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Bisson, Edouard, French painter (1856-1939).
Autograph letter signed. No place, [27 April 1898].
8vo. 1 page. In French. To his lawyers or business partners, announcing that he will sign some agreements the next day: "Je viendrai demain Jeudi 28 avril 1898 à 2 heures après midi signer les mémorables conventions de ce matin mercredi 27 avril 1898 [...]". - A few small marginal flaws.
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Breton, Jules, French painter (1827-1906).
Autograph correspondence card signed. Courrières, 17. III. 1898.
Oblong 12mo. 2 pp. In French. To the Paris art gallery Tedesco Frères on having received their telegram, about his plans to travel to Paris and Montgeron the following Monday, expecting a Tedesco packer to arrive on Saturday. Breton mentions his having to change trains three times and promises to enclose the timetable and itinerary: "Votre dépeche vient de m'arriver. Nous avons cherché les trains les plus commodes, vous voyez qu'on n'arrive pas ici sans changer trois fois de trains. Ci joint l'intinéraire et les heures. Nous attendrons donc votre emballeur Samedi, car nous pensons partir pour Paris et Montgeron Lundi prochain [...]".
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Cabanel, Alexandre, French painter (1823-1889).
Autograph letter signed. 8 rue de Vigny / Parc Monceau [Paris], 9. III. 1875.
8vo. 1 page on bifolium. In French. To the composer and pianist Émile Paladilhe (1844-1926) with a dinner invitation, mentioning that the painter Jules-Élie Delaunay (1828-91) will be among the guests: "Si vous êtes libre mardi prochain faites-moi le plaisir de venir diner chez-moi à 7 heures, vous vous trouverez avec Delaunay et quelque autres amis. Pour ma part je serai très charmé de passer un bon moment avec vous ce qui ne m'arrive pas assez souvent, répondez moi oui vous serez bien aimable [...]". - Slightly spotty.
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Carrier-Belleuse, Pierre, French painter (1851-1932).
Autograph calling card signed. 31, Boulevard Berthier [Paris], 20. VIII. 1900.
Calling card format. 1 page. In French. To "Georges", his new superior, with congratulations on his promotion: "Bon heureux, mon cher Georges de te féliciter de ton succès et très fier de faire partie, à la suite, de ta promotion - Mon supérieur je vous salue. Affectueux souvenir à tous, je t'embrasse cordialement [...]". - With a faint crease near the upper margin.
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Delaunay, Jules-Élie, French painter (1828-1891).
Autograph letter signed. No place, 18. III. 1875.
8vo. 1 page on bifolium. In French. To a friend, accepting her invitation for Sunday, hoping to achieve what she promised and concluding with kind regards to her parents: "Certainement j'en vendrai à la charmante invitation que vous me transmettez pour dimanche, et j'espère enfin entrer en poursuivre de ce que vous m'avez promi. Croyez [...] en mes meilleurs sentiments auprès de vos [...] parents [...]". - Slightly creased.
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[Gästebuch].
Gästebuch des Restaurants Hôtel de l'Aigle Noir. Fontainebleau, 1964-1975.
Ca. 150 Einträge. Zusammen ca. 43 SS. auf 24 Bll. Roter Maroquin-Lederband mit goldgepr. Lilien und Fileten, Ringbindung. Folio (ca. 290 x 240 mm). Berühmtheiten und illustre Gäste des Hotels und Restaurants "L’Aigle Noir" aus Film, Musik, Kunst, Literatur, Sport, Politik, Militär, der Medien- und Unternehmensbranche verewigten sich mit meist einfachen Namenseinträge, teilweise mit ausführlicheren Bemerkungen zum Aufenthalt und versahen diese gelegentlich mit kleinen Zeichnungen. Meist in französischer, einzelne Beiträge auch in deutscher oder englischer Sprache verfasst. - Besonders erwähnenswert ist ein ganzseitiger Eintrag mit Zeichnung von Salvador Dalí auf dem zehnten Blatt (datiert 1965), sowie die Autographen der Pianisten Artur Rubinstein und Swjatoslaw Richter (mit Notenschlüssel), des Gitarristen Andrés Segovia, der Komponistin Nadia Boulanger, des Chansonniers Gilbert Bécaud, des Filmproduzenten Jack L. Warner, des Regisseurs Jean Renoir, der Schauspieler Jean Marais und Claude Brasseur, des Bühnenbildners Georges Wakhévitch (mit schöner Schloss-Zeichnung), der Schriftstellerin Violette Leduc (mit Zeichnung), der Tennislegende Henri Cochet oder des deutschen Raketeningenieurs Arthur Rudolph (1969), der vor und während des Zweiten Weltkriegs an der Entwicklung und Produktion der V2-Raketen beteiligt gewesen war, sowie zahlreiche weitere Einträge prominenter Gäste. Die beiden Einträge der Schauspieler Philippe Avron und Nina Kompaneitzeff (Companeez) beziehen sich auf den Filmdreh zu "Bye, bye, Barbara" von 1968, für den einige Schlussszenen vor dem Hotel gedreht wurden. Aus der Zeit der Hotelbesitzer Charles Lezier und Paulette Lamotte. - Kanten und Ecken etwas berieben und bestoßen, Einrisse am Rücken, innen stellenweise leicht braunfleckig.
