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CLEMENT IX: (1600-1669) Pope of the Roman Catholic Church 1667-69. A rare L.S., `G. Card le Rospigliosi´, one page, folio, 18th August 1666, in Latin. A boldly penned dark ink untranslated letter. Very attractively matted in red cloth, beneath a colour 8 x 10 portrait of Pope Clement IX, framed in gilt wood and glazed to an overall of 15 x 29. Small folding, traces of a former seal to the verso, otherwise about VG  

CLEMENT XIII: (1693-1769) Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and Ruler of the Papal States 1758-69. One of the few early Popes who favoured dialogue with Old Catholic Protestants. Rare L.S., `C Cardinale Rezzonico´, one page, 4to, Padova, 13th October 1754, to Pietro Paolo Franchini in Verona, in Italian. The future Pope, states in part `In quanto poi alle persone de Sacerdoti, o altri Preti, o Chierici esistenti nella giurisdizione Abbaziale, ne attendo in foglio a parte dal suo zelo il vero carattere, e il loro costume, per poter pigliar regola, o di lodarli, o di correggerli; essendo cosa difficile in un solo giorno, i coprirne, e vile…´ ("As for the Priests, or other Priests, or Clerics existing in the jurisdiction of the Abbey, …in order to be able to rule, or to praise them, or to correct them; being difficult thing in a single day...") Paper with Papal watermark. With blank integral leaf. Accompanied by the original envelope bearing a paper seal affixed. Small overall creasing, otherwise G 

BELLARMINE ROBERT: (1542-1621) Saint of the Catholic Church, canonized a saint in 1930. Italian Jesuit and Cardinal of the Catholic Church. Very rare A.L.S., `Il Card.le Bellarmino, Protettore de´ celestini´, one page, 4to, Rome, 24th August 1617, Saint Robert Bellarmino, who was at the head of the Order of the Celestines, gives his permission to a Neapolitan monk who has to travel to Rome, and states in part `…dritto al monastero di S.to Eusebio, dove habita il molto R.do Padre Abbate, don Celso Romano, Procurator generale delli Celestini..´ ("..straight to the monastery of Saint Eusebio, where the very Reverend Father Abbot, Don Celso Romano, General Procurator of the Celestines lives..") With blank address leaf in Bellarmine´s hand. Overall age wear, toning, and small staining, with a tear to the centre as a result of the opening, not affecting the text or signature, and uneven right edge. Considering the age of the document, about G The Celestines were a Roman Catholic monastic order founded in 1244, a branch of the Benedictines. At the foundation of the new rule, they were called Hermits of St Damiano, or Moronites, and did not assume the appellation of Celestines until after the election of their founder, Peter of Morone (Pietro Murrone), to the Papacy as Celestine V. Due to the political reforms movements and to the French Revolution, the Order of the Celestines is now disappeared. 

FRANCIS DE SALES: (1567-1622) Saint of the Catholic Church. Bishop of Geneva. Known for his writings such as the Introduction to the Devout Life and the Treatise on the Love of God. St. Francis de Sales has been styled ''the Gentleman Saint'' because of his patience and gentleness. Pope Pius XI proclaimed him a patron of writers and journalists, because he made extensive use of broadsheets and books. Very rare Autograph Letter, one page, 4to, Annecy, 17th February 1616, to Madame de La Fléchere, in French. Francis of Sales sends a letter reporting on different matters, adding a cross to the heading and commencing with his correspondent´s personal family situation, stating in part `Ma tres chere fille, Hier au soir seulement je reçois votre lettre et je réponds ce matin, jour des Cendres. Il m´est avis que ces formalités de tuteur de vos enfants sont superflues, puisque tout est votre et qu´aussi bien votre époux Nouveau ne vous demandera point de dote. Néanmoins, vous savez quel homme je suis pour les affaires du monde, certes je n´y entends rien du tout! C´est pourquoi je vous conseille….´ ("My very dear daughter, only yesterday evening I received your letter and I answer this morning. It is my opinion that these formalities of tutoring your children are superfluous, since everything is yours and your new husband will not ask you for a dowry. Nevertheless, you know what a man I am for the affairs of the world, certainly I understand nothing at all! That is why I advise you to…" Francis de Sales further refers to Mr. Guidebois´ complaints, stating `En verité, il faut aider M. Guidebois afin qu´il ait sa pension tant que nous pourrons, car le pauvre homme serait miserable sans cela… je l´assisterai en ce que je pourrai, afin qu´il ne soit pas frustré de sa juste pretention. Et M. le Comte n´en saura rien, ou s´il le sait, il n´aura point d´occasion de vous en savoir mauvais gré´ ("The truth is that we must help as much as we can Mr. Guidebois so that he has his pension, because the poor man would be miserable without it... I will help him as much as I can, so that he is not frustrated with his pension and fair claim. And the Count won't know anything about it, or if he does, he won't have the opportunity to find out about you unwillingly" Francis de Sales further adds few more advices to Madame de la Fléchere regarding her new marriage and also explains that they have a brave new preacher and refers to Madame la Comtesse stating `Madame la Comtesse a laquelle j´ai envie de donner de la moderation en ses affections, selon le besoin que je vois par la démusérée ardeur qu´elle a en la solicitation de faire M. Nacot, vicaire...´ ("Madame the Countess to whom I want to give moderation in her affections, according to the need that I see by the unmistakable eagerness that she has in the solicitation to make M. Nacot, vicar…") With paper seal affixed to the verso and the addressee´s name. Very small overall minor age wear, otherwise VG  Jean François Melchior Guidebois, born in 1586, is the son of a notary, of a noble family provenance. Guidebois was appointed prior at Notre-Dame de Vion but further resigned of his rights in favour of Claude-François de la Fléchere, husband of the correspondent of Francis de Sales.The Count Saint Francis refers to is Charles de la Forest, brother of Madame de la Fléchere.Madame la Comtesse is Philiberte de Beaufort, Countess of Tournon.

[SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL]: (1581-1660) French Catholic Priest. Venerated both in the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. Canonized in 1737 by Pope Clement XII. Vincent de Paul is known for his humility and for serving the poor. Rare secretarial letter, with Saint Vincent de Paul´s signature excised from the conclusion, (His usual signature being `Vincent de Paul I[ndigne] P[retre] D[e] l[a] M[ission´), two pages, 8vo, Paris, 18th Octubre 1658, to Monsieur Cet, in French. Saint Vincent de Paul refers first to his correspondent´s ill eye and thanks God for the improvements `Je rends grâce à Dieu derechef de ce que votre oeil malade se guérit de plus en plus..´ ("I thank God again that your sick eye is getting better and better…"), further commenting that a group of travellers have reached Lyon and expects they have joined him and reports about the priest required at Agde saying `C´est pourquoi je vous prie de l´envoyer à Agde, où Mr. Durand me mande qu´ils ont grand besoin d´un prêtre pour chanter..´ ("That is why I kindly ask you to send him to Agde, where Mr. Durand tells me that they are in great need of a priest to sing mass…") Further again Saint Vincent de Paul states in part `Les banqueroutes arrivées à Paris depuis quelque temps, même depuis peu, nous ont empêchés de donner l´argent des esclaves..´ ("The bankruptcies that have happened in Paris for some time, even recently, have prevented us from giving the money of the slaves…") With post-scriptum. Letter with address leaf. Small overall age wear with clipped signature at the base, affecting few words of the first page, and a small area of paper loss to the upper edge, not affecting the text. G

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL: (1581-1660) French Catholic Priest. Venerated both in the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. Canonized in 1737 by Pope Clement XII. Vincent de Paul is known for his humility and for serving the poor. Extremely rare with excellent content L.S., `Vincent de Paul I.[ndigne] P.[retre] d[e] l[a] M[ission]´, (''Vincent de Paul, Unworthy Priest of the Mission''), three pages, 4to, Paris, 19th July 1658, to the Superior of Marseille, Firmin Get, in French. Saint Vincent de Paul refers to the plan of liberating the French slaves in Algiers, stating in part `La grâce de N.S. soit avec vous pour jamais! Je rends graces à Dieu de ce que vous ne cessez d´agir vers la ville de Marseille pour la porter à contribuir à l´entreprise de M. le Chevalier Paul, et à inviter les autres villes maritimes du Royaume d´y contribuir aussi; il faut en attendre de Dieu la résolution et l´effet. Si vous offrez au dit Sieur Chevalier la Somme que je vvous ai dite, il ne faut pas lui dire que vous l´avez, ni d´où elle provient, et encore moins la lui promettre qu´avec cette condition, qu´il délivrera, non quelques esclaves, mais tous les Français qui se trouveront en Alger, et qu´il ne touchera rien, que cela ne soit fait´ (Translation: “The grace of Our Lord be with you forever! I give thanks to God that you do not cease to work with the city of Marseille to bring it to contribute to the enterprise of M. le Chevalier Paul, and to invite the other maritime cities of the Kingdom to contribute as well; the resolution and effect must be expected from God. If you offer the said Knight the sum that I told you, you must not tell him that you have it, nor where it comes from, and even less promise it to him, only with this condition, that he will deliver, not a few slaves, but all the French who will be in Algiers, and that he will not receive anything until this will be done”) Saint Vincent de Paul further refers to the King´s reaction regarding the project, saying in part `… l´objection qui vous a été faite de delà, à savoir que le Grand Seigneur s´en pourra ressentir et faire arrêter tous les marchands de France qui se trouveront en Levant; mais on m´a répondu qu´il ne faut pas craindre cela, ni que le Grand Seigneur trouve mauvais que le Roi tire raison des griefs qu´il a reçus de la dite ville d´Alger et des vexations que ses sujets en reçoivent, quand il saura les mauvais traitements qu´elle a faits au consul de Sa Majesté, et les prises injustes et continuelles qu´elle fait sur les Français. Il en a déjà fait une dpêche à Mr. de la Haye, ambassadeur à Constantinople, afin qu´il en porte ses plaintes au Grand Seigneur et à la Porte´ (Translation: “…the objection that has been made to you, saying that the Grand Seigneur may feel the bad effect of and have all the merchants of France which will be in the Levant arrested; but I was told that this should not be feared, nor that the Grand Seigneur finds it wrong that the King takes right of the grievances he has received from the said city of Algiers and the vexations that his subjects receive from it, when he has learned of the treatment they have given to Her Majesty's Consul, and the unfair and continual attacks they are making on the French. The King has already dispatched a letter to Mr. de la Haye, ambassador in Constantinople, so that he forwards his complaints to the Grand Seigneur and to the Ottomans”) Saint Vincent de Paul further again refers to the consul in Algiers and expresses his distrust and explains that he cannot believe as truth the reports his receives, and continues explaining all the decisions taken. Former tears to the folds professionally repaired, slightly reinforcing the sheets. G        

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. An excellent and rare A.L.S., `Sac.[erdote] Bosco Gio.[vanni]´, two pages, 4to, Torino, 18th August 1862, to Marquis Giovanni Patrizi, in Italian. The letter bears to the upper left corner a Cran  blind embossed seal. Bosco writes to his correspondent `Priest Tarameli Honorius goes to Rome to settle his priestly ministry affairs. If you can get him a moment of audience with His Eminence the Cardinal Vicar, you would do me a favor too. He had the misfortune of falling into the heresy of the Protestants and now he has abandoned it and wants to live and die as a good priest. I recommend him to the courtesy of your…Our conferences continue cheerfully amidst difficulties. The fruits we are obtaining are very satisfying. Is the Rome conference still going on?...´ Further Bosco states `I unite myself with all those of my house to wish you heaven health, grace and courage, and to recommend us all to the charity of your prayers, while with true gratitude I consider it the greatest pleasure to be able to profess to Y. E. in the Lord…´ Further again, Bosco thanks his correspondent to a post-scriptum `I thank you for what you do for our Lottery…´ With blank integral leaf. Very small minor creasing, otherwise VG Bosco spared no concern or even sacrifices for priests. The Bishops, knowing this, recommended the priests to approach him, and Bosco took them into his house and gave them charitable attention. 

