oui; mais tu l'es de l'honneur, et c'est le plus supportable des tyrans. Tu marches a travers de mille contrarietes, mais elles te couvrent de glorie et ton noble devouement fait triompher le myrte sur le laurier. Tu le sais, mon ami, le myrte est l'embleme de l'amitie. Jusque dans le moindre de tes sacrifices, il n'est point un sentiment qui ne t'en tienne compte, et tous ces sentiments sont dans le coeur de ceux qui t'aiment. Nous nous sommes vus trop peu de temps, il est vrai, et j'en ai ressenti la verite, mais il y a un moyen de nous en dedommager......je ne puis resister au desir de repeter ces mots sortis de ta plume brulante et les adapter a l'amitie quoique  traces par l'amour: "Ecris-moi je le veux: ce commerce enchanteur, Aimable epanchement de l'esprit et du coeur, Cet art de converser sans se voir, sans s'entendre, Ce muet entretien, si charmant et si tendre. L'art d'ecrire. Abelard, fut sans doute invente, Par l'amante captive et l'amant agite, Tout vit par la chaleur d'une lettre eloquente". Comme eux, que notre amitie profite de cet art divin, de cette faculte celebre, et trompons l'espace, qui nous separe en nous communiquant toutes nos pensees, nos peines et nos plaisirs: nous adoucissons par a les premiers en doublant les derniers’ (Translation: ‘Yes, I’m still here…..Console yourself, my friend, your cousin was not cheerful when you were upset, and if there is a happy sympathy between people who suit each other, ours are a proof of it……you known with how much pleasure I intended to meet you there…..Guilleminot did not arrive, and instead of him, I received a letter which informed me of the delay of his trip by 15 days, three weeks! I wrote to your sister, I wrote to you too, and I tore up my letter. I thought you were in Mortagne, among your friends, forgetting the absent ones. I even accused you of having passed through Brussels without having come to see them……what do I know what I was not thinking!........Sorrow is the mother of injustice, and through it I am excusable: is it not, my friend? I felt all my blood rushing, running through my veins and flowing back to my heart, on learning of your fall from a horse. I hope it won’t be followed up, but take all the precautions and consideration possible: you owe yourself to your friends as much as to yourself. Why would I find the bringing together of our two names wrong, when friendship binds us so closely?.......Let your honest, delicate and sensitive soul penetrate itself, be well convinced of the purity of mine in my acquiescence in what you do, and of my pleasure in doing yours: God is my witness, and I implore heaven all his anger if my candour does not equal my protest. Would you believe that I no longer feel the shadow of my regrets at not having shared the pleasures of Mortagne since I learned that you were not there? It is however the truth! I have never been sadder in my life than when I saw the first day of this festival pass, not being able to go there and believing you were there……Do not dwell on the unpleasantness of your profession. You are a slave, yes: but you are one of honour, and that is the most endurable of tyrants. You walk through a thousand annoyances, but they cover you with glory and your noble devotion makes the myrtle triumph over the laurel. You know, my friend, the myrtle is the symbol of friendship. Even in the least of your sacrifices, there is not a feeling that you do not take into account, and all these feelings are in the hearts of those who love you. We saw each other for too little time, it is true, and I felt the truth of it, but there is a way to compensate us for it…..I cannot resist the desire to repeat these words from your burning pen and adapt them to friendship although traced by love: “Write to me I want it: this enchanting trade, Amiable outpouring of mind and heart, This art of conversing without seeing each other, without hearing each other, This mute interview, so charming and so tender, The art of writing, Abelard, was undoubtedly invented, By the captive lover and the agitated lover, Everything lives by the warmth of an eloquent letter”. Like them, let our friendship profit from this divine art, from this famous faculty, and let us deceive the space which separates us by communicating to us all our thoughts, our sorrows and our pleasures: we soften the former by doubling the latter’). A letter of beautiful content. Some light staining and minor discolouration (largely to the first page) and with a few minor, neat splits to the edges of folds. G Isidore Audeval served with the 16th Dragoon Regiment and Theophile’s correspondence with her cousin spans a period of five years from October 1797 to January 1803. The thirty-three letters were published by Honore Bonhomme under the title Correspondance inedite de Mademoiselle Theophile de Fernig, aide de camp du General Dumouriez (Firmin Didot, Paris, 1873), Bonhomme observing ‘We are surprised to find the grace, the playfulness, the candour of the young girl where we expected to meet perhaps only the roughness and the dark energy of the soldier’.

CHAMFORT NICOLAS: (1741-1794) French Writer. Chamfort is best known for his epigrams and aphorisms. He served as secretary to Louis XVI´s sister and of the Jacobin club. Rare autograph statement, two pages, small 12mo, in French. The autograph manuscript being a spiritual moral anecdote, states `Mylord Halifax jouait et tenait la banque, a un prix énorme. On propose un pari de deux millions. Il ne veut pas tenir. Un des assertants lui dit Mylord tenu je suis de moitié. Mylord joue et perd. Il se tourne vers son associé qui lui dit Mylord je suis un miserable et se tournant du coté de l´assemblée, vous conviendrez, Messieurs, que si Mylord eut gagné, ma fortune était faite. Il est juste que je sois puni et n´étant qu´un polisson je presente mon derriere… ce qu´il y eut de plaisant c´est que personne ne lui dit un mot…´ (Translation: `Mylord Halifax gambled and held the bank, at a huge cost. We offer a bet of two million. He doesn't want to hold it. One of the assertors told him My lord I hold half of it. Mylord plays and loses. He turns to his partner who tells him Mylord I am a wretch and facing the assembly, you will agree Gentlemen, that if Mylord had won, my fortune was made. It is right that I am punished and being only a scamp I present my ass... what was pleasant is that no one said a word to him…´) Uneven left and bottom edge, otherwise G In September 1793, Chamfort found himself unable to tolerate the prospect of being imprisoned once more, and ecided to lock himself into his office and shot himself in the face. The pistol malfunctioned and he did not die even though he shot off his nose and his right eye. He then repeatedly stabbed his neck with a razor, but failed to cut an artery. He finally used the razor to stab himself in the chest and to cut his own hocks. He dictated to those who came to arrest him the well-known declaration “Moi, Sebastien-Roch Nicolas de Chamfort, déclare avoir voulu mourir en homme libre plutot que d'étre reconduit en esclave dans une maison d'arrét” (Translation "I, Sebastien-Roch Nicolas de Chamfort, hereby declare my wish to die as a free man rather than to be brought (again) as a slave in a prison") His butler found him unconscious in a pool of blood. From then until his death in Paris the following year, he suffered intensely.