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Guillaumet, Gustave Achille, French artist (1840-1887).
Autograph letter signed. No place or date.
12mo. 1 page on bifolium. In French. To "Henriette", likely the orientalist painter Henriette Browne (1829-1901), about a card he is about to send her: "Je suis en passe de vous envoyer la carte que vous désirez [...]". - Guillaumet is best known for his paintings of North Africa, and many of his works depict the life of the people of the desert in Southern Algeria. In contrast to Orientalism with its deliberately idealised depiction of North Africa, Guillaumet's work showed the harshness of the terrain and challenging conditions of life in desert regions. - With an old horizontal fold.
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Lefebvre, Jules Joseph, French painter, educator and theorist (1836-1911).
Autograph calling card signed (paraph). 5, Rue Labruyère [Paris], no date.
Calling card format. 2 pp. In French. To an acquaintance, regretting his not having known about Tangy's desire to work for him, pointing out that the painter Eugène Berthelon (1829-1916), a student of Eugène Lavieille (1820-89), was entrusted with the task, but promising to suggest Tangy to the Commission of Fine Arts for the next vacant position: "Jules LeFebvre. [printed] regrette vivement de n'avoir pas été prévenu plustôt du désir de M. Tangy, car c'est Lundi dernier que le travail qui avait été commandé à Laricille a été attribué à Berthelon, son Elève, si une nouvelle vacance se produisait je serai très heureux de faire une proposition en faveur de M. Tangy, et heureux surtout de la voir acceuillée par la commission des beaux arts de la ville [...]". - Traces of former mounting; slightly toned; small crease at upper margin.
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Lévy-Dhurmer, Lucien, French painter, sculptor and ceramicist (1865-1953).
Autograph calling card signed. Paris, 3 rue La Bruyère, no date.
Calling card format. 1 page. To a friend expressing his thanks: "Mes sincères remerciements [...]". - Slightly spotty.
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Pelez, Fernand, French painter (1843-1913).
Autograph letter signed. No place or date.
8vo. ½ page on bifolium. In French. To a friend, presumably the painter Édouard Dantan (1848-97), about receiving a painting he had recommended: "Le Tableau que vous m'avez recommandé a été reçu et suis heureux de vous annoncer ce resultat [...]". - With an autograph letter signed by "Guillaumet" on the verso, presumably the painter Gustave Achille Guillaumet (1840-87), written to Henriette, the artist of the aforementioned painting, mentioning Pelez' letter and congratulating her on the sale: "Ci contre la lettre de Pelez auquel Edouard avait recommandé ton tableau. Comme tu vois qu'on s'est occupé de toi. Je suis heureux pour toi du resultat [...]". - Somewhat creased; small marginal flaws; pierced in the centre.
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Floquet, Charles Thomas, French politician (1828-1896).
Autograph calling card signed. 3, rue du Cirque [Paris], no date.
Large calling card format. 1 page. In French. Sending condolences: "Charles Floquet. [printed] avec mes vifs sentiments de condoléance [...]".
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Girardin, Alexandre François Louis de, French politician and landscape artist (1767-1848).
Autograph letter signed. Paris, 3. V. 1843.
4to. 1 page on bifolium. In French to Louis Philippe I (1773-1850), King of the French, regretting that he does not hold a title distinguished enough to allow him to see the King in person, and about his shattered hopes for a promotion: "N'ayant aucun des titres qui pouvaient m'autoriser à me presenter chez Votre Majesté dans les instans où differentes circonstances m'en faisaient un devoir, j'ai dû m'en abstenir quelque peine que j'en eprouvasse. Le premier de l'année et au jour de la Sainte Philippe, j'avais esperé d'être plus heureux, mais forcé de renoncer encore à cette esperance. Votre Majesté voudra bien m'excuser d'un manque d'Egards bien involontaires de ma part et me permettre de lui en temoigner l'expression de mes vifs regrets au moment à m'absenter de paris [!] et n'ayant pas un occasion de lui renouveller l'assurance de mon sincère attachement et du profond respect avec lequel j'ai l'honneur d'être [...]". - Blue crayon note by a former collector about rediscovering the letter in the Tuilleries five years after it was written: "trouvé le 24 Fevr. 1848 au jardin des Tuilleries". - Small tear above first line, not affecting text. Small piercing near left margin; somewhat soiled and spotty.
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Lesseps, Edmond-Prosper de, French diplomat in Peru and Bolivia (1815-1868).
Autograph calling card signed. "Reception, à 2 heures".
Calling card format. 1 page. In French. To an acquaintance about a diplomatic affair that is about to be brought to a successful conclusion with the help of the Emperor, his administrative council, and the orders given to the Minister of the Exterior, pointing out that he had an excellent day, and asking for instructions: "Par l'Empereur de Ferdinand et de son Conseil d'adm[inistrati]on assurances d'appui et d'ordres donnés au M[inis]tre des aff[aires] Etr[angèr]es pour mener l'entreprise à bonne fin. La journée a donc été excellente - j'ai voulu que comme à moi vous en fassiez des 1ers instruits [...]". - Slightly soiled and faded.
