We found 209236 price guide item(s) matching your search

SHAKUR TUPAC: (1971-1996) American rapper. A rare D.S., Tupac A Shakur, being a signed cheque, Los Angeles, California, 1st September 1996. The partially printed cheque, completed in an unidentified hand, is drawn on the City National Bank and made payable to the rapper's mother, Afeni Shakur, for the sum of $1500. Signed by Shakur in bold black ink, a bank cancellation only very slightly affecting the first letter of his signature. Also signed ('Afeni Shakur') by Afeni Shakur in black ink with her name alone in the form of an endorsement to the verso. Autographs of Shakur are rare in any form, and the present cheque was signed less than a week before the rapper was shot by an unidentified assailant in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, which led to Shakur's death, at the age of 25, six days later. One extremely light, very minor vertical crease to the centre, otherwise about EX Afeni Shakur (1947-2016) American political activist and member of the Black Panther Party. Mother of Tupac Shakur and the executor of his estate. 

ROUSSEAU JEAN-JACQUES: (1712-1778) French philosopher, writer and composer who influenced the progress of the Age of Enlightenment throughout Europe. A fine, rare Autograph Musical Manuscript Signed (with his initials, 'E.59 JJR. cop'), twenty pages (including title page), oblong folio, n.p., 1st June 1777. The musical manuscript is entitled 'Che faro Senza Euridice, Aria del Sigr. Ferdinando Bertoni', each page comprising ten staves traced by hand in a pale ink, the musical notes for the aria attractively penned in a darker ink for two parts violin ('Violini'), two parts oboe ('Oboe'), two parts horn ('Corni'), two parts viola ('Viole') and the voice part ('Orfeo') with lyrics penned in Rousseau's hand, the indications of movement ('Andantino', 'Presto', 'Andno' etc.), as well as the indications of intensity and nuance, all penned in red ink. Each measure is divided in the middle by a very light vertical pencil line. With four blank pages of staves at the conclusion, the whole tied with a small pale blue ribbon. An elegant manuscript which still retains Rousseau's light pencil annotation ('19p. a 8S - 7L12') at the head of the title page, indicating the price charged for this copy. Some very light, minor staining and foxing throughout, a few small pinholes to the title page, and one page with a small area of paper loss to the lower right corner, only very minimally affecting the manuscript. G Ferdinando Bertoni (1725-1813) Italian composer and organist who composed 70 operas, all of which fell into oblivion with the exception of Orfeo which was first performed in Venice in 1776. The work was based on the same libretto for the work of Christoph Willibald Gluck entitled Orfeo ed Euridice. The aria Rousseau copied is the most famous of the opera; in the third act, Orfeo mourns the loss of Euridice: 'Che faro senza Euridice'.  In his autobiographical work Confessions (Volume VIII) Rousseau recounted how, in 1751, he ceased working for Dupin de Francueil and started working as a professional music copyist in order to provide a consistent and reliable source of income. In September 1770 he resumed his work as a music copyist and practiced it until 1777, charging ten sols per page. Rousseau's work as a music copyist has been described as remarkable for its beauty and reliability and in his Dictionary of Music Rousseau argued in favour of the superiority of copied music over engraving, observing 'It is of great importance that music should be correctly and neatly copied….the understanding of a difficult piece of music depends greatly on the manner of its being copied…...the most ingenious copier is he whose music is executed with the most ease…..I must primarily suppose that the copier is possessed of all the knowledge necessary to his profession…..As written music, particularly in partition, is made to be read by concertants at a distance, the chief thing to be observed by the copier, is to make use of the convenient materials for rendering his notes most neat and legible. For this reason he should choose strong fair paper….the ink ought to be very black, without either gloss or gum; the ruling neat, equal, and well fixed, but not so black as the notes; on the contrary, the lines should be rather pale, so that the crotchets, double crotchets, pauses, and other smaller signs may not be confounded with them, and that the note may be expressed the fuller. The paleness of the lines, far from preventing the music to be read at a fixed distance, on the contrary, assists it by its neatness, and tho' the line should now and then escape the sight for a moment, the position of the notes very often of itself denotes it. The ruling of the paper is but an useless labour. If the copier would gain himself credit, let him rule his paper himself…..There are several intermediaries between what the composer plans, and what the audience hear. 'Tis the duty of the copier to connect these two terms as near as possible, to mark with precision every thing which should be done, that the music when executed may render to the composer's ear, exactly what was plann'd within his head at the time of the composition'.  