ESCRIVA DE BALAGUER JOSE MARIA: (1902-1975) Spanish Roman Catholic priest who founded the Opus Dei in 1928. Canonized in 2002 by Pope John Paul II. Rare A.L.S., `Jose M Escrivá de B´, two pages, 5.5 x 4 card, (14.5 cm x 10.7 cm), Rome, 21st March 1957, on his printed stationery with his name to the heading "Mons. Jose Maria Escriva de Balaguer", in Spanish. On a boldly and carefully written text in dark blue ink, Escriva in the third person, states `Abraza cariñosamente a Mons. Palarzini, agradece su afectuosa felicitación, le ruega que felicite a Mons. Giuseppe, y le asegura que tiene muy presente cada dia - en sus pobres oraciones - la persona y las intenciones de Mons. Pietro´ ("He affectionately embraces Msgr. Palarzini, thanks him for his affectionate congratulations, asks him to congratulate Msgr. Giuseppe, and assures him that every day - in his poor prayers - he keeps in mind the person and good intentions of Msgr. Pietro") VG to EX

BOSSUET JACQUES BENIGNE: (1627-1704) French Bishop and Politician. Bossuet was renowned for his sermons and was widely considered as one of the most brilliant orators and the most influential homilist of all times. A strong advocate of the divine right of Kings, he served as the Court preacher to King Louis XIV. His orations delivered at the funerals of Queen Henrietta Maria, widow of Charles I of England, and the ones for “Le Grand Condé” are well remembered. Rare A.L.S., `J. Benigne E[vêque] de Meaux´, one page, 8vo, Paris, 12th June 1682, in French. Bossuet states in part `Je serai très aise Monsieur de donner les moindres ordres a monsieur l´abbé et comme il le regarde comme devant être un des meilleurs… de l´Eglise, le tiendrai à grace de lui faire faire les premiers pas. Ce sera a tel jour et en tel lieu qu´il vous plaira…. Aujourd´hui ou demain j´aurai l´honneur de vous voir. Je suis sans reserve comme vous…´ (“I will be very happy Monsieur to give the slightest orders to Monsieur l´abbé and as he considers him to be one of the best… in the Church, I will accord him the grace to make him take the first steps. It will be on the day and at the place that will please you…. Today or tomorrow I shall have the honour of seeing you. I am wholeheartedly like you...”) With blank integral leaf, bearing to the upper edge of the blank page, the date and name of the addressee. Small overall toning, and very small age wear, otherwise G

FLECHIER ESPRIT: (1632-1710) French Preacher and Author. Bishop of Nantes 1687-1710. One of the greatest orators of the XVIIº century. Fléchier entered the Academy on 12 January 1673, the same day as Jean Racine. Rare A.L.S., `Esprit Ev[eque] de Nismes´, two pages, 8vo, Montpellier, 22nd January 1700, in French. A cleanly written letter by Fléchier to a friar, stating in part `…les médecins ont conçu quelque espérance de votre guérison. Mais comme vous n'êtes pas sans fièvre, que votre poitrine souffre, et que vous êtes affaibli, dégoûté et presque découragé, je n'ose pas encore me consoler…´ (“…the doctors have some hope on your recovery. But as you are not without fever, your chest aches, and you are weak, disgusted and almost discouraged, I do not yet dare console myself...”) Fléchier advises his correspondent to have faith in God, and further states `… il faut un peu s'aider soi-même, ne pas se laisser accabler par le mal, quoi qu'on en soit abattu, user de remèdes quoique dégoûtants, dont Dieu veut peut-être se servir pour opérer votre guérison…´ (“you have to help yourself a little, not let yourself be overwhelmed by evil, no matter how dejected you are, use remedies, however disgusting, which God may want to use to reach your healing...”) Two water stains to the left border only partially affecting very few words, but not affecting the signature. Accompanied by an original printed engraving of the XIXº century. G

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.

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. 

`Me voila à Berlin et les papiers à Paris´ MATA HARI: (1876-1917) Gertrud Margaretha Zelle being her real name. Dutch exotic Dancer, with stage name Mata Hari, who was convicted of being a spy working for Germany during World War I. She was executed by firing squad in Paris. A rare and excellent A.L.S., `Mata Hari´, two pages, 8vo, Berlin, 8th July [1908], to Monsieur Gerson, in French. Mata Hari has just arrived to Berlin and states in part `Me voila à Berlin et les papiers à Paris. Je les ai fait revenir par dépêche et je vous écrirai de suite sitôt que l´ai reçu..´ (`Here I am in Berlin, and the documents in Paris. I asked to send them to me by dispatch and I will write to you as soon as I receive it´) Mata Hari seems to want to leave Berlin and return to Paris shortly, stating to a post-scriptum `Sitôt prête je retourne à Paris où j´ai même gardé la chambre à mon hotel…´ (`As soon as I will be ready I will return to Paris where I even kept the room at my hotel...'') With blank integral leaf. Extremely small creasing, otherwise VG 

MADAME ROLAND: (1754-1793) Born Marie-Jeanne Philipon, also known as Manon Roland de la Platiere. French Revolutionary salonniere and Writer. She was the first Girondin to be arrested during the reign of terror and guillotined. Very rare A.L., signed with a small flourish, two pages, 8vo, in French. Manon sends a letter full of spicy comments, stating in part `Si j´étais dans une disposition caustique, je vous dirais que je vous fais passert trois lettres: d´une bégueule, l´autre d´un pédant, la troisieme d´un cadet de famille. Mais a la campagne on est pacifique, on pardonne aux sots; et partout on plaint les malheureux cadets. Silence donné! J´y consens, et c´est prudent; car je pourrais en dire long sur cette niece qui exhorte a pousser sa tante et qui pourrait si bien le faire elle même. J´imagine que vous n´attendrez plus rien de toute cette…´ ("If I was in a caustic disposition, I would tell you that I pass you three letters: one from a prude, the other from a pedant, the third from a cadet. But in the countryside we are peaceful, we forgive fools; and everywhere people pity the unfortunate cadets. Silence given! I consent to it, and it is prudent; because I could say a lot about this niece who urges to push her aunt and who could so well do it herself. I imagine that you will expect nothing more from all this..") Madame Roland, known as "Madame", says before concluding `Adieu, le soleil m´a fait mal a la tête,…. et je pleure comme un enfant. J´ai encore le coeur et l´esprit tous neufs pour les romans´ ("Goodbye, the sun gave me a headache,…. and I cry like a child. I still have a brand new heart and mind for novels..") Overall age wear and small creasing, otherwise G

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   

PEARL CORA: (1836-1886) English courtesan. A charming A.L.S., C Pearl, on one side of a plain correspondence card, n.p., 21st April n.y., to a gentleman, in French. Pearl writes, in full, 'L'originalité de votre demande cher monsieur (quoi que ne vous connaissant pas) m'y fait respondre oui si vous y tenez beaucoup. J'aurai donc le plaisir de vous recevoir accompagne de ce tres interessant volume….' (Translation: 'The originality of your request dear Sir (although not knowing you) makes me answer yes if you care a lot. I shall therefore have the pleasure of receiving you accompanied by this very interesting volume'). Rare. About EX

LUXEMBURG ROSA: (1871-1919) Polish-German Revolutionary, a Marxist Philosopher and anti-war Activist. Luxemburg was summarily executed by the SPD Freikorps when they crushed the revolt known as The Spartacist Uprising. An idolized and controversial historical figure in Poland and Germany. Very rare and unusual multiple signed A.L.S., `Rosa Luxemburg´, one page, to a postcard, n.p. [Germany], n.d. [30th March] 1905, to comrade André Morizet, in French. The unusual postcard includes three different written texts signed by three different women, the first seven lines paragraph in the hand of Rosa Luxemburg, a second nine lines paragraph beneath in the hand of Henriette Roland Holst-van der Schalk (1869-1952) Dutch Poet and communist Activist. She was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature, and a third one of three lines to the left border by Luize Kautsky (1864-1944) German Politician. A member of the USPD. She married the prominent Marxist theorist Karl Kautsky. As a Jew she was deported in 1944 to Auschwitz where she died. Luxemburg states `Cher camarade Morizet! Trois charmantes dames: Mme Luize Kautsky, Mme Henriette Roland-Holst et moi viennent vous déposer une prière: veuillez bien nous envoyer à nous deux dernières les deux photographies de `la danse du ventre´ de Van Kol, que vous avez envoyées à Kautsky. Nous sommes très envieuses de les posséder aussi. Mille remerciements d´avance et salut fraternel´ («Dear comrade Morizet! Three charming ladies: Mrs. Luize Kautsky, Mrs. Henriette Roland-Holst and I come to leave with you a prayer: please send to us last two the two photographs of `the belly dance´ of Van Kol, which you sent to Kautsky. We are very envious to own them too. Many thanks in advance and fraternal salute ») Beneath, Henriette Roland states in part `Cher Camarade, Cela vous étonnera peut-être que j´exprime le désir de posséder la photographie de Van Kol…., mais à vrai dire, c´est moins de lui qu´il s´agit pour moi que de mon mari, qu´on voit également sur les photographies…´ («Dear Comrade, It may surprise you that I express the desire to own the photograph of Van Kol…, but to tell the truth, it is less about him than about my husband, also appearing in the photographs... ») To the right border, Luise Kautsky states `Cher Camarade, comme la troisième des grâces, je vous salue gracieusement, et de grâce envoyez vite les photos..´ («Dear Comrade, as the third of the graces, I greet you graciously, and have the grace of quickly sending the photographs ») An excellent document including three main figures, three women, representing the Socialism and Communism political movements of the early years of the 20th century. Postmarked and stamped. Small ink stain only affecting a word of Roland´s text. Overall age toning and very light staining, otherwise G 