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Loyson, Charles Jean Marie (known as Père Hyacinthe), French preacher and theologian (1827-1912).
Autograph letter signed. Neuilly, 20. I. 1886.
8vo. 4 pp. on bifolium. In French. To a friend about his eight-month stay in the United States, where he travelled from New York to San Francisco studying the reform of the Catholic church and trying to establish a rapprochement among the various religious communities, mentioning that his lectures were well attended with the exception of July, when all major cities were deserted by anyone interested in talks given in a foreign language, and concluding with his bewilderment by the American way of secularism as well as the nature of presidential power: "J'ai été en Amérique pour y faire connaître l'oeuvre de réforme que je poursuis au sein de l'Eglise Catholique, en même temps que celle de rapprochement entre les diverses communautés chrétiennes et même les hommes religieux de toute école. C'est d'ordinaire dans les églises que je me suis fait entendre, et dans ce grand pays, où l'on ne sépare point la république du Christianisme, mes auditoires étaient le plus souvent fort nombreuse[s] [...] Une quête était faite après mon discours. Ce sont ces doux volontaires qui m'ont permi de voyager pendant huit mois dans toute l'étendue des Etats-Unis, de New-York à San Francisco [...] Le mois de juillet ne me paraîtrait pas très bien choisi, parce qu'il fait alors très chaud et que les villes sont abandonnées par la plus part des personnes qui s'intéresseraient à des conférences données dans une langue étrangère [...] Parmi les choses qui m'ont frappé, il en est deux surtout que je me permets de signaler à vos études: 1. la séparation des Eglises et de l'Etat y est toute autre chose, en elle-même et dans ses résultats, que ce que rêvent la plupart de nos aveugles radieaux français, 2. le caractère personnel et autoritaire du pouvoir présidentiel constitue l'une des forces de cette puissante et libre république [...]". - Top right corner somewhat creased, traces of mounting; slightly spotty.
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Mac Mahon, Élisabeth de, wife of the President of France Patrice de Mac Mahon (1834-1900).
Autograph letter signed. No place, "ce lundi".
8vo. 1 page on bifolium. In French. To a relative named Champeaux, with an invitation to dinner: "Voulez Vous venir diner avec nous jeudi à 7 heures tout à fait entre nous Nous serions très heureux de vous voir [...]". - On armorial stationery.
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Achard, Amédée, French novelist (1814-1875).
Autograph letter signed (fragment). [No place], 4. VII. 1874.
Ca. 70 x 102 mm. 11 lines on bifolium. In French. To a friend with congratulations on a duel from which he emerged victoriously: "Mon cher ami, c'est ce matin seulement que la nouvelle de votre duel et du résultalt [...] félicite d'en être sorti tout à votre avantage et vous envoie une bonne poignée de main [...]". - Margins slightly creased.
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Belot, Adolphe, French playwright and novelist (1829-1890).
Autograph inscription signed. [Paris, 1879].
4to. 3 lines on the title-page of the "Musée Africain" catalogue. Mounted on backing paper. Inscribed to "Mosenthal", probably a relative of the late dramatist and poet Salomon Hermann Mosenthal (1821-77): "A mon. de Mosenthal / Avec mes plus vifs remercimens [...]". - Belot's play "La Venus Noire" premiered at the Théâtre du Châtelet in 1879. The present catalogue refers to an "African museum" installed in the theatre lobby, to be explored before and after the show. It featured kitchen utensils, toys, weapons, fetishes, fabrics, masks, maps and stuffed birds from "black Africa". The theatre gave out programmes and auctioned off the artifacts after the last show. - As a pencil note on the reverse suggests, the narrowliy trimmed backing paper appears to be have been previously used to hold an autograph of Sir James W. from a journey to South Africa. - The catalogue title-page shows several marginal tears, one touching two words of the inscription.
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Burnett, Francis Eliza Hodgson, British-American novelist (1849-1924).
Autograph letter signed. Sands Point (Long Island), 9. XI. 1907.
12mo. 1 p. on bifolium. With autograph envelope. To a Mrs. Sherman in Newtonville, Massachusetts, thanking her for a letter: "Thank you indeed! Your kind letter expressed not only generous praise but generous understanding. All workers care for that very much - very much". - A beautiful autograph by the creator of "The Secret Garden" and "Little Lord Fauntleroy", written soon after her permanent return to the United States. In 1908 her house in Plandome Manor about 3.5 miles south of Sands Point was completed. - Traces of folds. On stationery with printed letterhead: "Elm Heights / Port Washington / Long Island", with "Elm Heights" stricken out and corrected to "Sands Point".
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Claretie, Jules, French writer and theatre director (1840-1913).
Autograph calling card signed ("J. C."). 10, rue de Douai [Paris], no date.
Calling card format. 1 page. In French. To a friend with best wishes for a speedy recovery: "Jules Claretie [printed] avec tous les voeux de prompte guérison et des amitiés [...]".