BIZET GEORGES: (1838-1875) French Composer. A rare and very fine A.L.S., Georges Bizet, three pages, 8vo, n.p. [Saint Gratien], n.d. [summer 1869], [to Louis-Godefroy Jadin], in French. Bizet sends an unusual and very interesting letter during his honeymoon, and in a poetic way initiates his letter stating in part `Tes lettres sentent le soleil. Ici, nous avons un demi beau temps, un soleil honteux, peureux, un soleil qui a beaucoup de choses sur la conscience. Je voudrais bien pouvoir emporter ma Geneviève mais il faut attendre. Nous sommes toujours et nous serons toujours heureux ici. et enchantés de te faire une place à côté de nous´ (“Your letters smell of the sun. Here we have half good weather, a shameful sun, fearful sun, a sun that has a lot on its conscience. I would like to be able to take my Geneviève with me, but we have to wait. We are always and will always be happy here, and delighted to make room for you next to us”) Bizet further refers to his composition works, saying `Je travaille à me crever. Pasdeloup s'est enthousiasmé pour le Noé d'Halévy - il a fallu signer un traité et m'engager à lui remettre l'ouvrage acte par acte, à des époques très rapprochées. - Je n'en dors plus. - Il faut lui donner le 1er acte le 15 7bre - le 2d 30 7bre - le 3me 15 8bre le 4me 31 8bre. - Le 4me est à composer en entier - il y a pas mal à faire dans les autres et le 1er seul est instrumenté par Halévy. - Tu vois quelle charrette !´ (“I am working to exhaustion. Pasdeloup was enthusiastic about Halévy´s Noé - I had to sign a contract agreement and commit myself to handing over the work to him, act by act, at very close intervals. - I can't sleep anymore. - He must be given the 1st act on 15th September - the 2nd 30th September - the 3rd 15 October the 4th 31 October.  The 4th is to be composed in full - there is a lot to do in the others and only the 1st is instrumented by Halévy.´ Further again Bizet make fun of Auguste Mermet (1810-1889) a French Opera composer, who is completing his opera Jeanne d´Arc (1876), and also refers to his forthcoming good times saying `…Bref, les affaires vont marcher. Je vais habiter un charmant appartement´ (“…In short, business will work. I will live in a charming apartment”) At the conclusion and beneath Bizet´s signature, his wife Genevieve adds fifteen lines of a friendly message. Small overall creasing, otherwise G 