BRONSON CHARLES: (1921-2003) American actor. An excellent vintage signed 8 x 10 photograph of Bronson in a head and shoulders pose wearing a Royal Air Force uniform in costume as the 'Tunnel King', Flight Lieutenant Danny Welinski, from the classic World War II adventure film The Great Escape (1963). Signed by Bronson in bold blue fountain pen ink with his name alone to a clear area of the background at the head of the image. Rare in this form. EX

DVORAK ANTONIN: (1841-1904) Czech composer. A good A.L.S., A Dvorak, four pages, 8vo, Prague, 4th August 1886, to 'My dear Friend' (possibly the music publisher Henry Littleton), in English. Dvorak informs his correspondent that he has just returned to Prague and received their letter, continuing to remark 'It is difficult for me to give you any promises in regards to the arranged courtesy in Scotland. I have much to do in Prague…..and I really do not know if I shall be abel (sic) to remain in London as long as you wish. I imagine I must be here in Prague till the end of October to conduct the Ludmila in our National Theatre and after having enjoied (sic) a little rest, I would be compeled (sic) to undertake such a larg (sic) journey to England agin!! (sic). If it would be only another time (March or April) I would certainly come, but in December when the days are getting very short and cold it is much les (sic) agreebel (sic) and tiresome to travel. This is the only reason which prevents me making use of your friendly invitation', and further adding that his wife would be glad to come to London so that she could see the two performances in St. James's Hall and Crystal Palace, and that he himself longs to see the beautiful Scotland of Robert Burns and asking if the trip could be postponed to the following Spring, concluding by asking his correspondent to send him a copy of the newly printed score for Saint Ludmila as soon as possible. A letter of fine content, not least for its references to Saint Ludmila. Rare. One neat split to the lower half of the central vertical fold, otherwise VG Saint Ludmila was Dvorak's third oratorio and was composed for soloists, choir and orchestra between September 1885 and May 1886. The work was commissioned by the publisher Littleton during Dvorak's first visit to England and was intended for the Leeds Music Festival, where Dvorak conducted the first performance on 15th October 1886. It had considerable success with the audience 'in raptures…..the critics praised the music in the warmest terms'.  Dvorak made nine invited visits to England during his career, often conducting performances of his own works. 

L'ENFER DANS LA VILLE: An excellent vintage signed and inscribed 9.5 x 7 photograph by both Anna Magnani (Egle) and Cristina Gaioni (Marietta Mugnari) individually, the image depicting the Italian actresses in half-length poses together, behind bars, in a scene from the Franco-Italian film L'Enfer dans la Ville (Hell in the City, 1959). Signed by both in bold blue fountain pen inks to the image. Rare. VG Provenance: The present photograph originates from the collection of Pierre Goulliard, a French gentleman who, for over 50 years, dedicated himself to obtaining in person autographs of British, American and European movie stars, always obtaining the signatures in fountain pen ink. 

KRYSINSKA MARIE: (1857-1908) Polish-French Poet, Novelist and Musician. An active member of the Parisian creative and literary circles, including the “Jemenfoutistes”, “Hirsutes” or “Zutistes” of which she was the only female member. Rare A.L.S., `Marie Krysinska´, two pages, 8vo, Paris, n.d., in French. Krysinska invites her correspondent to the premiere of a performance she is leading, stating `Combien je vous serais reconnaissante cher Maitre de la bonté que vous auriez d´honorer de votre presence ma petite première de Kaïn lundi à 4h1/2 à la Boudinière´ (Translation: `How grateful I would be to you, dear Master, for the kindness that you would have if you honour with your presence my little premiere of Kain on Monday at 4:30 at La Boudinière´), and very interestingly further explains the reasons and goals of the spectacle, stating `Il y a dans notre spectacle d´Ombre, de la part de trois artistes sincères: Georges Bellenger, peintre, G. Street, musician et moi, une tentative de novateurs et notre plus cher désir est d´exposer notre effort aux yeux des plus hautains et des plus glorieux esthéticiens et écrivains…´ (Translation: `There is in our shadow show, performed by three sincere artists: Georges Bellenger, painter, G. Street, musician and me, an attempt of innovators and our dearest desire is to expose our effort to the eyes of the most haughty and of the most glorious aestheticians and writers…´) Small overall minor age wear, otherwise G Although conventionally the innovation of free poetry is attributed to other 19th century French poets, such as Gustave Khan or Jules Laforgue, it has to be noted that Marie Krysinska published free verse poetry in 1882, five years before other volumes featuring free verse poetry would appear in 1887, giving Krysinska an authentic claim to the title of “Innovator of free verse” 