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Delpit, Albert, French-American writer, playwright and poet (1849-1893).
Autograph letter signed. Benfeld (Alsace), 10. XI. 1876.
8vo. 2 pp. In French. To a friend about the premiere of his play in two or three months, difficulties with the proper interpretation delaying the production, mentioning that he would love to have him among his first critics, and concluding with his recent move to Paris and his new address: "Ma pièce ne sera pas jouée avant 2 ou 3 mois. Elle devait en effet passer vers cette époque, mais j'ai eu des difficultés d'interprétation qui m'ont retardé. Comptez bien que je ne vous oublierai pas. Vous êtes certainement l'un de ceux que je désire le plus avoir parmi mes juges de la première heure [...] Je suis en ce moment en Alsace, mais notez sur votre livre d'adresser que j'ai déménagé. Je demeure à présent 8 Avenue Percier". - Although Delpit had moved to Paris, he continued to visit Benfeld in Alsace, where he penned the play "Mademoiselle de Bressier" in 1885. - A few small brown spots; slightly creased.
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Deseilligny, Alfred, French industrial and politician (1828-1875).
Autograph letter signed. Paris, "Dimanche 3h".
8vo. 1 page. In French. To a friend about a rumour concerning the politician Gaston d'Audiffret-Pasquier (1823-1905), who supposedly lacks the support of the Elysée Palace, and announcing to maintain his objection against Pasquier even if the rumour proves false: "On dit que la Combinaison Pasquier n'est past sérieusement soutenue à l'Elysée. Si vos renseignemen[t]s sont conformes, inutile de continuer à la bêcher. Si elle est sérieuse nous pouvons et devons maintenir nos objections [...]". - On stationery with blindstamped initials "FD", likely those of his wife Félicie. Tiny marginal tear in upper margin; slightly spotted and creased.
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Flament, Albert, French journalist, novelist and critic (1877-1956).
Autograph letter signed. "Beauregard", Saint-Méloir-des-Ondes, no date.
8vo. 2 pp. In French. To an English friend about an accident his sister Marcelle suffered upon her arrival to London with her family - a fall down the staircase which resulted in an operation from which she is currently recovering: "Marcelle est en ce moment à Londres avec son mari et ses enfants [...] à peine arrivée à Londres, dans la maison qu'ils avaient louée, ma soeur est tombée dans l'escalier. Il a fallu la transporter dans une maison de santé et lui faire une opération. Elle est maintenant à peu près rétablie, mais faible". - He mentions that he has so far received from Marcelle a single letter, written in bed and in pencil. He says that he does not recall her home address in Wembley, but provides the address of the Westminster Gazette where his brother-in-law, Hiram Pattinson Knight, is employed: "Elle n'a pu m'écrire encore qu'une fois et au crayon, dans son lit. Je n'ai malheureusement pas la dernière lettre de ma soeur ici. Ils sont à Wembley, mais je ne me rappelle plus l'adresse! Mais mon beau frère a été demandé au Westminster Gazette et, en ce moment, je sais qu'il y va tous les jours. Je lui ai écrit là plusieurs fois [...]". - Flament adds that Marcelle and her husband frequently speak of her and her kindness towards them, fondly remembering their visit to England and the walk they took near Bognor, and concludes with his wish to see her before she leaves Paris: "Marcelle et lui m'ont souvent parlé de vous, de vos gentillesses pour eux. Je n'ai pas oublié la visite que nous vous avons faite, ni l'agréable promenade aux environs de Bognor. Je rentrerai à Paris vers le 10 Juin. Je n'ose espérer que vous soyez encore à Paris. En tout cas, je serai très hereux de vous faire les honneurs de mon rez-de-chaussée! [...]". - On stationery with stamped address. Slightly creased. Pencil note of a former collector near the upper margin, ascribing the letter to Flament.
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Goncourt, Edmond de, French writer (1822-1896).
Autograph calling card. 53, boulevard Montmorency (Auteuil), no date.
Calling card format. 1 page. To a friend with thanks and congratulations: "Edmond de Goncourt [printed] avec ses remerciements et ses felici[tations] à vous".
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Gondinet, Edmond, French playwright and librettist (1828-1888).
Autograph letter signed. [Limoges], April 1875.
8vo. 1 page on bifolium. In French. To a friend, declining an invitation to a dinner and announcing that he shall mail his letter to the Paris Théâtres des Variétés, as he does not have the recipient's home address: "Je suis à Limoges, trop loin [...] pour pouvoir être chez votres au diner de canard. Je le regrette bien vivement [...] Je n'ai pas votre adresse ici [...] je suis obligé d'envoyer ma lettre aux Variétés".
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Gorky, Maxim, i. e. Alexei Maximovitch Peshkov, Russian writer (1868-1936).
Autograph letter signed ("A. Peshkov"). Sorrento, 20. VIII. 1924.