MICHON JEAN-HIPPOLYTE: (1806-1881) French Priest and Archaeologist. Michon is considered the founder of the graphology. In 1871 he published Le Journal de l´Autographe where the term “graphology” is first used to describe handwriting analysis, and in 1878 Méthode Pratique de Graphologie in which he explains the principles of graphological analysis. Michon wrote several works on how to know and judge people based on their handwriting. Rare A.L.S., `J.H. Michon´, four pages, 8vo, Baignes, 21st October 1875, to a friend, in French. A very interesting autograph letter on which abbott Michon makes an analyse of his own character. To the heading, a printed text states `Photographie intellectuelle et morale - Les hommes jugés sur leur écriture´ (“Intellectual and moral photograph -Men judged on their writing”). Michon, referring to him, states in part `Je comprends les passions, misères, les besoins même des hommes; mais quand je me trouve en face des natures délicates, je m'attache à elles. Je suis en amitié, assez peu démonstratif, c'est-à-dire, et c'est un tout chez moi, j'agis avec mes amis comme s'ils étaient sûrs d'une affection inébranlable. Il est possible qu'on prenne cela quelquefois pour une indifférence, qui n'est pas dans ma nature... Je suis un grand oublieux du moi. J'aime les autres pour eux´ (Translation: “I understand the passions, miseries, even the needs of men; but when I find myself face to face with delicate natures, I attach myself to them. I am in friendship, rather undemonstrative, that is to say, and it is a whole with me, I act with my friends as if they were sure of an unshakable affection. It is possible that people sometimes take this for indifference, which is not in my nature... I am very forgetful of myself. I love others for them´ A lengthy and interesting content letter. VG

ESCOFFIER AUGUSTE: (1846-1935) French chef and restaurateur who popularised and updated traditional French cooking methods. A.L.S., A Escoffier, two pages (separate leaves), 8vo, London, 15th January 1924, to Madame and Monsieur Bernard Van Horne Schultz, on the attractive red printed stationery of the Charing Cross Hotel, in French. Escoffier thanks his correspondents for the good wishes that they sent to him for the New Year, which he reciprocates and expresses his wish that 1924 will bring them joy and happiness, continuing to remark 'Je suis, actuellement, a Londres pour y traiter une affaire de "Club Restaurant" , bien que, assez difficile, j'espere reussin. Mais de loute facon, je compte allez passer le mois de Fevrier a Monte Carlo, ou peutetre aurai je l'avantage de vous y rencontrer' (Translation: 'I am currently in London to deal with the business of the “Club Restaurant”, although quite difficult, I hope to succeed. But anyway, I intend to spend the month of February in Monte Carlo, where perhaps I will have the advantage of meeting you there'). Rare. Some very light, minor age wear and a horizontal fold very slightly running through the signature. VG 

DELACROIX EUGENE : (1798-1863) French Painter. Regarded as the leader of the French Romantic school, he is also considered one of the last old Masters of painting, and one of the few who was ever photographed. Rare A.L.S., `E. Delacroix´, two pages, 8vo, n.p., 2nd April 1862, in French. Delacroix, referring to the death of a friend, states `Jamais sa chaleureuse amitié ne m'a fait défaut dans ma carrière, et j'éprouve plus que jamais combien ses pareils sont rares, je veux dire ceux qui servent leurs amis sans toute sortes de petites restrictions qui ôtent le prix du service…´ (Translation: “His warm friendship never failed me in my career, and I feel more than ever how rare his equals are, I mean those who serve their friends without all sorts of little restrictions that take off the value of the service..”) Delacroix further explains his intention to visit his correspondent if his health permits so, saying `…ma santé est toujours mauvaise l'hiver : mais en m'abstenant des soirées, je peux travailler le jour et cela me fait un peu supporter cette solitude forcé…´ (“…my health is always bad in winter: but by abstaining from evenings, I can work during the day and that makes me bear this forced loneliness a little...”) Uneven left edge with a very small corner crease, otherwise G to VG 

DELACROIX EUGENE: (1798-1863) French Painter. Regarded as the leader of the French Romantic school, he is also considered one of the last old Masters of painting, and one of the few who was ever photographed. Rare lengthy A.L.S., `E. Delacroix´, four pages, 4to, n.p., 1st of December [1829], to Monsieur Felix Guillemardet, in French. Delacroix commences referring to the women and soirées that his correspondent, who is on holiday out of Paris, mentioned in his letter, and states in part `Depuis longtemps tu n´avais tant pris de vacances…je t´avertis que tu es mortel et que les plaisirs sont mêlés d´amertume. Encore, ne sont-elles pas toutes si insipides… tu trouveras, je n´en doute pas, quelques infidélités à faire à ta belle Parisienne, que ta discretion couvre d´un voile mystérieux et louable. On trouve en province de certaines beautés… Il n´est pas rare d´y trouver au milieu de ces troupeaux de niaises prétentieuses… quelque caractère singulier et saillant dans de jolis petits corps´ ("It's been a long time since you took so many vacations… I warn you that you are mortal and that pleasures are mixed with bitterness. Still, aren´t they all so insipid… you will find the way, I have no doubt, to make some infidelities to your beautiful Parisian couple, whom your discretion covers with a mysterious and praiseworthy veil. You can find in provinces certain beauties… It is not rare to find there in the middle of these herds of pretentious fools… some singular and salient character with pretty little bodies") Delacroix further refers to a painting he is not starting yet, and refers to his mood and his artist self-esteem, and states `J´ai là dans mon atelier depuis plusieurs jours une grande toile encore toute blanche et vierge;…Tu chatouilles mon amour-propre d´artiste avec le succès… je me croirai bientôt moi-même un ancient..´ (" I have there in my studio for several days a large canvas still all white and blank;... You tickle my self-esteem as an artist mentioning success... I will soon believe myself an ancient...") Delacroix writes his fourth page to the upper and lower borders of the address leaf, bearing a red wax seal in fine condition, showing a bust portrait. Overall creasing, otherwise G 

COURBET GUSTAVE: (1819-1877) French Painter. An innovator who rejected academic convention and leaded the French Realist movement. Courbet was active in politics and was imprisoned in 1871 for his involvement with the Paris Commune, having to live in exile in Switzerland until his death. Rare and large signed and inscribed large 16.5 x 20.5 photograph, the sepia impressive image depicting Courbet seated, holding his pipe, in a three-quarter length pose. Signed and inscribed in bold dark ink `Souvenir d´exil´ ("Exile Souvenir"), `Gustave Courbet´, also dated in his hand Geneva 1877, the year of his death. Inscribed to his friend and art dealer Paul Pia. The photograph with inscription to a darker background is 10.5 x 13.5. Very small age tone, otherwise G to VG

`As for the burial painting…the frame is demolished…the canvas is rolled up and in poor condition…´COURBET GUSTAVE: (1819-1877) French Painter. An innovator who rejected academic convention and leaded the French Realist movement. Courbet was active in politics and was imprisoned in 1871 for his involvement with the Paris Commune, having to live in exile in Switzerland until his death. An excellent content and rare A.L.S., `Gustave Courbet´, two pages, 8vo, Ornans, 15th August, n.y., to Mr. Verveer, in French. Courbet refers in the present letter to four of his well-known paintings Retour de la Conférence, Vénus et Psychée, Les Femmes and one of his masterpieces which brought fame to Courbet L´Enterrement à Ornans (`A Burial at Ornans´). His painting Les Femmes having been refused to be exhibited at the Paris Salon exhibition, Courbet states `Il parait que par souvenir de la Conférence les curés auraient agi de représailles et qu´ils auraient obtenu par l´influence de l´impératrice que soit refusé le tableau de cette année Les Femmes que je vous envoie´ («It seems that by memory of the Conference the priests would have acted in reprisals and that they would have obtained by the influence of the Empress that the painting of this year The Women, which I send to you, be refused ») Courbet further remembers his own actions in Belgium and expects there a different welcome to his works saying `Je me souviens de l´action que j´ai pris à Gand et Bruxelles et à Anvers dans la révolution des libéraux et des catholiques… Je suis en droit de croire que le tableau n´aura pas à Bruxelles le même blâme qu´à l´administration des Beaux-Arts à Paris´ («I remember the action that I took in Ghent and Brussels and in Antwerp during the revolution of the liberals and the Catholics… I have the right to believe that the painting will not have the same blame in Brussels as in the Administration of Fine Arts in Paris »)Before concluding Courbet explains to his correspondent the updated situation of his painting A Burial at Ornans, stating `Quant au tableau de l´enterrement il m´est impossible d´accéder à vos désirs malgré tout mon désir et l´honneur que vous me faites en le désirant. Le cadre est démoli, le chassis a servi, la toile est roulée et en mauvais état par le temps. J´ai donné ordre à mon concierge de délivrer le tableau de Venus et Psychée à Mr. Carpentier et Desforges et de l´avertir qu´il était à sa disposition s´il ne venait pas le chercher avant le temps indiqué par vous. Veuillez m´avertir de ce qui se passsera à propos de ce tableau qui m´intéresse beaucoup´ («As for the burial painting, it is impossible for me to accede to your wishes despite all my wishes and the honour you do me by wishing it. The frame is demolished, the stretcher has resisted, the canvas is rolled up and in poor condition because of the time passing. I instructed my concierge to deliver the painting of Venus and Psychée to Mr. Carpentier and Desforges and to inform him that it was at his disposal if he doesn´t pick it up before the time indicated by you. Please let me know what will happen to this painting as I am very interested in it ») A letter of very interesting artistic and historical content. With blank integral leaf. Small overall age wear and minor creasing. Few extremely small professional repairs to the verso. G Salomon Leonardus Verveer (1813-1876) Dutch Painter, a marine and landscape artist. Verveer was one of the most successful artists of his time. Retour de la Conférence (1862) was a painting by Courbet showing drunk priests. The watercolour was destroyed by fanatics and can only be seen on photographs. Courbet said about this painting `Ce tableau fait rire tout le pays et moi-même en particulier. C'est le tableau plus grotesque qu'on aura jamais vu en peinture. Je n'ose pas vous le dépeindre, seulement c'est un tableau de curés´ ("This painting makes the whole country laugh, and myself in particular. It is the most grotesque painting that we will have ever seen in painting. I dare not depict it to you, only that it is a painting of priests")Courbet refers to Empress Eugénie de Montijo (1826-1920) spouse of Napoléon III. A Burial at Ornans was painted in 1849-50, and is considered one of the major turning points of the French art of the 19th century. Ornans was Courbet´s birthplace and the funeral records his great-uncle funeral. His exhibition at the 1850-51 Paris Salon created an immediate and explosive reaction. The very large scale Painting is displayed at the Musée d´Orsay in Paris. Courbet said `The Burial at Ornans was in fact the burial of Romanticism´. Twenty years later, when Courbet´s political views had changed , he repudiated this work saying that it was `worth nothing´ 

‘I am delaying the execution of this project again this year. I am not satisfied with the result obtained’ CEZANNE PAUL: (1839-1906) French Artist & Post-Impressionist Painter. An excellent content and rare A.L.S., Paul Cezanne, two pages, 8vo, Aix-en Provence, 2nd of April 1902, to Monsieur Vollard, in French. Cezanne explains to his artistic agent the reasons why he has not finished a work and his unsatisfaction, stating, `Je me vois dans l´obligation de remettre l´expédition de la toile de vos roses à une époque ultérieure, quoique j´eusse beaucoup souhaité envoyer au salon 1902! Je retarde cette année encore l´exécution de ce projet. Je ne suis pas satisfait du résultat obtenu´ ("I find myself having to postpone the shipment of the canvas of your roses to a later date, although I had very much wanted to send tit to the 1902 exhibition! I am delaying the execution of this project again this year. I am not satisfied with the result obtained") Cézanne further refers to his studies on painting, a concept he would repeat several times during his late life, and mentions also the new workshop built, saying `D´autre part je ne renonce pas à continuer mon étude, qui m´aura obligé à des efforts qui, j´aime à le croire, ne seront pas steriles. J´ai fait construire un atelier sur un petit terrain que j´ai acquis à cette intention. Je poursuis donc mes recherches, et vous ferez part du résultat acquis, sitôt qu´un peu de satisfaction m´aura été donné par l´étude´ ("On the other hand, I do not give up on continuing my study, which will have forced me to make efforts which, I like to believe, will not be sterile. I had a workshop built on a small piece of land that I acquired for this purpose. I am therefore continuing my research, and you will share the result obtained, as soon as a little satisfaction has been given to me by the study") Paper with a crown drawing watermark. With blank integral leaf. Small overall minor creasing with a tear to the fold edge. G Ambroise Vollard (1866-1939) French art Dealer. One of the most important dealers of his time in French contemporary art. He supported many painters such as Cézanne, Renoir, Gauguin, etc…  

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.