SADE MARQUIS DE: (1740-1814) French Writer, Nobleman and Revolutionary Politician. Best-known for his erotic works and sexual fantasies with violence and lack of morality. Author of The 120 Days of Sodom. Sade spent thirty-two years of his life imprisoned and most of his works were written while incarcerated. The word sadism was coined from his name. Rare A.L.S., `Sade´, three pages, 4to, Charenton, 23rd December 1806, to his stage manager M. Ripert, in French. Sade first refers to his correspondent´s son, a military officer in Napoleon´s troops, and states `Je vous assure mon cher et ancien ami que la nouvelle que vous me donnez de votre fils, me fait infiniment de peine, je ne sais quel funeste pressentiment m'avait présagé le malheur qui lui est arrivé mais en l'embrassant (et M. Quesnel s'en aperçut), je sentis un mouvement involontaire d'une tristesse plus forte que moi, mais heureusement qu'il s'en tirera bien, et vous devez avoir déjà des nouvelles de sa convalescence… Au reste consolons nous de cet accident par l'idée certaine qu'il va bien sûrement monter en grade ; il aura sûrement un régiment et d'autres  faveurs; car vous savez comme moi qu'il sert un bon maitre et que jamais l'Empereur n´a laissé dans l'oubli des officiers bléssés à son service…´ (“Translation: “I assure you my dear and old friend that the news you give me of your son pains me infinitely, I don't know what fatal presentiment had presaged to me the misfortune that befell him, but in embracing him (and M. Quesnel noticed it), I felt an involuntary sadness movement, stronger than me, but fortunately he will be fine, and you must already have news of his convalescence… Besides, let us console ourselves for this accident by the certain thought that he will surely rise in rank; he will surely have a regiment and other favours; because you know like me that he serves a good master and that the Emperor has never left in oblivion officers injured under his service...”) Sade further changes the topic and mentions his own affairs, stating `Un mot de mes affaires… je vous suis obligé de ce que vous avez decouvert pour me procurer quelques fonds dont je me trouve avoir absolument besoin dans ce moment-ci… et voici comme cela pourrait etre arrangé, l´affaire se fairait ce quon appelle par anticipation; le nouveau fermier en signant l'acte me payerait une année d'avance dont il se rembourserait a la fin de son bail, et ce remboursement fait par le fermier qui prendrait alors, c'est a dire a la fin du bail de celui que vous me proposez payerait cette année; personne par ce moyen ne se trouverait gené. Combinez bien, minutez bien ce que je vous propose et si l'on y consent, et que vous trouviez ce plan b bon pour moi. Envoyez moi de suite un modèle de procuration je vous le renverrai signé…´ (Translation: “A word about my affairs...I am obliged to you for what you have discovered in order to get me some funds which I find myself absolutely in need of at this moment...and here is how it could be arranged, the matter would be what is called “by anticipation”; the new farmer by signing the deed would pay me a year in advance which he would be reimbursed for at the end of his lease, and this reimbursement made by the farmer who would then take the contract, that is to say at the end of the lease of the one whom you propose; no one by this means would be embarrassed. Plan well what I propose to you and if we agree to it, and that you find this plan b good for me. Send me immediately a power of attorney that I will send it back to you signed…”) Before concluding, Sade insists on his need of money, saying `A l'égard du château j'espère que vous ne le louerai qu'à quelqu'un de sûr, et qui n'y laisse rien dégrader cette clause est très importante… je vous remercie de ce que vous me dites a l'occasion du bois de Saumane, mais étendez vous dans votre reponse et dites moi de quelle manière je vais en retirer de l'argent…´ (Translation: “With regard to the castle I hope that you will only rent it to someone reliable, and who does not let anything deteriorate, this clause is very important… I thank you for what you tell me regarding the Saumane wood, but extend your answer and tell me how I will get money from it…”) A lengthy letter of good content. With address leaf. Postmarked. One small hole to first sheet and few small ones to the second, only partially affecting one word, and not affecting the signature. Very small area of paper loss to the edge of the second sheet as a result of the letter opening. G Sade refers to Napoleon I when mentioning the behaviour of the Emperor when relating to injured soldiers of his troops. 

GERMAINE DE STAEL: (1766-1817) Also known as Madame de Stael, her real name being Anne Louise Germaine de Stael-Holstein. French leading Salonniere, a woman of letters and political Theorist. She was the daughter of Banker and French Minister Jacques Necker. A voice of moderation during the French Revolution, her intellectual collaboration with Benjamin Constant between 1794 and 1810 made them one of the most celebrated intellectual couples of their time. She lived many years in exile, first during the Reign of Terror and later escaping from Napoleon´s persecution. Rare A.L., one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d., `this Friday´, to Mr. Mackintosh, in French. Germaine de Stael states in part `Vous me manquez beaucoup, my dear Sir, vous êtes pour moi la belle Angleterre, celle de l´esprit et de l´âme. N´oubliez pas que j´attends vous et Lady Mackintosh demain a diner, vous me donnez mes jours de fête….´ ("I miss you very much my dear Sir, you are for me the image of the beautiful England with spirit  and soul. Don´t forget that I am waiting for you and Lady Mackintosh tomorrow for dinner, you bring me my happy days..") Further ´referring to her son, very emotionally saying `Je vais diner lundi chez Lady Liverpool, voudriez-vous être de la partie? Il y a de bien grandes Nouvelles, ah mon pauvre fils eut été bien heureux de se battre a présent, cela me serre le coeur jusqu´au point de le briser.. ´ ("I am going to have dinner on Monday at Lady Liverpool´s home. Would you like to join us? There are great news, alas my poor son would have been very happy to be fighting right now. That constricts my heart to breaking point..") One stain, only affecting one word, otherwise G   