SPONTINI GASPARE: (1774-1851) Italian Composer & Conductor, a favourite of Napoleon Bonaparte. A rare A.L.S., Spontini, two pages, 4to, Paris, 11th August 1810, to Monsieur Tacchinardi, in French. The letter bears the printed heading of ` Spontini, Compositeur particulier de la chambre de Sa Majesté l´Impératrice et Reine´ (Translation : ``Spontini, personal Composer of Her Majesty the Empress and Queen´´). Spontini makes a proposal to his correspondent and singer, stating in part `Stimattissimo Signor Tacchinardi, D´ordine di S. E. il primo Cianbellano dell´Imperatore e soprintendente de Teatri Imperiali, rispondo alla vostra risposta…´ (``Translation: Dear Mr. Tacchinardi, by Order of H.E. the first Chamberlain of the Emperor and superintendent of the Imperial Theaters, I answer to your response...´´) Spontini further refers to a monetary contract offer, saying `Supponendo adunque, all´amministrazione di questo Imperial Teatro, dico  da parte di Sua Eccelenza, , che per cantar nel Teatro Imperiali di Cittá, e della Corte vi si offrono per un anno diciotto mila lire, ed una serata di benefizio, che potete valutare per quattro e piu mila franchi…´ (Translation : ``Assuming, therefore, that a decision of yours has made you dictate such unalterable and harsh laws to be applied to the administration of this Imperial Theater, I say on behalf of His Excellency, that in order to sing in the Teatro Imperiali di Città, and of the Court, we offer you for a year eighteen thousand lire, and a benefit evening, which you can evaluate at four thousand francs and more...´´) Before concluding Spontini comments a concert event at Fontainebleau, saying `…un viaggio a Fontainebleau, ed in questa occasione i primi talenti sono gratificati di quattro a sei mile lire…´ (Translation : ``…a trip to Fontainebleau, and on this occasion the main talents will be awarded with four to six thousand lire…´´) With address leaf to `Monsieur Tacchinardi, Chanteur très renommé au théatre´ (Translation : ``Monsieur Tacchinardi, very renowned Singer at the theatre´´) Bearing a red wax seal. Overall minor age wear and creasing, otherwise GSpontini refers to Napoleon I when mentioning the Emperor and to Joséphine as Composer of the Empress.

ROSSINI GIOACHINO: (1792-1868) Italian Composer. Rare A.M.Q.S., Gioachino Rossini, one page, oblong folio manuscript paper, Florence, 3rd June 1853. In bold dark fountain pen ink, Rossini has neatly penned a quotation for piano forte comprising ten bars of music across two staves, with small annotations, which he identifies as A[ndanti]no. Signed and dated by the composer immediately beneath the quotation. The document bears a watermark. Some light creasing and minor overall age wear, VG 

ISOUARD NICOLAS: (1773-1818) Also known as ''Nicolo di Malta''. French-Maltese Composer. A good and rare A.L.S., Nicolo, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d., in French. Isouard sends concert tickets to an unidentified recipient, stating in part `Je vous envoie un billet pour ce soir et vous enverrai d´autres…´ ("I send to you a pass for this evening and will send you further ones.."), further and referring to his correspondent´s wife, he apologizes and says `J´ai bien des torts a réparer aupres de Madame, mais j´espere qu´elle me pardonnera lorsque j´aurai parlé..´ ("I have many mistakes to sort out with Madame, but I do hope she will forgive me once I have spoken..") With addressee´s name, in Isouard´s name, to the address leaf, with small hole due to the letter opening. Small overall age wear, otherwise G 

HAYDN JOSEPH: (1732-1809) Austrian composer of the Classical period. A bound folio edition of Dr Haydn's VI Original Canzonettas, for the Voice with an Accompaniment for the Piano-Forte, Dedicated to Mrs. John Hunter, the title page further stating 'Printed for the Author, & Sold by him at No.1. Bury Street, St. James's, at Messrs Corri, Dussek & Co., Music Sellers to her Majesty, No. 67 Dean Street, Soho & Bridge Street, Edinburgh', n.d. (c. June 1794). The sheet music comprises The Mermaids Song, Recollection, A Pastoral Song, Despair, Pleasing Pains and Fidelity. Signed ('Haydn', with a paraph) by Haydn in dark ink at the base of the title page. Bound by Kelly of Gower Place in dark red cloth with gilt stamped title to the cover. Rare. Some light foxing and minor overall age wear, about VG Anne Hunter (1742-1821) British poet and salon hostess, wife of the surgeon and anatomist John Hunter. Anne Hunter is chiefly remembered as the author of texts to at least nine of Haydn's fourteen songs in English, including several represented in the present volume. Hunter and her husband entertained the leading Bluestockings at their house. 