VAN GOGH VINCENT: (1853-1890) Dutch Post-Impressionist painter, one of the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. An extremely rare Autograph Manuscript, unsigned, two pages, 12mo (7 x 9.5 cm), n.p. (England), n.d. (c. October-December 1876). The manuscript, evidently closely clipped from a larger page of a notebook, comprises a complete transcript, in English, of American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's work Afternoon in February, written by Van Gogh is in his small, neat hand in six stanzas of four lines each, commencing 'The day is ending/ The night is descending/ The marsh is frozen/ The river dead' and concluding 'Shadows are trailing/ My heart is bewailing/ And tolling within/ Like a funeral bell'. To the verso appear 29 lines of text in the artist's hand, in Dutch, apparently a religious verse, in small part, 'As a shield and buckler Your truth is offered to me…..Because His soul loves me dearly, That is why God allowed Himself to come here'. Any autograph material by Van Gogh is of exceptional rarity and highly desirable and the present manuscript offers an interesting insight into two areas of particular significance to the artist - literature and religion. Very slightly irregularly trimmed edges, otherwise about EX Van Gogh's love of literature is well documented and, in a letter to his brother Theo dating from June 1880, the artist declared 'I have a more or less irresistible passion for books, and constantly need to instruct myself, to study, if you will, just as I need to eat my bread'.   Van Gogh was an insatiable reader, and greatly admired Shakespeare, Keats, Dickens, Charlotte Bronte, George Eliot and Victor Hugo amongst others, particularly liking authors who could 'paint with words'. Indeed, Van Gogh often made connections between paintings and literary passages, in one letter writing 'There is something of Rembrandt in Shakespeare, of Correggio in Michelet, and of Delacroix in Victor Hugo'.  In 1875 Van Gogh's love of literature clashed with his love of God and this heralded a bout of intense religiosity in which poems were replaced by hymns, and modern authors by the Bible. However, in the following year his letters again illustrate that his reading was not exclusively religious, and he wrote of a continuing interest in art books and poetry, specifically mentioning poems by Longfellow in one letter to Theo of 23rd March 1876.  Van Gogh's love of poetry and literature had a profound effect on him as he fused ideas from literature and painting, a link that was ever present. Whilst Van Gogh absorbed literature with a great passion, and however closely literature and art were entwined in his soul, he never confused the two - books with legible titles are included in portraits and still lifes, but there is not one self-portrait which features books.  In February 1875 Van Gogh wrote that he had filled a commonplace book for Theo with poems that he particularly liked, one of several such albums, some of which have survived today. The present manuscript, however, was pinpointed in April 2020 by the art journalist and Van Gogh specialist Martin Bailey as having originated from an album previously owned by Annie Slade-Jones, Van Gogh's landlady in Isleworth, Middlesex, where he lived while working as a teacher from October to December 1876. The complete volume was sold by Sotheby Parke-Bernet & Co., London, on 29th - 30th April 1980 (Lot 350, £550) when it was described as having approximately 60 entries of excerpts from 'the Bible, citations from romantic writers and transcripts of hymns'. Although Van Gogh's writings were evidently dissected from the album by the purchaser during the 1980s, such manuscript fragments remain extremely rare, and auction records show that only two other similar pieces have appeared at auction since 1980.

TOULOUSE-LAUTREC HENRI DE: (1864-1901) French Painter, Printmaker and Illustrator. Best remembered for his immersion in the colourful and theatrical life of Paris in the late 19th century, producing elegant and provocative images of the decadent affairs of those times. Rare A.L.S., `H.T.Lautrec´, one page, 8vo, grid paper, Paris, 3rd February 1900, in French. Toulouse-Lautrec states `I think that we cannot wish better than what the Daily mail has done. I shake your hand very cordially and thank you for your support on this affair´ Toulouse-Lautrec refers to the English newspaper Daily Mail with which he used to collaborate with sketches and illustrations, and before signing adds in English `Yours truly´. On a post-scriptum to the heading, signed with his initials `H.T.L´, the French painter adds `They have also promised a rectification article, send it to me please´ Overall age wear and creasing, with small staining and few very small tears to the edges. F to G 

TOULOUSE-LAUTREC HENRI DE: (1864-1901) French Painter, Printmaker and Illustrator. Best remembered for his immersion in the colourful and theatrical life of Paris in the late 19th century, producing elegant and provocative images of the decadent affairs of those times. Rare A.L.S., `Henri´, three pages, 8vo, n.p. [Paris], n.d., `Sunday´, to his mother `My dear mum´, in French. Toulouse-Lautrec reports to her mother all the last news, and first refers to the cold weather in Paris, stating in part `J´ai déjeuné ce matin avec Jacques et ma tante… fort cordialement d´ailleurs et avec grand appétit crevés par le froid qui sévit depuis hier sur Paris. J´ai été heureux de remettre mon paletot d´hiver et ai rallumé le feu de mon atelier..´ ("I had lunch this morning with Jacques and my aunt… very cordially by the way and with great appetite, exhausted by the cold which has been raging since yesterday in Paris. I was happy to put on again my winter overcoat and I rekindled the fire in my workshop..") Toulouse Lautrec further refers to an exhibition and to the furnishing of his apartment, saying `Jeudi brilliant vernissage avec trop de monde, mais quelques camarades, en somme bonne journée… Notre ameublement avance à petits pas, tout petits pas..´ ("On Thursday it was a great exhibition opening with too many people, but with some comrades, in sum it was a good journey… Our furnishing is progressing slowly, very slowly..") Before concluding Toulouse Lautrec says goodbye to his mother with an amusing comment `Je vous embrasse sur vos joues gonflées d´asperges, je le suppose du moins…´ ("I kiss you on your cheeks swollen with asparagus, at least I suppose it is so...") A letter in very fine condition. VG  

PICASSO PABLO: (1881-1973) Spanish painter, a co-founder of the Cubist movement. An excellent vintage signed 3 x 4.5 (7 x 11.5 cm) photograph incorporating an original drawing by Picasso, the image depicting the artist in a full-length pose, wearing a pair of white shorts and sandals, standing second in-line alongside two unidentified ladies and a gentleman, and, at the back of the line, Picasso’s eldest child, Paulo Picasso can be seen. The five appear to be standing on a small outdoor stage in what appears to be a restaurant, with a number of empty tables and chairs in the background. Signed (‘Picasso’) in blue fountain pen ink with his surname only at the base of the image. To a clear area at the head of the image Picasso has added a charming, small ink drawing of a dove in flight. A rare and desirable signed photograph. Some very light surface creasing and minor age wear, about VG For Picasso the dove was both an important political symbol and a personal one, and in 1949 he created the lithograph Dove (‘La Colombe’) in an edition of 50 and 5 artist’s proofs. The image, of a white dove on a black background, is widely considered to be a symbol of peace and was used to illustrate a poster at the 1949 Paris Peace Congress. The dove illustrated in the lithograph was actually a Milanese pigeon which had been presented as a gift to Picasso by his friend and fellow artist Henri Matisse.  Provenance: The photograph is accompanied by a Picasso Authentication certificate issued and signed by Claude Ruiz-Picasso dated at Geneva, 25th April 2022.

‘Picasso y yo’DALI SALVADOR: (1904-1989) Spanish surrealist artist. A highly attractive Autograph Statement Signed, Dali, (a large, artistically penned example), one page (stiff off-white card), oblong 4to, n.p., n.d., in Spanish. In bold black ink Dali has penned a brief statement, perhaps reflecting on whom he considers to having been the greatest artists of the 20th century, 'Picasso y yo, Dali'. Each of the letters have been stylishly penned by Dali, effectively creating a piece of art, and some light ink splatters from the nib of his pen only serve to add to the visual appeal. An extremely rare and exceptional example of Dali's autograph, linking the two legendary Spanish artists. Very slightly irregularly cut edges, otherwise VG 

WAIN LOUIS: (1860-1939) English artist, remembered for his drawings featuring anthropomorphized large-eyed cats and kittens. A good pair of A.Ls.S., Louis Wain, four pages (total), 8vo, Bendigo, Westgate on Sea, 26th August and 1st September 1907, each to [Peter] Keary. In the first letter Wain asks his correspondent not to forget about an article for his annual and continues 'By the bye I am sending tonight to Mr. Everett an article on Canada which may interest you as you have I think been that way. The facts were given by a Canadian farmer whose an old friend of mine & worse than I have painted them. The official facts are very bad too'. With blank integral leaf. In the second letter Wain thanks his correspondent for their manuscript, remarking 'it is quite unconventional & out of the ruck if you don't mind me saying so, & just what I strive for for my annual', and further writing 'I am writing a bit of imaginative fancy myself for the annual & I hope to make the whole thing quite out of the way. I touch politics in a very satirical manner too in some drawings. But it is only the upper classes who are satirical in our days, the mass of the people take umbrage at anything which hits them'. Rare. VG, 2 Peter Keary (1865-1915) British editor of TitBits from 1884-90, when, in conjunction with C. Arthur Pearson, he started Pearson's Weekly. The Louis Wain Annual was published between 1901 and 1915. 