4to. ¾ page. In Russian. To Solomon Gitmanovich Kaplun: "I am sending a letter to V. F. Khodasevich which was requested to be published in Beseda. I am asking you to advance me money against the fee for my 'Book about Blok' and all five children's books. M. I. [i.e. Moura Budberg] said that I received not a single letter from you over the entire summer. You replied that letters had been sent to me and that you had copies of them. Since I am still awaiting the reply to questions I asked you, perhaps you will send me the copies of your letters. I will not discuss how surprised I am at your attitude towards me". - S. G. Kaplun (1891-1940) was a journalist and publisher, the owner of the Berlin publishing house "Epoch" and from 1922 to 1925 the publisher of Gorky's literary and scientific journal "Beseda". - Left margin with punched holes (not touching text). Provenance: Hermitage auction, Monaco, 25 April 2019, lot 306.
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Gorky, Maxim, i. e. Alexei Maximovitch Peshkov, Russian writer (1868-1936).
Autograph manuscript signed (in Cyrillic, "M. Gorky") Berlin, 9. XI. 1921.
4to. ¾ page. In German. Addressed to the editor of a newspaper, Gorky's statement repudiates remarks that have been attributed to him in various newspapers: "From Maxim Gorki, who is staying in Berlin at present for a short time, we have received the following note: / Allow me, dear editor, the polite communication that the interviews with me which have appeared in various journals are to be considered as apocryphal, and that I can in no way assume responsibility for their content. My current state of health does not allow me to undertake conversations with gentlemen of the press; I will however not fail to accede to your wishes as soon as I have the strength to do so" (transl.). - Disenchanted with Lenin's regime and suffering from tuberculosis, Gorky had left Russia in September 1921, initially staying in Berlin; ultimately he was to settle in Sorrento, with an extended household which now included Moura Budberg, his secretary and lover. - Provenance: Sotheby's, 25 May 1983; Heritage, 6 April 2016, lot 49152.
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Holmes Sr., Oliver Wendell, American physician, poet, and polymath (1809-1894).
Autograph letter signed. Beverly Farms (Massachusetts), "Sept 16".
Small 8vo. 1½ pp. on bifolium. Apologizing to an unnamed recipient for being unable to answer his questions: "I regret that I am unable to attend to the numerous questions which are asked by my correspondents and which it would take all my time to answer". - Traces of folds. Minimally stained. With collector's notes in pencil.
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Labiche, Eugène, French playwright (1815-1888).
Autograph letter signed. Rueil, 2. VIII. 1869.
8vo. 2 pp. on bifolium. In French. To a colleague about a family council he is required to attend on Friday as acting guardian, hoping to be able to join the booksellers' commission afterwards, encouraging him to continue his work, and mentioning editorial work as the sole issue to be discussed by the commission: "Mon cher confrère elle n'a pas de chance notre commission de librairie! je reçois ce matin une lettre qui me convoque pour vendredi, 1h ½, à un conseil de famille dans le quel je jeux le rôle de subrogé-tuteur. il m'est impossible d'y manquer, mais j'espère être libre à 2h ½ pour la commission. faites donc votre travail, nous sommes d'accord sur le fond, il n'y aura donc qu'une question de rédaction qui sera discutée par la commission [...]". - On stationery with blindstamped initials. Small marginal tears to centrefold and upper edge; slightly creased.
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Lavedan, Henri, French playwright (1859-1940).
Autograph calling card signed ("H. L."). 15, Boulevard des Invalides [Paris], no date.
Calling card format. 1½ pp. In French. To an artist or publisher with thanks for an excellent copy of a book on Japanese paper appointed with a watercolour on the first page, announcing to pay him a visit on one of the following afternoons: "Merci, mon cher ami, du superbe exemplaire Japon que je n'attendais pas et de la gentille aquarelle qui l'accapagne [!] en première page. C'est moi qui vous suis redevable de la bonne réclame que me fait votre talent. J'irai un de ces après-midi vous serrer la main de vive voix [...]".
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Legouvé, Ernest, French dramatist (1807-1903).
Autograph letter signed. 14, Rue St. Marc, no date.
8vo. 1 page on bifolium. To an actor about an upcoming rehearsal, mentioning that Couchard believes that ten days of hard work will suffice: "Nous répétons Lundi. J'ai vu Couchard. Il pense qu'en dix jours de bon travail nous pourrions passer [...]". - On stationery with blindstamped initials and blue stamped address. Slightly browned.
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Lewis, Sinclair, American writer and Nobel laureate (1885-1951).
Autograph inscription signed. N. p., 1. VII. 1923.
Ca. 45 x 47 mm. 6 lines. "To Tom Jarvis, with the greetings fraternal & next door to national". - On trimmed stationery with letterhead from "Cherkley, Leatherhead, Surrey". Traces of former mounting.
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Malot, Hector, French writer (1830-1907).
Autograph calling card signed ("M. H."). 3, Avenue de Fontenay / Fontenay-sous-Bois, no date.
Calling card format. 1 page. Condolatory note to a friend, presumably on the loss of a child, mentioning his own fatherhood: "C'est un père qui vous envoie l'expression de sa douloureuse et cordiale sympathie [...]". - Upper left corner folded. Two tiny spots.
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Monnier, Henry, French playwright, caricaturist and actor (1799-1877).
Autograph letter signed. No place, [1866].