SCHUBERT FRANZ : (1797-1828) Austrian Composer, one of the greatest composers in the history of classical music. Despite his very early death at the age of thirty-one, Schubert left a large number of works from the late Classical to the early Romantic era. An exceptionally rare and very fine Manuscript Musical Score by Franz Schubert, four full pages and a half, 4to, score sheets, 9 x 11.5, (22.5 cm x 29 cm), n.p., n.d., entitled in his hand to the heading of the front page `Organo Magnificat´. Schubert has carefully and boldly penned over fifty bars and twelve stages per page, including multiple annotations and tempos, and one correction, stating to the heading of the front page `All[egr]o maestoso´, to the heading of the third `All[egr]o vivace´, and at the conclusion, in bold letters, `Fine´, in Italian. The score corresponds to the full organ part from his work `Magnificat in C Major, d-486´, a shortened version of his Hymn, which Schubert composed in 1816, a youthful but powerful and solemn work, and which his brother Ferdinand called `Great Magnificat´, although he would never compose any other. The structure and musical tone recalls the Te Deum (1800) by Joseph Haydn. A clean and exceptional manuscript musical score of great rarity. Very small overall age tone, otherwise VG  

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

`Chopin was dangerously ill while I was stuck here…and all of this moved and broke me beyond reason. Here he is once again saved…´ [CHOPIN FREDERIC] & SAND GEORGE: Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) Polish Composer and Virtuoso Pianist. A leading composer of the romantic era, and one of the greatest piano composers ever. Chopin died at the early age of 39 of tuberculosis, & George Sand (1804-1876) French Novelist who used the pseudonym of George Sand, her real name being Amantine Dupin. Also known for her romantic affairs with artists, including Frédéric Chopin and Alfred de Musset. An excellent and lengthy rare letter referring to Chopin. A.L.S., George Sand, seven pages, 8vo, n.p., n.d. [May 1847], to Gabriel Falampin, in French. The letter bears to the heading Sand´s blind embossed initials. Sand apologizes and explains to her correspondent how busy she has been over the last two months, not being able to draft the article requested, and asking for a bit of time and patience, referring to Chopin states `…car ce n'est pas une circonstance ordinaire que celle où je me trouve et je n'ai pas ma tête à moi. En outre, Chopin a été dangereusement malade pendant que j'étais clouée ici, ne pouvant quitter ma famille d'un instant, et tout cela m'a émue et brisée plus que de raison. Le voilà encore une fois sauvé…´ (“…because it is not an ordinary circumstance the one that I find myself in, and I do not have my own head in place. Besides, Chopin was dangerously ill while I was stuck here, unable to leave my family for a single moment, and all of this moved and broke me beyond reason. Here he is once again saved...”) Sand further explains in detail her decisions related to properties and legacies, commenting that she donates the hotel at Narbonne to Solange, also asking multiple questions regarding her financial affairsd and referring to the rental of an apartment belonging to M. Larac in Paris, states `Avertissez-le de suite, mais en le priant de n'en point parler à Chopin qui est malade et que l'idée d'un déplacement de la famille pourrait consterner dans ces moments-ci…´ (“Warn him immediately, but asking him not to speak of it to Chopin who is ill and the idea of the family moving could cause him consternation at this time...”) A letter of very interesting content. VG Gabriel Falampin (1803-1860) Artistic Director of L´Illustration manager of the financial affairs of George Sand. 