BESTALL ALFRED: (1892-1986) British illustrator and writer who submitted Rupert Bear stories for the London Daily Express from 1935-65. A fine, rare original black pen and ink drawing signed by Bestall, on a large 8vo page removed from an autograph album, n.p., n.d. (c.1930s/40s). Bestall has drawn a charming full-length image of Rupert Bear happily walking with a rucksack on his back and wearing his familiar checked trousers and matching scarf. Signed ('A. E. Bestall') by the artist at the foot of his drawing. Some very light, extremely minor age wear and a few very insignificant spots of foxing. VG 

COHL EMILE: (1857-1938) French caricaturist, cartoonist and animator, regarded as 'The Father of the Animated Cartoon'. A.N.S., Emile Cohl, to one side of a plain postcard, n.p. (Paris), n.d. (29th August 1887), in French. Cohl writes 'Faultless tonight - maybe zing!' and confirms that the exact time will be 12h. Hand addressed by Cohl to the verso to Jullien at 28 Rue du Sentier. Rare. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG 

GUIMARD HECTOR: (1867-1942) French architect and designer, a prominent figure of the Art Nouveau style. A rare A.L.S., Hector Guimard, one page, 8vo, Castel Beranger, Rue de la Fontaine (Paris), 6th March 1899, to Monsieur Roulhac (?), in French. Guimard writes to arrange an appointment with his correspondent, in full, 'Pourriez vous passer demain Jeudi Mercredi entre 2h et 3h. Monsieur O. Uzanne m'a parle de vous c'est pourquoi je suis adresse a vous' (Translation: 'Could you drop by tomorrow Thursday Wednesday between 2pm and 3pm. Mr. O. Uzanne told me about you, that's why I am addressing you'). With blank integral leaf. Some light ink blotting, caused by the paper being folded whilst the ink was still a little wet, and with a small, neat tear to the left edge of one fold. About VG Octave Uzanne (1851-1931) French bibliophile, writer, publisher and journalist who took an interest in fashion and femininity in the French fin-de-siecle and collaborated with Symbolists and early Art Nouveau artists. The Castel Beranger, designed by Guimard, is a residential building with thirty-six apartments located in Paris. Built between 1895-98 it was the first residence in Paris built in the Art Nouveau style.  

`…try to put big pins in your ass.. and do not take large scales to weigh cobwebs… There are a thousand occasions when a vaudeville is better than a lament of Jeremiah’VOLTAIRE: (1694-1778) French Enlightenment Writer and Philosopher. Voltaire is a pseudonym, his name being François-Marie Arouet. Voltaire is known for his attacks on Catholic Church, and his advocacy of freedom of religion and expression, and separation of church and state. A very rare Letter Signed by Voltaire with exceptional content. L.S., `V´, also adding `Potsdam, 4th November´ in his hand, three pages, 4to, Potsdam, 4th November, n.y. [1752], to Mr. Formey, in French. Voltaire initiates his letter freely defending his ideas in an ironical way and ridiculing his correspondent´s theories, stating in part `En verité, monsieur, je ne vous croyais pas Suisse. Un illustre théologien de Bâle écrit que milord Bolingbroke a eu la chaude pisse et de là il tire la conséquence evidente que Moïse est l´auteur du Pentateuque. On prétend que de bonnes lois et de bonnes troupes ne valent rien, si l´on n´a pas une foi vive pour les dogmes de Zwingleet d´Ecolampade. Or, comme Titus, Marc-Aurèle, Trajan, Nerva, Julien, etc… avaient le malheur horrible de ne croire pas plus à Zwingle qu´au pape, et que cependant tout allait assez bien de leur temps…´ (Translation: “To be fair, sir, I didn't believe you were Swiss. An illustrious theologian from Basle writes that Lord Bolingbroke had a hot piss and from this he draws the obvious conclusion that Moses is the author of the Pentateuch. It is said that good laws and good troops are worthless if one does not have a lively faith in the dogmas of Zwingle and Ecolampadius. Now, as Titus, Marcus Aurelius, Trajan, Nerva, Julian, etc. had the horrible misfortune of not believing more in Zwingle than in the Pope, and yet everything was going quite well in their time...”) Voltaire further pursues his ferocious attack wrapped in fine literary forms but with crude words and mocking symbols, saying `Le chapelain de milord Chesterfield a pris en bon chrétien la cause de milord Bolingbroke, il l´a défendue dans une lettre pieuse et modeste. La traduction est parvenue ici avec la permission des supérieurs. Le roi a beaucoup ri: faites-en de même. Il paye bien les docteurs et se moque des disputes théologiques, métaphysiques, phoronomiques et dynamiques. Soyez très tranquille, vivez gaiement de l´Evangile et de la philosophie, et laissez les profanes douter de la chronologie de Moïse… essayez de vous mettre de grandes épingles dans le cul… ou plutôt faites-vous embaumer tout vivant, afin de n´attraper que dans sept ou huit cents ans ce point de maturité qui est la mort…´ (“Translation: “The chaplain of milord Chesterfield took as a good Christian the cause of milord Bolingbroke, he defended it in a pious and modest letter. The translation arrived here with the permission of the superiors. The King laughed a lot: do the same. He pays doctors well and doesn't care about theological, metaphysical, phoronomic and dynamic disputes. Be very quiet, live cheerfully from the Gospel and philosophy, and let the profane people doubt on the chronology of Moses... try to put big pins in your ass... or rather have yourself embalmed while alive, in order to only catch up in seven or eight hundred years this point of maturity which is death...”) A lengthy an extremely good content letter by Voltaire who, before concluding, sends two fine and wise statements `Croyez-moi, ne mettez aux choses que leur prix, et ne prenez point de grosses balances pour peser des toiles d´araignées´ (Translation: “Believe me, put only the real price on things, and do not take large scales to weigh cobwebs”), and `Il y a mille occasions où un vaudeville vaut mieux qu´une lamentation de Jérémie´ (Translation: “There are a thousand occasions when a vaudeville is better than a lament of Jeremiah”) Small overall minor age wear, with a small tear to the bottom edge, otherwise G Johann Heinrich Samuel Formey (1711-1797) German Churchman, Educator and Author. A founding member of the Berlin Academy who popularized scientific and philosophical ideas, in French, and contributed to Diderot´s Encyclopédie. Although Formey fought against the ideas of the philosophers, he held for a while an epistolary relationship with Voltaire, who published several articles in Formey´s journal L´Abeille du Parnasse. Formey was best known for his work Anti-Emile, which refuted point by point the ideas of Rousseau on education. Voltaire and Formey were not long in falling out, which we can deduct from the reading of this letter. The present letter discussion comes from the publication of Bolingbroke´s translation of Lettres sur l´Histoire which questioned the authenticity of the bible. In response to it, Formey published Dissertation sur l´Incrédulité an extract of Zimmerman´s Opuscules. King Frederick II of Prussia accorded the privilege of a printed publication response to Voltaire, who wrote Défense de Milord Bolingbroke under the pseudonym “Docteur Goodnatur´d Wellwisher”. Voltaire´s article caused a scandal because of its impiety.The present letter shows several interesting small variations from the published text of Voltaire´s correspondences.   

DICKENS CHARLES: (1812-1870) English novelist. A very fine, extensive A.Q.S., Charles Dickens (an excellent example, with paraph), one page, 4to, n.p., 28th April 1858. Writing in his characteristic blue ink Dickens has neatly penned a twenty-three-line quotation from David Copperfield, in full – -“We had only one check to our pleasure, and that happened a little while before I took my leave, when Miss Mills chancing to makesome allusion to tomorrow morning, I unluckily let out that, beingobliged to exert myself now, I got up at five o’clock. WhetherDora had any idea that I was a Private Watchman, I am unableto say; but it made a great impression on her, and she neitherplayed nor sang any more.“It was still on her mind when I bade her adieu; and shesaid to me in her pretty coaxing way – as if I were a doll, I usedto think:“Now don’t get up at five o’clock, you naughty boy. It’s sononsensical!”“My love”, said I, “I have work to do”“But don’t do it!” returned Dora, “Why should you?”It was impossible to say to that sweet little surprised faceotherwise than lightly and playfully, that we must work to live.“Oh! How ridiculous!” cried Dora“How shall we live without Dora?” said I“How? Anyhow!” said Dora.She seemed to think she had quite settled the question,and gave me such a triumphant little kiss, direct from herinnocent heart, that I would hardly have put her out ofconceit with her answer, for a fortune” –  David Copperfield, by……’  Signed and dated by Dickens at the foot of the quotation. Autograph Quotations Signed by Dickens are extremely rare, and this is a particularly handsome and desirable example, both for the physical size of the paper and length of the quotation. A few light stains to the right edge, only very slightly touching the concluding letters of three words, all of which remain perfectly legible. About VG The present quotation is taken from towards the end of A Little Cold Water, the title of chapter 37 of David Copperfield, published in 1850. The passage illustrates, for the first time, how a shadow is temporarily cast over David’s love for Dora Spenlow, his future wife. Copperfield is deeply in love and does not quite comprehend what the reader sees: Dora, in her present childlike state, unable to cope with the responsibilities of a household, will prove little more than a hindrance to him. Maria Beadnell, Dickens’s first love whom he met in 1830 is thought to have been the model for the character Dora in David Copperfield. Dickens regarded David Copperfield, a largely autobiographical work, as his favourite amongst all the novels he wrote. The quotation was written and signed by Dickens at a significant time in his life, making his choice of passage an interesting one. A year earlier, in 1857, Dickens had fallen in love with the actress Ellen Ternan, and his passion for her was to last the rest of his life. Dickens was increasingly finding his wife, Catherine, to be an incompetent mother and housekeeper, causing him financial worries. In May 1858, after Catherine accidentally received a bracelet meant for Ellen Ternan, Dickens and his wife separated, and Catherine would never see her husband again.  After separating from his wife Dickens undertook a series of hugely popular and remunerative reading tours, and the present quotation was signed during the first such tour, which lasted from April 1858 to February 1859 and consisted of 129 appearances in 49 towns throughout England, Scotland and Ireland. The original manuscript of David Copperfield was bequeathed by Dickens to his friend the biographer and literary critic John Forster (1812-1876), who in turn bequeathed the manuscript (together with other books, pictures and important manuscripts) to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. American Book Prices Current record only three other examples of quotations from David Copperfield signed by Dickens as having appeared at auction in the last 25 years. 

DODGSON CHARLES LUTWIDGE: (1832-1898) Lewis Carroll. English author, poet and mathematician whose works include Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865). A rare signed and inscribed printed leaflet entitled An Easter Greeting to Every Child who Loves Alice, four pages, 12mo, n.p., 11th September 1877. The leaflet takes the form of a letter addressed to Dear Child and was privately printed for the author in Oxford in 1876, the opening text stating 'Please to fancy, if you can, that you are reading a real letter, from a real friend whom you have seen, and whose voice you can seem to yourself to hear wishing you, as I do now with all my heart, a happy Easter'. This first edition first printing is on paper bearing a partial 'E Towgood Fine' watermark and features the word 'My' in Roman type face, instead of italics, at line twelve of the third page. Signed by Carroll with the rarer form of his signature in his characteristic mauve coloured ink to the cover, 'Edith from Lewis Carroll' and dated 11th September 1877 in his hand. A couple of very light, extremely minor creases, otherwise VG Copies of the present leaflet, which have previously been described as 'the rarest of the Carroll items excepting the first issue of Alice', were originally printed with the intention of having them inserted into specially bound presentation copies of The Hunting of the Snark, however Dodgson is also known to have given away individual copies to his young friends, as would appear to have been the case with the present example.