TURGENEV IVAN: (1818-1883) Russian novelist, poet and playwright. A.L.S., Iv. Tourgueneff, to two sides of a pain 12mo correspondence card, Rue de Douai, Paris, 14th April 1882, to Hjalmar H. Boyesen ('My dear friend'), in English. Turgenev writes a letter of introduction, stating that his letter will be forwarded by Professor Kowalefski of Moscow ('a great friend of mine') and explaining 'He has the intention to remain in America for three or four months - and I recommend you aa warmly as possible this very amiable and intelligent man, so as to render him his sojourn in your fatherland agreeable and useful'. Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Turgenev to Boyesen in New York. Together with a T.L.S. by William A. Jackson of The Houghton Library at Harvard University, one page, 8vo, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 10th September 1963, to Stephen Rowan, thanking him for having sent the copy of Turgenev's letter to Boyesen and commenting 'It is the first Turgenev letter I have seen written in English. Normally he wrote as you know in French or Russian'. Rare. Some very light, minor age wear, otherwise VG, 2Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen (1848-1895) Norwegian-American author and professor of Germanic languages at New York's Columbia University from 1881.

GOYA FRANCISCO JOSE DE: (1746-1828) Spanish Painter. Goya is considered the most important Spanish Painter of the late 18th and early 19th centuries and is regarded as the last of the Old Masters and the first of the moderns. A precursor of the Expressionism. His masterpiece portrayal of a naked woman, La Maja Desnuda ("The Naked Maja"), now in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, was a remarkably daring nude for the time, renowned for the unashamed gaze of the model towards the viewer without negative connotations. An exceptionally rare L.S., `Fran[cis]co de Goya´, three pages, 4to, Bordeaux, 30th November 1824, to the Duchess of San Fernando, in Spanish. Goya apologies for his hasty departure from Paris preventing him from saying goodbye to her himself, stating in part `Cuando salí de Paris para venir a esta [ciudad], dispuse atropelladamente mi viaje; el tiempo urgía, me hallaba sin dinero, y admití la oferta de unos amigos que me anticiparon los gastos del camino…´ (Translation: `When I left Paris to come to this [city], I hastily organized my trip; time was urgent, I was without money, and I accepted the offer of some friends who anticipated the expenses of the trip…") Goya is still not sure about his near future and explains that his has requested to the King of Spain an extension of his permission to leave his court painter obligations, saying `Aqui estoy, sin saber lo que debo hacer de mi. He pedido una prórroga, siquiera para poder pasar el invierno al calor de la chimenea, y no se si S[u] M[ajestad] tendrá a bien de concedérmela…´ (Translation: "Here I am, not knowing what I should make of myself. I have asked for an extension, at least that I can spend the winter in the warmth before a fireplace, and I don't know if H[is] M[ajesty] will be good enough to grant it to me…") Further again, Goya explains in full detail what the present he has sent to his correspondent is, being some drafts, drawings and figurines of three dwarfs, stating in part `Me tomo la libertad de remitir a V.E. esos tres comisionados, a quienes doy el encargo especial de asegurarla cuan agradecido estoy a la memoria que conserva de mi, y cuanto deseo complacerla y servirla. Son tres enanos que se presentaron en la feria de Burdeos dos meses hace, y me pareció conveniente sacar un tanteo de sus caras y sus figurillas. El de los pantaloncitos tiene 18 pulgadas, de los otros dos (que son marido y mujer) ella tiene 21 pulgadas y el esposo 20. Celebraré que cumplan su comisión, según los deseos del invalido que los envia´ (Translation: `I take the liberty of sending to Y.E. those three commissioners [referring to his three dwarfs figurines], to whom I give the special charge of assuring you how grateful I am to the memory you keep of me, and how much I wish to please and serve you. They are three dwarfs who appeared at the Bordeaux fair two months ago, and I thought it convenient to make a test of their faces and their figurines. The one with the short trousers is 18 inches, and the other two (who are husband and wife) she is 21 inches and the husband is 20. I will celebrate that they fulfil their commission, according to the wishes of the invalid who sends them" [Goya refers here to himself]) Goya has a lengthy list of important portraits paintings of dwarfs. An exceptional document, with very interesting content related to Goya´s last years, short after his arrival to France, and referring to his work on three dwarves he met at a fair in Bordeaux. A letter in very fine condition. VG  Goya became a court painter to the Spanish Crown in 1786 and this early part of his career is marked by portraits of the Spanish aristocracy. In 1793 an illness left him deaf, after which his work became progressively darker. In 1799 Goya became the First Court Painter, the highest rank for a Spanish court Painter, under King Charles IV of Spain. During the Peninsular War and Napoleon´s invasion of Spain, Goya remained in Madrid, and his series of paintings Disasters of War, or his painting The Second of May 1808, show how much this war affected him deeply, fearing for his country´s fate. He also painted important portraits of the Royal Spanish family and of Lord Wellington.His late period is marked by the Black Paintings, on the plaster walls of his own house "La Quinta del Sordo" ("The House of the Deaf Man") where disillusioned by political and religious corruption, and by social developments in Spain, he lived near isolation. He also painted dwarves, and persons with insanity or in mental asylums, as well as themes related with witches and fantastical creatures. Goya abandoned Spain in 1824, the year of the present letter, to retire to the French city of Bordeaux from where the present letter is written. He was accompanied by his maid and companion Leocadia Weiss, 42 years younger than him, although it remains unclear if she was or not his lover.It was at that time and in Bordeaux where Goya completed his well-known series of paintings La Tauromaquia, depicting bullfighting scenes.  Goya died and was buried in Bordeaux, but was later re-interred in the Royal Hermitage of San Antonio de la Florida in Madrid. Famously, the skull was missing, and the Spanish consul to Bordeaux reported so to his superiors in Madrid, who wired back "Send Goya, with or without head". The present letter is most probably in the hand of Leandro Fernández de Moratín (1760-1828) Spanish Dramatist, Poet, and translator of works of Moliere and Shakespeare into Spanish. Goya made his friend´s portrait in his late years in Bordeaux. Fernandez de Moratin lived his late years in exile in France and died in Paris only two months after Goya passed away in Bordeaux.  The present letter is written to Maria Luisa of Bourbon and Villabriga (1783-1846) Duchess of San Fernando de Quiroga. She was directly related to several Kings of Spain, being the grand-daughter of Philip V, the niece of Charles III, and cousin of Charles IV. Maria Luisa and her husband, first duke of San Fernando, went into exile in 1823 to Paris.