‘I have been chosen as first composer for the festival. I have composed a Cortège…’ SIBELIUS JEAN: (1865-1957) Finnish Composer. Widely considered Finland´s greatest composer, and often credited with having developed a national identity through his music at the time of independence from Russia. A rare and lengthy A.L.S., Jean Sibelius, two pages, folio, Järvenpää, 5th May 1905, to Robert Lienau, in German. Sibelius sends a very interesting letter to his editor about his works, explaining that he is sending him the orchestral musical score of Pelléas & Mélisande and a small Romance for string orchestra, commenting that the Pelléas' piano arrangements will be available very soon. Sibelius asks his correspondent if he will also want the `Lied von Mélisande´ ("aria of Mélisande") because since his score was in Swedish, he crossed out the song. He further confirms that he will send, arranged for piano, the song in French, German and Swedish, and this way Lienau will be able to print it in the way he wishes. Further again Sibelius states `The founder of the National Theatre has left his post due to his advanced age, and a big festival has been organized in his honour. I have been chosen as first composer for the festival. I have composed a Cortège…´ which he says will soon send to Lienau, together with his Violin Concerto, and adds that he will also send `…two choirs, one in Finnish and the other in Swedish; the one in Finnish is taken from the national epic of Kalevala´ Before concluding Sibelius states that all these works are already old and that he will do something new and good for Lienau before the fall. Beneath his signature and as a postscriptum, Sibelius suggests naming Pelléas's music "Entr'acte Musik". Paper with a Handgjord Post Lessebo watermark with crowned monogram. With two binder holes to the left edge, not affecting the text or signature. G to VG

CANTELLI GUIDO: (1920-1956) Italian conductor. A rare vintage green fountain pen ink signature ('Guido Cantelli') on a oblong 4to page removed from an autograph album, dated London, 1955, in his hand. Autographs of Cantelli are rare in any form as a result of his untimely death at the age of 36 in an airplane crash. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG

MALIBRAN MARIA: (1808-1836) Spanish Mezzo-Soprano. One of the most best-known opera singers of the 19th century for her dramatic performances and her extraordinary voice. She became a legendary figure after her very early death. Rare A.L.S., `M. F. Malibran´, one page, oblong 8vo, Brussels, n.d., to her impresario Jules Troupenas, in French. The letter bears to the upper left corner a blind embossed seal of « Bath ». Malibran enquires as to why her correspondent did not reply to her letter `Vous n´avez pas répondu à ma lettre. Pouquoi ?´ (`You have not answered to my letter. Why ?´), and continues to add that she has received notification from the postal services in Paris that there is a letter waiting for her from Milan and that there is a charge of 7 francs and 60 cents to pay, and a further 4 francs and 60 cents to have it sent to her. In concluding the singer asks Troupenas `Voulez-vous payer pour moi le tout et me l´envoyer? Je vous serai bien obligée´ (`Would you please pay the whole and send it to me ? I would be most obliged´). Autographs of Malibran are particularly rare following her untimely death at the age of 28. G to VG 

HEILBRON MARIE & MASSENET JULES: Marie Heilbron (1851-1886) Belgian operatic Soprano. Heilbron created the role of Massenet´s French heroine Manon (1884). The premiere was performed at the Opera Comique in Paris. Heilbron at the very early age of 34, & Jules Massenet (1842-1912) French Composer. Rare A.L.S., `Marie Heilbron´, two pages, 8vo, written to the first and third page, Paris, 71 Champs Elysées, n.d., in French. The letter bears a very attractive gilt embossed monogram to the heading, with her initials. Heilbron asks her correspondent to forward her message to Massenet, and referring to Manon, states `Veuillez prévenir Monsieur Massenet de mon retour et lui dire que je me mets à sa disposition pour travailler Manon..´ ("Please inform Mr. Massenet of my return and tell him that I am at his disposal to work on Manon.."). Together with an A.N.S., `J. Massenet´ one page, 12mo, being a telegram, Paris, n.d. `Thursday evening´, to Monsieur Leon Bessand, in French. Massenet sends a short and urgent message saying `Me voici de retour! Pouvez-vous me venir voir demain matin vendredi! Il m´est imposible de sortir - pardonnez-moi´ ("I'm back! Can you come and see me tomorrow morning Friday! It is impossible for me to go out - forgive me") A set of two letters of excellent association. VG, 2 