GARCIA LORCA FEDERICO: (1898-1936) Spanish Poet & Dramatist. An iconic figure of the Spanish literature. An extremely rare signed and inscribed 4 x 7 photograph (10.5 x 17.5 cm), the Estudio Rembrandt photograph from Habana showing Lorca in a head and shoulders close-up portrait pose, wearing his bow tie. Signed and inscribed in bold blue fountain pen ink to the bottom right corner `A Jose maria, con un fuerte abrazo de verdadera y vieja amistad´ ("To Jose Maria, with a strong hug of true and old friendship") Bearing to the lower white border the photographer´s studio blind embossed monogram. Autographs of the Spanish Poet are extremely rare in any form following his murder, at the age of 38, by fascist forces during the Spanish Civil War. His remains have never been found. Small overall minor creasing, with very small corner creases, otherwise G

GARCIA LORCA FEDERICO: (1898-1936) Spanish Poet & Dramatist. An iconic figure of the Spanish literature. An extremely rare and excellent A.L.S., `Federico´, two pages, 4to, Madrid, 28th November 1920, to Emilia Llanos, in Granada, in Spanish. A dreamer Lorca writes a letter full of poetical references to his beloved city of Granada which he misses, stating `Yo la veo en medio de ese maravilloso paisaje granadino como la única mujer granadina capaz de sentirlo, y me alegro extraordinariamente de tener una amiga que mire los chopos encendidos y las lejanías desmayadas como si yo las mirase. Que hermosa y que triste estará la carrera del Darro y que nubes habrá por Valparaiso! ¿Verdad? Yo recuerdo a Granada como se deben recordar a las novias muertas y como se recuerda un día de sol cuando niño. ¿Se han caido del todo las hojas?´ (Translation: "I can imagine you in the middle of that wonderful Granada landscape as the only woman of Granada capable of feeling it, and I am extraordinarily happy to have a friend who looks at the light over the poplars and the fading distant landscape as if I were looking at them. How beautiful and how sad the Darro promenade must be and what clouds there will be over Valparaiso! True? I remember Granada as dead brides should be remembered and as one remembers a sunny day as a child. Have the leaves completely fallen?") Lorca further refers to Madrid where he is, saying `…aquí en Madrid ya están los arboles esqueléticos y fríos, solo en algunos queda una hojilla que se mueve con el triste viento como una mariposa de oro´ (Translation: "…here in Madrid the trees are already skeletal and cold, only in some of them there is a leaf that moves with the sad wind like a golden butterfly") Further again Lorca makes an intimate sentiment about his loving feelings `Yo… siendole franco estoy un poco triste, un poco melancólico, siento en el alma la amargura de estar roto de amor. Se que estas melancolías pasarán… pero el rastro ¡queda siempre!´ (Translation: "And me… to be honest with you, I am a little sad, a little melancholic, I feel in my soul the bitterness of being broken with love. I know that these melancholies will pass... but the trace always remains!") Lorca goes on to mention seeing a woman who reminded him of Emilia, and how the woman stopped into an antique shop Emilia would have loved; he finishes by asking Emilia to send him a signed portrait, in payment for which he will send her a poem. An letter of very good content. Accompanied by a cabinet portrait of Emilia seated under a Moorish archway in the Alhambra. Also accompanied by the original envelope addressed in Lorca´s hand, postmarked and stamped. A bold black ink written letter. Edges slightly trimmed, otherwise G to VG The letter was written one year after Lorca arrived in Madrid, at a time when he was just becoming part of an artistic and literary movement which included his friends the pioneer film director Luis Buñuel and the painter Salvador Dali. His first book of poems was to be published in 1921. Lorca met Emilia Llanos, who was ten years older than him, in 1919. They became very close friends at the centre of cultural life in Granada. It has been suggested that they might have married if Lorca´s sexual ambivalence had not stood in the way. Their friendship long lasted and Emilia was of the first to hear the news of Lorca´s death in 1936 after hearing from his mother the news of his arrest two days earlier. Emilia had set off to meet their mutual friend the composer Manuel de Falla with the intention of asking him to intervene on Lorca´s behalf. On her way she met Antonio Gallego Burin, another mutual friend and publisher of Lorca´s first poem in the journal Renovación in 1919, who told Emilia that she should not go as Lorca had already been shot.The present letter is published in Federico Garcia Lorca - Epistolario completo edited by Andrew Anderson and Christopher Maurer, 1997Provenance: Emilia Llanos, Antonio Gallegos Burin, and descents to the present owner.  

ANDERSEN HANS CHRISTIAN: (1805-1875) Danish Author and Poet, famous for his fairy tales. A charming autograph poem, unsigned, one page, 8vo, Rolighed, June 1867, in Danish. Andersen's octave reads, in full, 'Yesterday came a greeting from the coast of Bretland/ It came from the filled warm chest/ to all the loved ones here at home;/ now we send greeting to him today/ It comes with the electric beat of the heart/ and right away he will sense it/ It is only a little wishful span/ from Hamlet's land to Shakespeare's land'. Rare in this form. One corner very slightly neatly clipped, otherwise VG   The final line of Andersen's verse playfully links Denmark with England with its reference to William Shakespeare's longest play, Hamlet.

CHALONER THOMAS: (1521-1565) English poet and statesman, famed for his Latin poetry and military and diplomatic service to four Tudor monarchs, and remembered as the first translator into English of Erasmus's Praise of Folly (1549). A rare ink ownership signature and inscription ('Sum Thomae Chaloneri') and date, 1557, in his hand to the head of the folio title page removed from Wolfgang Lazius's Commentariorum Reipub. Romanae illius, in exteris provincijs, bello acquisitis, constitutae, libri duodecim (1551). Very slightly irregularly trimmed to the margins and with some wormholes, only very slightly affecting the signature, G 

‘But I hope well before the end of the year to have finished Colombe Blanchet and to have you read it’ ALAIN-FOURNIER HENRI: (1886-1914) French author and soldier. A rare A.L.S., H. Alain-Fournier, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d. ('Mardi' c.1913-14), to a lady [Marie Scheikevitch], in French. Alain-Fournier writes a letter of gratitude, and also makes reference to what would have been his second novel, 'Vous m'avez fait grand plaisir en me donnant l'occasion et la possibilitie de voir M. Hebrard. Il m'a propose pour Le Temps ce qu'il etait le plus logique de me proposer: lui apporter mon prochain roman. Ce que j'ai promis bien volontiers. Ce second roman est, pour l'instant, un peu retarde par une nouvelle oeuvre qui s'est mise au travers de ma route et qui ne me laisse pas beaucoup de repit. Mais j'espere bien avant la fin de l'annee avoir termine Colombe Blanchet et vous la faire lire. Je souhaite qu'elle vous plaise et vous prie d'agreer, chere Madame, l'assurance de mes sentiments tres respecteux et reconnaissants' (Translation: 'You gave me great pleasure by giving me the opportunity and the possibility of seeing M. Hebrard. He offered me for Le Temps what it was most logical to offer me: bring him my next novel. What I gladly promised. This second novel is, for the moment, a little delayed by a new work which has gotten in my way and which does not leave me much respite. But I hope well before the end of the year to have finished Colombe Blanchet and to have you read it. I hope you like it and please accept, dear Madame, the assurance of my most respectful and grateful feelings'). With blank integral leaf (one light stain). Autograph letters of Alain-Fournier are rare as a result of his death at the young age of 27 when killed in action during World War I. VG Marie Scheikevitch (1882-1964) Artist and autobiographer who moved in artistic and literary circles and was a close friend of Marcel Proust. Like Alain-Fournier, her lover Adrien Hebrard (1833-1914) French journalist and politician, director of Le Temps, died during World War I. Alain-Fournier's second novel, Colombe Blanchet, was started in 1914 but remained unfinished when he joined the army as a lieutenant in August.  Provenance: The present letter was previously held within the Albin Schram Collection of Autograph Letters, sold by Christie's in July 2007.  

SAINT-EXUPERY ANTOINE DE: (1900-1944) French Writer, Poet and pioneering Aviator. Saint-Exupery was a French aristocrat who became a laureate of several France's highest literary awards and is best remembered for his novella The Little Prince (“Le Petit Prince”) (1943), and for his lyrical aviation writings, including Night Flight (1931) and Wind, Sand and Stars (1939). Rare and excellent Autograph Manuscript, two full lengthy pages with small writing, 4to, yellow paper, n.p., n.d. [1938], in French. The seventy-five lines manuscript being his annotations and draft for his novel Wind, Sand and Stars (“Terre des Hommes”). Saint-Exupery, in his usual very difficult and small writing, annotates these first thoughts draft which will be used in the seventh chapter of his famous collection of autobiographical essays which is Wind, Sand and Stars, evoking a series of events in his life, mainly from the time when he worked for the airmail service. The central element of this story being his accident with his navigator André Prévot in the Libyan Sahara in 1935, where the two aviators nearly died of thirst.The manuscript contains several corrections and its final publication will include some changes to the present unpublished text. Saint-Exupery numbers each page to the upper left corner as `I´ and `II´, stating in part `Tel est le desert. Un Coran, qui n´est qu´une règle de jeu, en change de sable en Empire. Au fond d´un Sahara qui serait vide, se joue une pièce secrète, qui remue les passions des hommes. La vraie vie du désert n´est pas faite d´exodes de tribus à la recherche d´une herbe à paître, mais du jeu qui s´y joue encore. Quelle différence de matière entre le sable soumis et l´autre! Et n´en est-il pas ainsi pour tous les hommes? En face de ce désert transfiguré qui me souviens des jeux de mon enfance…´ (“Such is the desert. A Koran, which is only a rule of the game, changes sand into an Empire. At the bottom of a Sahara that would be empty, a secret play is being played out, which stirs the passions of men. The real life of the desert is not made of exodus of tribes in search of grass to graze, but of the game that is still played there. What a difference in matter between the submitted sand and the other one! And is it not so for all men? In front of this transfigured desert which reminds me the games of my childhood…”) A manuscript of very interesting content. Creasing to the bottom right corner of the first page, with a small stain to the bottom edge of same page, otherwise G Terre des Hommes (“Wind, Sand and Stars”) was finally published in France in February 1939, and was awarded with the Grand Prix of the French Academy. The novel would be published in US few months later, in June 1939.

FITZGERALD F. SCOTT: (1896-1940) American novelist whose works include The Great Gatsby (1925). A rare D.S., F Scott Fitzgerald, one page, 4to, Hollywood, California, 13th April 1939. The typed document is issued by Paramount Pictures Inc. and relates to Fitzgerald's proposed services 'as a writer in connection with the screenplay of the motion picture photoplay tentatively entitled Air Raid for the period commencing March 27, 1939 and ending April 12, 1939, both dates inclusive, for a total compensation of One Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($1200)' and that Fitzgerald acknowledges receipt of the payment. A light black ink cross runs through the text and one thin line runs through the centre of the signature, both most likely applied by Fitzgerald himself and certainly in the same ink as the signature. A few very light, minor creases, otherwise VG The present contract, drawn up six weeks after Fitzgerald was hired by Paramount, refers to the rewrites he was initially asked to complete, and above all confirms that the finished product was delivered.