DE NIRO ROBERT: (1943-     ) American actor, Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actor in 1974 for his role as Vito Corleone in The Godfather: Part II. An excellent signed and inscribed 10 x 8 photograph, the original Paramount Pictures publicity portrait depicting De Niro in a head and shoulders pose in costume from his Oscar winning performance as the young Vito Corleone from the epic crime film The Godfather: Part II. Signed by De Niro in blue ink to the image, 'To Paula, all the best, Robert De Niro'. A rare and highly desirable signed photograph. A few very light, extremely minor corner creases to the white borders, otherwise EX 

HULL JOSEPHINE: (1886-1957) American actress, Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress in 1950 for her role as Veta Louise Simmons in Harvey. An extremely rare vintage signed sepia 7.5 x 10.5 photograph of Hull in a profile head and shoulders pose. Photograph by the White Studio of New York. Signed by Hull in dark fountain pen ink to the image and dated 1928 in her hand. Some very light, extremely minor age wear and one very small tear to the centre of the upper edge, repaired to the verso with sellotape. About EX

Dolomieu’s manuscript notes on the essence of geological research –‘Errors experienced prevent the mind from dealing with new research: we think we know and this is the greatest obstacle to really knowing’  DOLOMIEU DEODAT GRATET DE: (1750-1801) French geologist after whom the mineral and the rock dolomite were named. A supporter of Napoleon Bonaparte during the French Revolution, Dolomieu was captured and held as a prisoner of war in Italy from 1799. Following Napoleon's successful invasion of Italy, one of the terms dictated by him in the peace treaty of Florence in March 1801 was the immediate release of Dolomieu. An extremely rare autograph manuscript signed, with his initials G D D, two pages, 12mo (6.5 x 9.5 cm), n.p., n.d., in French. Dolomieu's manuscript notes, comprising thirty-seven lines written in a small, although perfectly legible, hand is entitled 'Les Erreurs reconnues sont des verites acquises' (Translation: 'The errors recognised are the truths acquired') and states, in part, 'et leur decouverte est d'autant plus utile qu'elles ont été de nature à séduire beaucoup de gens. Les erreurs vécues empechent l'esprit de s'occuper de nouvelles recherches: on croit savoir et c'est le plus grand obstacle a savoir reellement…….La verite recherchee par les hommes est comme le feu qu'ils produisent avec des matieres combustibles; plus elle s'etend, plus elle a de tendance a s'etendre de nouveau. On fait un pas vers la decouverte de la cause d'un phenomene quelconque lorsque l'on trouve que les causes auxquelles on l´attribuait n'ont aucun rapport avec lui. Comme il n'y a point d'effets sans causes, lorsqu'on decouvre un plus grand nombre de faits qui, quoique contemporain d'un phenomene, n'ont point de rapports avec lui, on se rapproche de la connaissance de la cause qui pourra l'expliquer. Cette methode d'approche de la verite, qu'on peut dire negative et d'exclusion peut reussir finalement quoiqu'elle puisse etre longue. Mais elle est essentielle a employer surtout dans les recherches geologiques' (Translation: 'and their discovery is all the more useful in that they have been of a nature to seduce many people. Errors experienced prevent the mind from dealing with new research: we think we know and this is the greatest obstacle to really knowing…….The truth sought by men is like the fire they produce with combustible materials; the more it expands, the more it tends to expand again. One takes a step toward discovering the cause of any phenomenon when one finds that the causes to which it was attributed have no connection with it. As there are no effects without causes, when we discover a greater number of facts which, although contemporaneous with a phenomenon, have no connection with it, we come closer to knowing the cause that can explain it. This method of approaching the truth, which can be said to be negative and of exclusion, can ultimately succeed, although it may take a long time. But it is essential to use especially in geological research'). An interesting and important text. Some very light, minor foxing and age wear, otherwise VGThe text of Dolomieu’s manuscript originates from a scientific work published in 1778-79 by Jean-Andre Deluc (1727-1817) Swiss geologist, natural philosopher and meteorologist who devised measuring instruments. Deluc’s father was a supporter of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Jean-Andre also wrote of conversations he had experienced with Voltaire and Rousseau in an essay on the General Principle of Mortality which he had published in 1798.   