8vo. 1 page on bifolium. In French. To the journalist and editor Albéric Second (1817-87) about his latest work "Paris et la province" (Paris, Garnier frères, 1866), the preface of which, written by Théophile Gautier (1811-72), as well as an advertising article he would like to see published in his periodical: "Sois assez bon pour me mettre dans ton journal la préface de Theophile Gautier puis me faire, toi-même un article sur mon nouveau livre [...]". - Slightly foxed; 2 small marginal tears, not touching text.
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Noriac, Jules (i. e. Claude Antoine Jules Cairon), French journalist, playwright, writer, librettist and theatre director (1827-1882).
Autograph letter signed. [Paris, after 1855].
12mo. 1 page on bifolium. With autograph address. In French. To the playwright Albéric Second (1817-87) with a recommendation of a young man who would like to produce a tailcoat for him, threatening no longer to support his 1855 burlesque play "English Spoken" if he does not allow the tailor to realise his dream: "Voici un brave garçon, un vrai garçon, qui a un rève il voudrait faire un habit à Mr Albéric Second. Si tu ne réalise pas le rève que je trouve tout naturel je ne mets plus English au tableau [...]". - On blindstamped stationery of the Théâtre des Variétés, where Noriac was co-managing director from 1856 to 1859. - Slightly creased and spotted.
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Ostrovsky, Alexander, Russian playwright (1823-1886).
Autograph letter signed ("A. Ostrovsky") Shchelykovo, 28. VII. 1885.
8vo (215 x 135 mm). 2 pp. on a bifolium with Ostrovsky's printed monogram. In Russian. To Ivan Maximovich Kondratiev on his struggles with ill health. Ostrovsky excuses himself for writing only a shorter letter, having "no stomach" for writing more. He had caught a bad cold on coming to his country estate at Shchelykovo, "and the consequences turned out to be just awful. I was overcome with a fierce malignant pyrexia [i.e. fever] and despite the tropical heat of this year's summer, it resumed up to seven times. The paroxysms lasted no more than one or two days but were absolutely awful [...] the tongue was bursting and the inside of the mouth was cracking. / Now I am recovering bit by bit; as soon as I have grown stronger I will write a longer letter; there are plenty of things to write about [...]". - A leading proponent of realism, Alexander Ostrovsky is considered the founder of the Russian national theatre repertoire, and was the author of 47 original plays, in spite of his lifelong struggles against official censorship. His last years were beset by struggles with money and, as here, health problems: he died almost exactly a year after the present letter. No records for autographs by Ostrovsky at international auction.
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Prévost-Paradol, Lucien-Anatole, French journalist and essayist (1829-1870).
Autograph letter signed. No place, "Jeudi 20".
8vo. 1 page. In French. To a writer, asking him to have a bookseller mail two copies of an unidentified work for Martineau and himself, but to address both copies to Martineau: "Aie l'obligeance de prier le libraire d'envoyer ici deux volumes l'un pour M. Martineau l'autre pour moi, mais tu adresseras les deux à M. Martineau [...]". - Slightly creased; a little toned.
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Richepin, Jean, French poet, novelist and dramatist (1849-1926).
Autograph calling card signed. No place or date.
Calling card format. 1 page. To a friend with kind regards upon his return from Fontainebleau: "[Jean Richepin] retour de Fontainebleau; avec nos meilleurs souhaits, de tout coeur [...]".
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Sainte-Beuve, Charles-Augustin, French literary critic (1804-1869).
Autograph calling card signed. 11, rue Mont Parnasse [Paris], no date.
Calling card format. 1 page. In French. To an acquaintance with thanks and regards: "avec tous mes remerciemens & mes amitiés [...]".
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Silvestre, Paul Armand, French poet (1837-1901).
Autograph calling card. 52, Rue de Douai [Paris], no date.
Calling card format. ½ page. To an admirer about an alleged first edition of his volume of poems "La Chanson des Heures", published by Gervais Charpentier in April or May 1875, suggesting he contact the editor for the exact date: "La chanson des Heures a paru, pour la première fois, dans la bibliothèque Charpentier, en 1875 (avril au mai, mais le renseignement exact vous sera donné chez l'Editeur [...]". - An edition of "La Chanson des Heures" prior to 1878 could not be traced, nor does the full title of the 1878 edition ["La Chanson des heures, poésies nouvelles (1874-1878)"] suggests a prior edition. However, extracts of the work might have been published as early as 1875. - Traces of former mounting; somewhat fingerstained.
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Stolberg-Stolberg, Friedrich Leopold zu, Schriftsteller und Übersetzer (1750-1819).
Eigenh. Brief mit U. ("F. L. St."). Münster, 20. II. 1811.