FITZGERALD F. SCOTT: (1896-1940) American novelist whose works include The Great Gatsby (1925). A rare T.L.S., Scott Fitzgerald, one page, 4to, n.p. (California), 20th October 1939, to [Isabel] Horton. Fitzgerald informs his landlady 'Things are still so very uncertain with me that I am sending you a check (no longer present) for $102.50 for the rent from October 19 to November 3rd. If things have straightened up then, I would of course like to continue on here' and concludes 'Thank you for your kindness the other day. I was really rather at my wit's end'. Some very light, minor age toning and a few extremely light creases, about VG Struggling financially amid the Great Depression, Fitzgerald had moved to California and embarked on an (unsuccessful) career as a screenwriter. Whilst in California he rented a home from Isabel Horton, the sister of actor Edward Everett Horton, in Encino. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer had terminated Fitzgerald's contract in early 1939 and whilst working as a freelance screenwriter he suffered an alcoholic relapse and his failure in Hollywood pushed him to return to drinking, consuming nearly forty beers a day in 1939. 

BECQUEREL ANTOINE HENRI: (1852-1908) French Physicist. Becquerel is credited as the first person to discover evidence of radioactivity. Awarded for his works in this field with the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903, together with Marie and Pierre Curie. A rare A.L.S., Henri Becquerel, two pages, 8vo, n.p., 22nd December 1889, to Monsieur Pingard, in French. Becquerel states in part `Mon père a été oblige de repartir subitement auprès de ma mère qui est de nouveau très gravement malade. Je le rejoins demain, de sorte que je ne pourrai pas assister à la séance de l´accadémie des Sciences…´ ("My father had to suddenly go back to my mother who is very seriously ill again. I'm joining him tomorrow, so I won't be able to attend the session of the Academy of Sciences...") Becquerel further kindly asks his correspondent to send his own entrance passes, and the ones of his father too, to `… en les adressant au chateau da la jacqueminière par Courtenay..´ With blank integral leaf. Paper with an Original Casren Mill watermark. VG 

CURIE MARIE: (1867-1934) French Physicist and Chemist, Nobel Prize winner for Physics, 1903, with her husband Pierre Curie, and Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry, 1911. The first person to be honoured with two Nobel prizes. A very interesting and rare D.S., M. Curie, as director of the laboratory, one page, folio, Paris, 20th July 1931, on the printed stationery of the ''Institut Du Radium - Laboratoire Curie - 1, Rue Pierre-Curie, Paris'' in French. The partially printed document being a Certificate of ''Dosage de Radium par le Rayonnement'' (''Radium Dosage by Radiation''), and refers to all the tests done to the samples received from the Belgium Radium on 1st of July and returned on 21st of July, with hand-written annotations referring to thickness, gamma radiations, weight, etc… This radium came from the Belgium mines in Katanga, Belgium Congo, and at today´s date the Democratic Republic of Congo. An excellent document of good association. Extremely small creases to some corners, otherwise about EX   

MAUVAIS VICTOR : (1809-1854) French Astronomer and Politician. Mauvais won the Lalande Prize in 1843 for the discovery of comet C/1843. He is credited with several more comet discoveries. Mauvais committed suicide at the age of 45, leaving unfinished an important work on the determination of the positions of the most important stars. Rare and very important A.L.S., `V. Mauvais´, one page, 4to, Paris, 9th July 1844, to Monsieur De Vico, an Italian colleague, Astronomer, and Director of the Observatory of the Roman College, in French. To the heading, Mauvais writes from `Observatoire de Paris´, and reports to his correspondent about his very important and recent discovery, stating in part `J´ai l´honneur de vous annoncer que dans la nuit de Dimanche à Lundi dernier j´ai découvert une comète dans la constellation d´Hercule´ (`I have the honour to announce to you that during the night of last Sunday to Monday I discovered a comet in the constellation of Hercules..´ Mauvais further lists his observations and positions, with numbers and degrees, and underlining `En composant ces deux positions on conclut le mouvement Diurne suivant..´ (`By composing these two positions we conclude the following Diurnal movement…´) He further again adds some doubts on one of his conclusions and explains why. A letter of extremely interesting astronomy content. With address leaf bearing two postmarks. G to VG 

BUFFON COMTE DE: (1707-1788) Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon. French Naturalist and Mathematician. Widely regarded as the father of natural history in the 18th century, being one of the first to recognize ecological succession and animal evolution, although forced to recant his theories because they contradicted the Biblical narrative. Buffon was also at the head of the “Jardin du Roi”, now called the “Jardin des plantes”. A rare and excellent A.L.S., Buffon, one page, 4to, at the Jardin du Roi (“King´s garden”), Paris, 26th April 1776, to M. Baillot de Dijon, in French. A very cleanly written letter by Buffon, stating in part `Je vous dois de nouveaux remerciements pour les belles stances que vous m'avez envoyées. Je ne suis pas surpris de l'applaudissement qu'elles ont reçues, votre heureux talent s'y est déployé avec autant de grâce que de force. Je crois néanmoins que vous aurez supprimé les deux dernières strophes trop exclusives pour la gloire et qui pourraient faire une guerre civile littéraire entre la ville de Dijon et nos autres villes capitales…´ (“I owe you new thanks for the beautiful stanzas you sent me. I am not surprised at the applause they received, your great talent was displayed there with as much grace as strength. I nevertheless believe that you will have deleted the last two verses which are too exclusive for glory and which could lead to a literary civil war between the city of Dijon and our other capital cities…”) With address leaf to the verso in Buffon´s hand, bearing remnants of a red wax seal. Small area of paper loss to the address leaf as a result of the letter opening. About VG 

GILLES DE LA TOURETTE GEORGES: (1857-1904) French neurologist and the namesake of Tourette syndrome, whose main contributions in medicine were in the fields of hypnotism and hysteria. A rare A.L.S., Gilles de la Tourette, one page, 8vo, Paris, 14th November 1900, to 'Mon cher Maitre', in French. Gilles de la Tourette forwards a letter (no longer present) which he has received that evening from Monsieur Demagny and continues to remark 'Je l'en remercie et moi meme je vous escire un mot a M. Lavy que je connais particulrement et au quel j'en ai d'ailleurs deja parle. Je serais bien heureux si ca recesessant' (Translation: 'I thank him for it and I myself am writing you a note to M. Lavy, whom I know particularly and to whom I have already spoken about it. I would be very happy if it resumed….' With blank integral leaf. Autograph letters of Gilles de la Tourette, who was shot in the neck in 1893, are rare as a result of his untimely death at the age of 46 after having been committed to the Lausanne Psychiatric Hospital. A couple of light creases, otherwise VG 

 ‘….taking just enough to enable the bone to be replaced:antiseptic management being of course assured’ LISTER JOSEPH: (1827-1912) British surgeon, a pioneer of antiseptic surgery. A fine A.L.S., Joseph Lister, four pages, 8vo, Park Crescent, Portland Place, 27th July 1885, to a gentleman. Lister apologises for his late reply ('I have been rather oppressed with professional engagements lately') and continues to inform his correspondent 'I am sorry to say I do not see much probability of success from attempts to lever the bones into position. I should be disposed to make one incision at each side of the dorsal aspect of the joint, avoiding the exterior tendons, then…..endeavour to ease off the tendons…..from the head of the metacarpal bone, which they probably now embrace, and having done this, have them held strongly aside by means of small blunt hooks so as to allow the head of the metacarpal bone to slip backwards between them. If I failed in this, I should take off the end of the 1st phalangeal bone by means of small chisel, or small cutting pliers or both, taking just enough to enable the bone to be replaced: antiseptic management being of course assured'. Autograph letters by Lister discussing medical procedures, and making reference to antiseptic, are surprisingly rare. Some light age wear and a few minor traces of former mounting, otherwise VG 

LAENNEC RENE: (1781-1826) French physician who invented the stethoscope in 1816 and pioneered its use in diagnosing various chest conditions. A rare A.L.S., Laennec, two pages, small 4to, n.p., 12th January 1811, to his father ('Mon cher papa'), in French. Laennec acknowledges that he has received his father's latest letter and box, declaring 'Je vous fais mille remerciements, vous ne pouviez me faire un present plus agreable que celui la' (Translation: 'I give you a thousand thanks, you could not give me a more pleasant present than this one'), further adding that he will have a crucifix repaired and remarking 'Cela serait deja fait sans les occupations et les embarras ou je me trouve depuis trois semaines et qui m'ont empeche egalement de vous offrir plutot les voeux que je fais pour que cette nouvelle annee soit plus heureuse pour vous et par conseequent pour nous tous que celle qui vient de s'ecouler' (Translation: 'This would already have been done without the occupations and the discomfitures in which I have been for three weeks and which have also prevented me from offering you the wishes that I am making so that this New Year will be more happy for you and consequently for all of us than the one that has just passed'), and continuing to write 'Le principal de ces embarras est le depart prochain du Cardinal pour Rennes. Il m'a propose de m'emmener avec lui jusques la. Ce projet me plait beaucoup. Je serais fort aise d'aller voir un peu s'il n'y a pas moyen de faire finir promptement l'etat de gene dans lequel je me trouve et qui m'empeche de faire mes voeux ce que je desirerais. Mais mille raisons trop longues a deduire me retiennent ici. La plus forte est la difficulte d'arracher a ceux qui me doivent de quoi faire ce voyage. Si je puis lever celle la, je romprai toutes les autres entraves. Ainsi il n'est pas impossible que j'aye sous peu le plaisir de vous embrasser. Je vous embrasse dans cette esperance et je finis promptement: car quoique je ne sache encore pas si je partirai, je fais toutes mes dispositions comme si j'en etais sur et je n'ai pas de temps a perdre.' (Translation: 'The principal of these discomfitures is the imminent departure of the Cardinal for Rennes. He offered to take me with him there….I would be very happy to go and see if there is not a way of quickly ending the state of embarrassment in which I find myself and which prevent me from fulfilling the wishes that I would like. But a thousand reasons too long to deduce keep me here. The strongest is the difficulty of snatching from those who owe me money to make this trip. If I can lift this one, I will break all the other shackles. So it is not impossible that I will shortly have the pleasure of kissing you. I embrace you in this hope….for although I do not yet know if I will leave, I am making all my arrangements as if I were sure of it and I have no time to lose'). With address panel in Laennec's hand. Autograph letters of Laennec are rare as a result of his untimely death from tuberculosis at the age of 45. A couple of very light, small circular stains (caused by the original seal) only very slightly affecting a few words of text which remain perfectly legible, otherwise VGLaennec was intensely religious and was a devout Catholic all of his life, and has been described as a sincere Christian who adhered to his religion and was a man of the greatest probity, habitually observant of his religious and social duties; all qualities which are illustrated in the present letter.