COLLINS WILKIE: (1824-1889) English novelist and playwright whose work The Moonstone (1868) is widely considered as the first modern detective novel. A good A.Q.S., Wilkie Collins, one page, 8vo, Gloucester Place, Portman Square, London, 17th February 1883, on his personal printed monogrammed stationery. Collins has penned a seven-line quotation which he identifies as being from The Woman in White, in full, 'Women can resist a man's love, a man's fame, a man's personal appearance, and a man's money; but they cannot resist a man's tongue when he knows how to talk to them'. Rare in this form. Very slightly irregularly trimmed to the upper edge and with a few signs of previous tears (professionally restored to a very high standard and now only very slightly affecting a few words of text) and with some minor traces of former mounting to the verso. G The mystery novel The Woman in White (1859-60) was Collins's fifth published work and can be seen as an early example of detective fiction with the protagonist, Walter Hartright, employing many of the sleuthing techniques of later private detectives.  

LENNON JOHN: (1940-1980) English singer and musician, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. An excellent, rare signed colour 5 x 7 photograph of Lennon, the candid Kodak image depicting the musician standing in a half-length pose on a New York City street at night, wearing a beige suit jacket, striped scarf, cap and his trademark Windsor glasses. Signed in ink with his name alone, largely across a light area of the image. An ink note in the hand of a collector to the verso indicates that the photograph was taken on 8th April 1975 [following the recording of the Tomorrow Show at the NBC Studios in New York when Lennon was interviewed by Tom Snyder] and signed on 8th April 1975 following a performance of the play Same Time, Next Year [at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, New York]. A wonderful signed photograph. EXLennon's appearance on the Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder was the final major broadcast interview the Beatle would give before his tragic death.  .

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 

DESGROUETTES PÉPIN: (?-1805) Pierre Athanase Desgrouettes, also called Des Grouettes, was one of the most odious figures of the French revolution during the Reign of Terror. A stool pigeon in the prisons of terror. Malignant and misshapen, he was imprisoned during the reign of Louis XVI for prevarication and later again imprisoned in La Bastille for printing pamphlets, but became with the French revolution a judge in few revolutionary tribunals as member of the Commune. Rare A.L.S., `Pépin Dégrouhettes´, two pages, 4to, n.p., [Paris], 8th October 1792, First year of the Revolution, to the Minister of war, in French. Desgrouettes, on behalf of several “good citizens”, denounces their boss and indicates his address in order to arrest him, stating in part `Permettez que je vous adresse la réclamation de plusieurs bons citoyens… les sacrifices qu´ils ont fait pour la chose publique ont réduits á la nécessité de travailler à la journée au camp sous Paris, et dont un chef infidèle retient le salaire et par consequent les moyens de subsistance. Ce chef est le S. Chevreau, demeurant rue de Fauxbourg Saint Denis nº 24…´ (“Allow me to address to you the complaint of several good citizens... the sacrifices they have made for the public affairs has reduced their lives to the need of having to work by day in the camps beneath Paris, and their salaries are withheld by an unfaithful boss and consequently their livelihoods too. This chief is S. Chevreau, residing rue de Fauxbourg Saint Denis nº 24…“ Desgrouettes explains in detail the days they worked, the small amount received on account, and the refusal of Chevreau to pay the amount agreed and due and the way he harshly ousts them, and further again states invoking the principles of the revolution `Il n´entre point dans l´esprit de la Nation et de ses ministers que les citoyens malaisés qui servent la Patrie soient volés et maltraités; je vous prie donc avec instance, citoyen minister, de faire justice… et de punir l´infidèle et brutal Chevreau. Dans une République bien organisée il faut que tout homme….´ (“It is not in the spirit of the Nation and its ministers that the weak citizens who serve the Fatherland are robbed and mistreated; I therefore beg you insistently, citizen minister, to do justice... and to punish the unloyal and brutal Chevreau. In a well-organized Republic every man must...”) Desgrouettes adds beneath his signature that he acts in his capacity as `Membre du conseil general de la Commune et Président du tribunal criminel´ (“Member of the General Council of the Commune and President of the Criminal Court”). In very fine condition, about VG Desgrouettes is well-remembered and described by imprisoned people in Paris, as a provocative agent and a stool pigeon of the revolutionary committees. During the Reign of Terror, Desgrouettes was picking out at the prison of Saint Lazare the arrested persons to be executed. It is reported that when the number of executions was important he was celebrating with joy and wine and returning home drunk and singing. 

LOMBARD CAROLE: (1908-1942) American actress, an Academy Award nominee. A good vintage signed and inscribed 11 x 14 photograph of the actress standing in an appealing half-length pose. Photograph by George Hurrell and bearing his blind stamp to the lower right corner. Signed by Lombard in green fountain pen ink to the image with poor contrast Rare. VG