1½ SS. auf Doppelblatt. 4to. Mit eh. Adresse (Faltbrief). Wasserzeichen "T & K". An Werner von Haxthausen in Bökendorf mit Dank für übersandte "Heiligthümer", zu der glücklichen Geburt seines Enkelsohns Johann von Stolberg-Wernigerode (1811-62) und zu Verspätungen bei Postzustellungen: "So wie ich auch gestern erst einen Brief vom 30ten Jänner der eilenden Post aus Wernigerode, u. zugl. [einen] vom 16ten Febr. aus Schlesien erhielt. Die Unordnung der Posten ist abgeschmackt u. ärgerlich. Meine Frau hat grosse Freude über das Kreu[z] und wird dir ihren Dank selbst sagen [...]". - Friedrich zu Stolberg hatte in jungen Jahren mit Goethe die Schweiz bereist, später jedoch eher Kontakt zu den religiösen Gruppierungen des Münsterschen Kreises (u. a. Herder), die ihn auch zu seinem großen Werk "Geschichte der Religion Jesu Christi" (15 Bde.) inspirierten. Werner von Haxthausen wurde durch Kontakte seiner Halbschwester Therese von Droste-Hülshoff um 1800 in der Familie Stolbergs in Münster erzogen. Haxthausen war 1810 an der Verschwörung Wilhelm von Dörnbergs gegen die Franzosenherrschaft in Westphalen beteiligt gewesen, weswegen er für einige Zeit nach England flüchten musste. - Mit Ausriss durch Brieföffnung, Poststempeln, Siegelrest und Federproben von weiterer Hand. Stellenweise größere Randläsuren mit einigen Ein- und Ausrissen (geringf. Textverlust) und stellenweise knittrig. Leicht braunfleckig.
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Stolberg-Stolberg, Friedrich Leopold zu, Schriftsteller und Übersetzer (1750-1819).
Eigenh. Brief mit U. ("F. L. Stolberg"). Münster, 10. II. 1810.
1½ SS. auf Doppelblatt. 4to. Mit eh. Adresse (Faltbrief). Wasserzeichen "J. Honig & Zoonen". An Werner von Haxthausen in Halle, zur Geburt seines Enkelsohns Richard zu Stolberg-Wernigerode (1810-27) und zu einem Kredit von 400 Reichsthalern, die ein Edelmann aus dem westfälischen Adelsgeschlecht Wintgen einem gewissen Bernhard geborgt und für den Stolberg gebürgt habe: "Zuvörderst, liebster Werner, melde ich Dir, daß meine Mariagnes am 31sten Jänner glückl. von einem Knaben entbunden worden. Er heißt Richard. Das ist nun schon ihr fünftes Kind. Da ihres Mannes Brief an mich an eben dem Tage geschrieben war, sehne ich mich sehr nach ferneren Nachrichten, doch mit guter Hofnung, da sie mir noch am 26sten schrieb, daß sie sich gesunder und stärker fühle als seit 5-6 Jahren [...]". - Friedrich zu Stolberg hatte in jungen Jahren mit Goethe die Schweiz bereist, später jedoch eher Kontakt zu den religiösen Gruppierungen des Münsterschen Kreises (u. a. Herder), die ihn auch zu seinem großen Werk "Geschichte der Religion Jesu Christi" (15 Bde.) inspirierten. Werner von Haxthausen wurde durch Kontakte seiner Halbschwester Therese von Droste-Hülshoff um 1800 in der Familie Stolbergs in Münster erzogen. Anfang des 19. Jhs. hatte Haxthausen vorübergehend die Dompräbende in Paderborn übernommen (so auch die Adresse) und studierte Orientalistik in Paris, Göttingen und Halle. Er sollte 1810 an der Verschwörung Wilhelm von Dörnbergs gegen die Franzosenherrschaft in Westfalen beteiligt sein, weswegen er einige Zeit nach England flüchten musste. - Mit Ausriss durch Brieföffnung, Poststempeln und Siegelrest. Stellenweise kleine Randläsuren bzw. Ein- und Ausrisse. Leicht braunfleckig.
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Taillandier, Saint-René, French writer and critic (1817-1879).
Autograph letter signed. Montpellier, 27. XII. 1856.
8vo. 4 pp. on bifolium. To the playwright and poet Salomon Hermann Mosenthal (1821-77) in Vienna about his mother's death and the limited number of subjects he is allowed to write about in the "Revue des deux mondes". Taillandier reassures Mosenthal of the independence of his criticism, pointing out that their friendship will not prevent him from seriously assessing his work, and hopes soon to discuss a new oeuvre of his in the Revue. He signs off with regards to the composer Josef Dessauer (1798-1876) and the writer Leopold Kompert (1822-86): "Je suis bien en retard avec vous, mais ce papier entouré d'un signe de deuil vous donne déja l'explication et l'excuse de mon silence. un coup terrible m'a frappé, j'ai eu le malheur de perdre ma mêre, jeune encore, et dans tout la face de l'age et de la santé [...] Par malheur je ne suis pas aussi libre que vous paraissez le croire. je suis obligé de me conformer aux exigences ou aux convenances de l'important recueil où j'écris. il y a des sujets qui, par leur nature même, attirent plus vivement l'attention de la France, ce sont ces sujets-là qu'on m'indique à la Revue des deux mondes et que je traite pour obéir aux voeux du directeur [...] je n'ai pas besoin, d'ailleurs, de vous dire que je réclame toute l'indépendance de ma critique. je vous jugerai en toute liberté, en toute franchise, comme si je ne vous connaissais pas, comme si je n'avais pas été reçu par vous avec une charmante et cordiale hospitalité [...] je désire surtout qu'un ouvrage nouveau, un ouvrage important, signé de votre nom, me fournisse une occasion naturelle de vous consacrer un article et de vous revenir en vos oeuvres passés [...] Veuillez aussi me rappeler au souvenir [...] de M. Dessauer, dont j'ai été si heureux de faire la connaissance [...] bien des amitiés à M. Léopold Kompert [...]". - On mourning paper. Small marginal flaws.