GREGORY XIV: (1535-1591) Pope of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States 1590-1591. During his brief pontificate which lasted only ten months, Gregory XIV excommunicated King Henry IV and levied an army for the invasion of France. Rare manuscript letter, with corrections and amendments in the Pope´s hand, one page, folio, n.p., 25th March January 1587, to Cardinal Monte-Alto, in Italian. Gregory XIV, in his capacity as Cardinal Nicolo Sfondrati, thanks his correspondent for reading his letter to his uncle Pope Sixtus V and states in part `Un Molto favore ben grande m´ha fatto V.[ostra] S.[signoria] Ill[ustrissi]ma, facendo leggere a N[ostro] S[igno]re quella lettera mia delli 8 di Gen[nai]o…et dando poi aviso a me di quanto S.[ua] B.[eatitudi] senti, et rispose in quell fatto…´ ("Y.[our] I.[llustrious] S.[signoria] did me a very big favour by making Our Eminence read that letter of mine dated on the 8th of January... and then giving me notice of what Y.[our] B.[eatitudi] feels, and replied to those facts...") Further again, and before concluding Gregory XIV states in part `..osservato poi il tempo, che il vic[ari]o mio stesse occupato in celebrar la messa, tornó con tutti I Sbirri a cercare con quell malmodo, che giá ho scritto..´ Accompanied by a full transcription of the letter. Small overall minor age wear, otherwise G   Alessandro Peretti di Montalto (1571-1623) Italian Catholic Cardinal Bishop.

INNOCENT IX: (1519-1591) Pope of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States fin 1591. His papacy lasted only two months, one of the shortest ever. Born Giovanni Antonio Facchinetti. Extremely rare L.S., only three documents signed by him have ever been recorded in private hands, signed `G.A. Car.l S.ti-Quattro´, ("G.[iovanni] A.[ntonio] Car.[dina]l S.[an]ti-Quattro"), Cardinal of the Roman Basilica Santi-Quattre-Coronati,one page, folio, Rome, 24th September 1588, addressed to the Vice-Legate of Bolonia, in Italian. The future Pope Innocent IX tries to appoint the uncle of one of his subordinates, member of the powerful Inquisition, into the "Compagnia de Salaroli", stating in part `Intendo che alli mesi passati Messer Evangelista Salicini, zio di Mons.r Salicini che fatica (sic-lavora assidumente) nel S.t Officio, renuntiò il luogo del numero de gli honorevoli huomini della Compagnia de' Salaroli a Ms Hercole, suo figliolo, il quale hora è passato da questa vita  et desiderando esso Ms Evangelista rihaver in persona sua il detto luogo, che per cento et più anni è stato in diverse persone della sua Casa, ritrova in ciò difficoltà per molte prattiche fatte in servitio d'un fumante, ch'è - siccome mi vien detto - incapace del luogo per i Statuti della Compagnia..´ ("I mean that Messer Evangelista Salicini, uncle of Mons.r Salicini who works assiduously in the S.t Officio, takes the place and number of the honoured man of the Compagnia de 'Salaroli, Mr Hercole, his son, who has now passed away from this life and since he wishes Ms Evangelist to have in his own person the said place…") The letter bears to the verso a paper seal affixed, and alongside a draft manuscript in the hand of Anselmo Dandini which was going to be his response to Innocent IX. According to this draft letter, Dandini was pleasing Innocent IX request. Small overall age wear, otherwise G The present letter is addressed to the Vice-Legat of Bolonia, Anselmo Dandini (1546-1608) Jurist and former Apostolic Nuncio in France. Dandini was replacing Alessandro Damasceni Peretti (1571-1623) a nephew of Pope Sixtus V, and future Cardinal at the early age of 14. Well remembered for his impressive bust done by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Giulio Cesare Salicini (1541-1606) Jurist and member of the Inquisition. Bishop of Rimini from 1591. The Company Salaroli was founded in 1376 and was the original producer, and still is at today´s date, of the worldwide famous Mortadella of Bolonia.

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.