MARGUERITE DE NAVARRE: (1492-1549) Also known as Marguerite of Angoulême. Princess of France and Queen of Navarre by her second marriage to King Henry II of Navarre. Marguerite was the sister of French King Francis I. Marguerite is the ancestress of the Bourbon Kings of France. A patron of humanists and culture, she is regarded as "The First Modern Woman". Rare L.S., `Votre bonne cousine et amie, Marguerite´, one page, 4to, Jarnac, (Charente, Southwestern of France), 12th March 1543, to Monsieur de Jarnac, in old French. Marguerite will intervene and write to the King so that the Sire de Jarnac is compensated for the expenses incurred for the trips made for the service of the King, stating `Mon cousin, j'ai vu la lettre que vous m'avez écrite et suis bien aise que vous n'êtes encore parti pour aller à La Rochelle. Je vous assure que je ne manquerai d'écrire au roi la dépense que vous avez faite aux voyages et autres choses pour son service car il est raisonnable que vous en soyez récompensé, et aussi le roi ne voudrait pas que l'on se fit pauvre à son service et principalement vous qu'il a en si bonne estime. Quant à l'affaire de monsieur de Caumont, j'en ai écrit… J'écris présentement aux deux qu'ils me viennent trouver à Béziers et que je tiens prêt qu'ils me fassent compagnie jusqu'à Bordeaux. J'avais délibéré de vous mander là avec madame de Jarnac et votre fille mais j'ai avisé qu'il sera meilleur savoir avant quelle volonté à monsieur de Caumont…´ (Translation: "My Cousin, I have seen the letter you wrote to me and am very glad that you have not yet left to go to La Rochelle. I assure you that I will not fail to write to the King about the expense you have made for travel and other things under his service because it is reasonable that you should be rewarded for it, and also the King would not want people to become poor at his service and especially you whom he holds in such good esteem. As for Monsieur de Caumont's affair, I have written about it... I am currently writing to the two who are coming to find me in Béziers and I am ready for them to accompany me to Bordeaux. I had deliberated to summon you there with Madame de Jarnac and your daughter, but I advised that it would be better to know beforehand what will Monsieur de Caumont…") Also annotated to the heading `De la mesme reyne pour les mesmes affaires des mesmes moys et an. Mars 1543´ (Translation: "From the Queen for the affairs of the same month and year, March 1543") Neatly inlaid, otherwise VG 

SADE MARQUIS DE: (1740-1814) Donatien Alphonse François de Sade. French Writer and Philosopher. Rare A.L.S., `Sade´, one page, small 4to, Charenton, 14th August 1809, in French. Sade acknowledges receipt stating `Je reconnais avoir reçu de Monsieur de Coulmier directeur de la maison de Charenton, Cinq Cordes de bois à moi fournies en detail dans l´hiver de mil huit cent huit à mil huit cent neuf à Charenton ce 14 août mil huit cent neuf´ (“I acknowledge having received from Mr. de Coulmier, director of the house of Charenton, five bags of wood provided to me in the winter of one thousand eight hundred and eight to one thousand eight hundred and nine at Charenton, August 14th, one thousand eight hundred and nine”) Small overall minor age wear, with a small hole to the lower border, not affecting the text or signature. G François-Simonet des Coulmiers (1741-1818) Des Coulmiers was the last abbot of the French National Constituent Assembly and the first Director of the national house, or nursing house, of Charenton. He had a very good and friendly relationship with Sade. Sade always expressed a boundless passion for the theatre, and Des Coulmiers built a theatre in the nursing home. The bleachers were intended to receive about forty mental patients, chosen among the least agitated. The rest of the room could accommodate about two hundred spectators, exclusively recruited by invitation. Sade wrote plays for the theatre and directed rehearsals.

LEOPOLD I OF BELGIUM: (1790-1865) King of the Belgians 1831-65 following Belgian independence in 1830. Founder of the Royal House to which all Belgian Kings have belonged. A fine A.L.S., `L´, two pages, 8vo, Claremont, England, 27th July 1820, addressed to Monsieur Favon, Counselor of the Legation in charge of the Affairs of His Serene Highness Monseigneur the reigning Duke of Saxe Coburg, in French. Leopold refers to a questionable private affair related to a woman and tries to sort out the problem promptly and smoothly, and states in part `… J´ai reçu votre dernière lettre hier et vous réponds de suite…il y a beaucoup d´extravagance dans la conduit de Mad. A, si je ne le faisais pas par consideration pour mes parents, on aimerait autant n´avoir rien du tout à faire avec ces braves gens. Je suis fâché qu´on ne m´ait jamais donné la moindre communication relativement à ces sujets, puisqu´on aurait pu faire du bien qui actuellement sera plus difficile..´ (“..I have received your last letter yesterday and reply to you immediately…there is a great deal of extravagance in the conduct of Mad. A, if I wasn´t doing this as a gesture of consideration for my parents, we would have preferred to have nothing to do with these brave people. I am angry that I have never been given any communication regarding these subjects, since we could have done good which currently will be more difficult…”) Leopold further states `Cependant il faut consulter avec le beau frère de Mr. Renié et gagner du temps, avant tout, pour pouvoir recevoir les réponses nécessaires. Si Mad. A dans l´entretemps devait se render coupable d´indiscrétion alors naturellement il serait impossible d´agir en sa favuer…conservez la Somme que j´ai mis à votre disposition si pareilles choses devait arriver, et de bien vous garder de lui donner cet argent aussi longtemps qu´elle conserve les soit disant mémoires´ (“However, it is necessary to consult with the brother-in-law of Mr. Renié, above all save time, and also to be able to receive the necessary answers. If Mad. A in the meantime was to be guilty of indiscretion so naturally it would be impossible to act in her favour… keep the sum that I have made available to you if such things should happen, and be careful not to give her this money as long as she keeps the so-called memories…”) A rare and carefully worded letter by the future sovereign on a delicate, but crucial, matter to preserve the good name of his dynasty, that would provide not only a King for Belgium, but also a Prince Consort, his nephew Albert, for England.With blank integral leaf. Accompanied by the original envelope, bearing a royal red wax seal to the verso. Very small minor age wear, otherwise G to VG Madame A[lexandra] was in fact the lover of Leopold's brother and was menacing to make their liaison public by publishing her Memoirs, which Leopold seeks to prevent at all costs to avoid a royal scandal. 