Einstein signs his scientific equations, noting that they are ‘From the graveyard of buried hopes’ EINSTEIN ALBERT: (1879-1955) German-born theoretical physicist, Nobel Prize winner for Physics, 1921. A very fine, rare Autograph Manuscript Signed, Albert Einstein, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d. The working manuscript, penned in bold, dark fountain pen ink, features over ten lines of scientific equations and calculations in his hand, with just one line of German text. Signed by Einstein with his full signature at the foot of the page, adding a line of text in his hand, in German, immediately beneath, 'Aus dem Friedhofe begrabener Hoffnungen' (Translation: 'From the graveyard of buried hopes'). Together with Elsa Einstein (1876-1936) Cousin and the second wife of Albert Einstein, married from 1919-36. T.L.S., Elsa Einstein, one page, 8vo, Bayard Lane, Princeton, 20th October 1933, to a lady ('Chere madame'), most probably Juliette Adant, wife of Professor Arthur de Groodt, on the printed stationery of the Peacock Inn, in French. Einstein writes 'C'est avec beaucoup de plaisir que je vous retourne les petits feuilles signes. Mon mari vous remercie pour les aimables lignes que vous lui avez ecris' (Translation: 'It is with great pleasure that I return the small, signed sheets to you. My husband thanks you for the kind lines you wrote to him') and adds that they have only been in America for a few days, observing 'Princeton est une  petite Universite d'une grande charme en style anglais, une vraie copie d'Oxford. Nous sommes encore dans un hotel, mais en peu de temps nous demenageons dans une maison, qui est situee excessivement belle au milieu des grands jardins avec une vue splendide. Nous avons loues cette maison pour une demie annee. Nous voulons mener ici une vie surtout calme et tres loin de chaque publicite. Le professeur ne veut rien que faire son travail scientifique' (Translation: 'Princeton is a charming little university in the English style, a true copy of Oxford. We are still in a hotel, but in a short time we will move into a house, which is exceedingly beautifully located in the middle of large gardens and with a splendid view. We have rented this house for half a year. We want to lead a mostly calm life here and very far from publicity. The professor wants nothing but to do his scientific work'), further thanking her correspondent for all of their kindness, and also for offering to keep a trunk and small suitcase in their home until they return next year, 'Je vous remercie de tout mon coeur pour cette faveur. La malle contient des choses, qui sont de grande importance pour moi' (Translation: 'I thank you with all of my heart for this favour. The trunk contains things which are of great importance to me'). Whilst Einstein clearly created many such pages of scientific formulae during his career, they remain highly sought after by collectors, and signed examples are of exceptional rarity. Furthermore, the present example is greatly enhanced by both Einstein's handwritten observation (reflecting on the possibility of what he wished to have achieved with his calculations) and the fine accompanying letter of provenance from Elsa Einstein. Some very light, minor creasing to the page of calculations and a couple of very small, neat tears to the edges, one only very slightly affecting one small part of an equation. VG, 2Juliette De Groodt-Adant (1892-1964) Belgian writer, wife of the Flemish doctor Arthur de Groodt (1883-1952).  In March 1933 Albert and Elsa Einstein returned to Europe from America and learned that Hitler had seized power and that the Gestapo had raided their Berlin apartment, confiscating many possessions. Landing in Antwerp, Belgium, Albert Einstein immediately visited the German consulate and surrendered his passport, formally renouncing his German citizenship. At the invitation of Arthur de Groodt and his wife (who counted Rabindranath Tagore amongst their friends) Albert and Elsa Einstein stayed for a few days at Cantecroy Castle before Juliette De Groodt-Adant suggested that they hire two cottages in De Haan, the Villa Savoyarde for the Einsteins and the Maisonette for themselves. The Einstein's stayed in the West Flanders municipality for six months before departing for London in September 1933.  On 3rd October 1933, Einstein delivered a speech on the importance of academic freedom before a packed audience at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Four days later he returned to America with his wife and took up a position at the Institute for Advanced Study, noted for having become a refuge for scientists fleeing Nazi Germany. Einstein's association with the Institute at Princeton University would last until his death in 1955.  

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.

MALUS ETIENNE-LOUIS: (1775-1812) French Officer, Engineer, Physicist and Mathematician. Malus participated in Napoleon´s expedition to Egypt. He is best-remembered for Malus´s law. Member of the Academy of Sciences, awarded by the Royal Society of London, Malus important mathematical work mostly related to the study of light. He is credited with the discoveries of the polarization of light by reflection and for his theory of double refraction. Malus died at the early age of 36. Very rare D.S., `Malus´, and adds beneath `Chef de B.[ataill]on du génie´, ("Engineer´s Battalion Chief"), one page, oblong folio, Cairo, Egypt, 19th June 1800, in French. The partially printed document, being a receipt of payment from the National Treasury, with the heading of the Army of Egypt. Malus acknowledges receipt of three hundred and seventy five Pounds. Overall age wear and staining, mostly to borders, with edges slightly trimmed. About G

‘I would not have been so rudely offended by the rigorous application of the law of the last Budget’ LEGENDRE ADRIEN-MARIE: (1752-1833) French mathematician who made numerous contributions to mathematics. A fine, rare A.L.S., Legendre, two pages, small 4to, Paris, 19th December 1817, to the members of the Royal Commission of Public Instruction, in French. Legendre writes following an ordinance of the King relating to the pensions of former members of the Council of the university, stating that he has received their extract of the ordinance and remarking 'Puisqu'une ordonnance du Roy etoit necessaire pour rendre special le tire de chaque pension, peut etre auriez-vous pu profiter de cette circonstance, Messieurs, pour solliciter en notre faveur une interpretation de l'ordonnance du 17 fevrier 1815, qu'eut designe nos pensions par le meme mot dont M. de Fontanes a si heureusement profite, pour empecher que sa pension de 30,000 fr. fut reduite comme les notres a 6000' (Translation: 'Since an ordinance from the King was necessary to make the drawing of each special pension, perhaps you could have taken advantage of this circumstance, gentlemen, to solicit in our favour an interpretation of the ordinance of 17th February 1815, which would have been designated by the same word which M. de Fontanes so happily took advantage of to prevent his pension of 30,000 francs being reduced like ours to 6000') and concluding 'Nous aurions aussi connu le pouvoir d'un mot mis a sa place, et en mon particulier je n'aurois pas ete aussi rudement froisse de l'application rigoureuse de la loi du dernier Budget' (Translation: 'We would also have known the power of a word put in its place, and in my particular case I would not have been so rudely offended by the rigorous application of the law of the last Budget'). With integral address leaf in Legendre's hand. A few contemporary ink annotations in an unidentified hand appear at the head of the first page. VGLouis-Marcelin de Fontanes (1757-1821) Marquis de Fontanes. French poet and politician, commissioned by Napoleon to write a eulogy on George Washington. Fontanes was the lover of Napoleon's sister, Elisa Bonaparte, for several years and the liaison assured him of his fortune. In 1808 Napoleon appointed Fontanes as Grand Master of the University of Paris, a post he held until 1815. Fontanes was accused of servility to Napoleon, although did consistently support religious and monarchical principles and it was therefore easy to foresee the joy with which Fontanes greeted the return of King Louis XVIII at the Restoration. The King rewarded him with a seat in the Chamber of Peers and also made him a Marquis on 31st August 1817. He had already been a Count since 1808 by the grace of the Emperor.  

POINCARÉ HENRI: (1854-1912) French Mathematician, Physician and Engineer. A Polymath widely regarded as ''The Last Universalist''. Poincaré was the first person to discover a chaotic system which laid the foundations of modern chaos theory. Rare A.L.S., `Poincaré´, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d., to a comrade, in French. Poincaré states `Ne pensez-vous pas comme moi qu´il serait temps de s´occuper de la question de la rémunération du travail de dépouillement des recueils, question dont je vous parlais dans ma dernière lettre. Y avez-vous réfléchi?´ (“Don´t you think, like me, that it is time to deal with the question of remuneration for the work of counting the collections, a question which I spoke to you about in my last letter. Have you thought about it?”) VG

DROVETTI BERNARDINO: (1776-1852) Italian-born French Diplomat, Politician, Archaeologist and antiquities collector. Drovetti is best-remembered for his acquisition of the Turin Royal Canon and for his Egyptian discoveries. He remains a controversial figure for his unscrupulous behaviour in his conduct towards his discoveries in Egypt. Rare and lengthy A.L.S., `Drovetti´, three pages, 4to, Alexandria, 24th May 1804, to Monsieur Pierre Balthalas in Marseille, in French. The letter bears the printed heading "B. Drovetti, Chief of squadron, vice-Commissar of the Commercial Relations at Alexandria in Egypt". Drovetti commences his letter saying that he has to send the same letter three times without the guarantee that it is delivered, and expects that one will reach his correspondent, and complains about the clothes purchase he did, stating `… Les pantalons et culottes dans la façon desquelles j´avais bien recommandé de ne pas suivre la mode ridicule de nos jours, sont tellement hauts, et si mal coupés sur le devant qu´il me serait imposible de satisfaire au besoin d´uriner sans me déshabiller completement…´ (" The trousers and pants, in the way that I had recommended not to follow the ridiculous fashion of our days, are so high, and so badly cut to the front that it would be impossible for me to satisfy the need to urinate without completely undressing") Drovetti further refers again to his multiple letters not reaching the addressees, and comments `I have received right now a letter of my brother from Livorno, who reports to me that the General Murat asked him and General Menou in Tunisia about me, when I have been writing regularly to this good General..´ Further again Drovetti makes a very interesting report on the political and military difficult situation they are living in Egypt, stating in part `… les mamelouks associés a des hordes nombreuses d´Arabes sont a peu de distance du Caire, et empechent qu´il n´y arrive aucune espece de comestibles…. Si cela continue ainsi, une famine sera inevitable, et cette malheureuse capitale será livrée a toutes les horreurs d´une guerre intestine, car il y a tout apparence que les Beys s´en empareront de Nouveau et y exerceront des vengeances… le pillage de la ville será accordé aux Arabes en récompense de leurs travaux militaires´ ("…the mamluks associated with numerous hordes of Arabs are at a short distance from Cairo, and prevent any kind of eatables from arriving there…. If it continues thus, a famine will be inevitable, and this unfortunate capital will be delivered to all the horrors of an internal war, because there is every likelihood that the Beys will seize it again and will exert revenges there... the plunder of the city will be granted to the Arabs as a reward for their military support..") Before concluding Drovetti reports on a Turkish naval squadron they are waiting for, which will defend their position at Cairo and states `On ne peut d´apres ce tableau faire que des présages tres funestes sur le sort de ce malheureux pays..´ ("Under these circumstances, we can only make very dire omens about the fate of this unfortunate country") A letter of very interesting content. Including full transcription. Paper with watermark. Small professional repair to the centre fold, otherwise G 

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. 

[BRONTE CHARLOTTE]: (1816-1855) English novelist and poet. The personal printed oblong 12mo Visiting Card of Charlotte Bronte, unsigned, featuring her printed name ('Mrs. Arthur B. Nicholls') to the centre. An extremely rare piece of printed ephemera related to Bronte. Some light overall age wear, about VG Arthur Bell Nicholls (1819-1906) British curate, husband of Charlotte Bronte for the last nine months of her life June 1854 to March 1855.