LANNES JEAN: (1769-1809) Marshal of France. Duc de Montebello. One of Napoleon's most daring and talented generals and personal friend of the Emperor. Rare A.L.S., `Lannes´, two pages, 4to, Lisbon, 19th July 1803, to Citizen Guéhéneuc, his father-in-law, General Administrator of the Forests, in Paris, in French. Lannes regrets that his previous letter reached his correspondent so late, stating in part `…que vous n´ayez reçu que bien tard les lettres de change, ma lettre et le paquet étaient dans un adréssé au Ministre des Relations… je suis impatient d´avoir une réponse de vous à cet égard…´ (Translation: "…that you have only received very late the letters of exchange, my letter and parcel were addressed to the Minister… I am impatient of receiving a response regarding this matter…") Lannes further refers to his pregnant wife, saying `…nous n´avons pas reçu de lettre de vous ni de Madame Guéhéneuc par ce courier…. Louise est prête à accoucher, je cherche une campagne aux environs de Lisbonne, à cause de la chaleur excessive de la capitale…´ (Translation: "…we have not received any letter from you nor from Madame Guéhéneuc… Louis is about to give birth, and I look for a countryside place in the surroundings of Lisbonne, because of the excessive heat at the capital…") With address leaf, bearing remnants of former seals. Overall creasing with small area of paper loss to the address leaf as a result of the letter opening. G François Scholastique (1759-1840) Count of Guéhéneuc. He was Lannes´ father-in-law.Louise Guéheneuc (1782-1856) Duchess of Montebello. Second wife of Marshal Lannes. On 20th July 1803, the day after the present letter was written, the Duchess gave birth in Lisbonne to their third son, Ernest (1803-1882) 

PETER II: (1715-1730) Emperor of Russia 1727-30. An extremely rare L.S., Peter, one page, small 4to, Moscow, 20th November 1729, to Ferdinand Albert II, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel, in German. The Emperor writes on the occasion of having received news of the birth of his correspondent's daughter, Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel. Autographs of Peter II are extremely rare in any form as a result of his untimely death from smallpox at the young age of 14 (just two months after signing the present letter). Some light creasing and a few minor stains, otherwise VG Ferdinand Albert II (1680-1735) Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel, a Generalfeldmarschall in the army of the Holy Roman Empire.Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel (1729-1796) Queen of Denmark and Norway 1752-66, the second consort of King Frederick V of Denmark and Norway. 

BOSCO JOHN: (1815-1888) Don Bosco. Italian Roman Catholic Priest, Educator and Writer. He developed teaching methods based on love rather than punishment, a method known as the Salesian Preventive System. Founder of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Canonized as a saint in 1934. Rare A.L.S., `Umile Servitore Sac.[erdote] G.[iovanni] Bosco´, one page, 4to, Torino, 25th November 1878, to Countess Callori, in Italian. Bosco writes to his correspondent, calling her `Mia Buona Mamma´ (“My Good Mother”), and states in part `Ricevo sue notizie dal giardiniere Rizzoglio, che venne a fare sue divozioni nella chiesa di Maria con sua moglie´ (Translation: `I receive your news with the gardener Rizzoglio, who came to make his devotions in the church of Maria with his wife´) Bosco further refers to his own eyesight problems saying `Qui noi stiamo bene in genere. Soltanto la mia vista va precipitosamente peggiorando´ (Translation: `Here we are fine in general. Only my eyesight is deteriorating precipitously´)and before concluding, Saint John Bosco makes a singular comment about his eyesight and God, stating `Dio vede bene cosi, perché non me ne serviva come doveva´ (Translation: `God sees clearly like this, because I wasn't using it as it should´) Bosco concludes sending his blessing to his correspondent and family. With blank integral leaf. Very small overall minor creasing, otherwise VG Countess Carlota Calori di Vignale (1827-1911) one of the most important financial benefactors of Bosco´s projects 

DUBUFFET JEAN: (1901-1985) French painter and sculptor, founder of the art brut movement. A.L.S., Jean Dubuffet, one page, 8vo, Paris, 21st September n.y. (1950), to Louis-Ferdinand Celine, in French. Dubuffet writes, in full, 'Je vous envoie ce petit livre sympathique que je viens de recevoir de Jules Mougin, lequel est facteur des postes, a ce qu'il parait: je ne le connais pas' (Translation: 'I am sending you this nice little book that I have just received from Jules Mougin, who is a postman, it seems: I don't know him'). Together with the book referred to, being a softcover 8vo edition of Pour Copie Conforme, by Jean Mougin, published by Jean Vodaine's Poesie avec nous, Basse Yutz, 1950. Numbered 23 of an edition of 31 and with a presentation inscription signed by Mougin to the front free endpaper, 'Au Monsieur qui ose, a Dubuffet, avec le sourire pince, du facteur titulaire, Jules Mougin, le ami de Jean l'Anselme' (Translation: 'To the gentleman who dares, to Dubuffet, with the pinched smile, of the titular postman, Jules Mougin, the friend of Jean L'Amselme') and dated Paris ('capitale de la misere'), 15th September 1950, in Mougin's hand. Also signed by Mougin with his name alone beneath the title to the front cover. An extremely rare pairing with interesting associations. Some light creasing and a few very small tears to the extreme edges of Dubuffet's letter and Mougin's publication with some light age wear and minor toning to the covers. G to about VG, 2Louis-Ferdinand Celine (1894-1961) French novelist who was greatly admired and supported by Dubuffet. The two men did not meet until 1952 however a voluminous correspondence once existed, but has since been destroyed (making the present letter an extremely rare survival from their relationship).Jules Mougin (1912-2010) French working-class poet and postal worker associated with the art brut movement. .