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Taillandier, Saint-René, French writer and critic (1817-1879).
Autograph letter signed. No place, "Samedi".
12mo. 1 page on bifolium. In French. To his son Georges with regrets over being unable to see him at the moment, as he is about to depart town and shall not return before Monday: "Je pas à l'instant peux venir. Parts et n'en reviendrai que Lundi soir. C'est vous dire que je vous envois à tous mes regrets bien vifs [...]". - Slightly toned and creased.
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Uchard, Mario, French writer (1824-1893).
Autograph letter signed. No place, "Dimanche matin".
8vo. 2½ pp. on bifolium. In French. Emotional letter to a friend, announcing to come for lunch to explain his behaviour at a council meeting and to prove that he is safe from the accusations of a "delirious capuchin", speaking of "revolt", "insolence" and a "monkey whistling the Marseillaise": "De la révolte et des insolences!!! Mon singe favori sifflant la Marseillaise!!!!! Alors c'est la guerre? Soit! Je me jetterai dans les bras de l'ours! A moi mes fidèles cannibales! A onze heures ½ je monterai à cheval, et j'arriverai déjeuner vers midi, car je ne pourrais venir diner ce soir. J'expliquerai alors ma conduite au conseil des sages assemblés par les bambous, et je démontrerai que si des incidents imprévus ont pu déranger ma politique, je suis néanmoins à l'abri des accusations démagogiques d'un sapajou en délire [...]". - Slightly spotty; small marginal tear in the centrefold; angular crease on second page.
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Vernoy de Saint-Georges, Jules-Henri, French playwright (1799-1875).
Autograph letter signed. No place, "Dimanche".
8vo. 1 page on bifolium. In French. To a friend, rescheduling their "literary breakfast" and about finishing his "charming" book: "Voulez vous remettre à mercredi prochain, notre petit déjeuner littéraire, de demain lundi. J'aurai eu le tems d'achever votre livre, que je trouve charmant [...]". - On stationery with stamped coronet.
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Xanrof, Léon, French humourist, musical artist, playwright and songwriter (1867-1953).
Autograph calling card. 10, rue Cholozé [Paris], no date.
Oblong calling card format. 2 pp. On mourning paper. In French. To an acquaintance, urging him to set a date for his visit to Borginal, as he is about to leave for a vacation, asking him to repeat the name of the station at which he must disembark: "Il faut absolument que je vous voie. Quel jour puis je aller à Borginal, si vous ne pouvez venir à Paris? Je vous en supplie, repondez moi, car je pars bientôt en vacances! Affectueusement à vous [...] Ah! Et puis soyez assez aimable pour me rappeler le nom de votre station?". - "Gil Blas" printed below the name: a reference to Xanrof's two-year involvement with the literary periodical of the same name. The Montmartre address is significant in that it is an area where the Chat Noir establishment first gained popularity and where Xanrof performed.
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Bahr-Mildenburg, Anna, Sopranistin (1872-1947).
Portraitpostkarte mit eigenh. U. O. O., 1911.
Qu.-8vo.
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Bernstein, Leonard, Komponist, Dirigent und Pianist (1918-1990).
Aushangzettel mit eigenh. U. [Washington, D.C., 27. X. 1979].
1 S. Folio. Aushangzettel zu einem Gastspiel der Wiener Philharmoniker in Washington, wo Bernstein am 27. Oktober Beethovens "Fidelio" dirigierte.
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Brahms, Johannes, German composer and pianist (1833-1897).
Autograph postcard signed ("J. Brahms"). [Postmarked: Ischl, 15 August 1896].
Oblong 8vo. 1 page. With autograph address. To Gustav Ophüls, telling him where to find his folk songs, "namely in Nicolay's Almanack, as well as in Kretzschmer and Zuccalmaglio's collection". For some songs Brahms does not know the source: "Erlauben Sie in aller Kürze: meine Volkslieder finden sie zum größten Theil in Nicolay's feinem Almanach u. in Kret[z]schmer's und Zuccalmaglio's Volksliedersammlung (je 2 Theile) für einige (z. B. 'Erlaube mir', 'In stiller Nacht') weiß ich keine gedruckte Quelle [...]". - The pianist and music critic Gustav Ophüls (1866-1926) was director of the district court in Düsseldorf and published a collection of texts set to music by Brahms ("Brahms-Texte. Vollständige Sammlung der von Johannes Brahms componirten und musikalisch bearbeiteten Dichtungen", 1898). In 1921 he also published his memoirs of Brahms ("Erinnerungen an Johannes Brahms"). - In perfect condition.
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Britten, Benjamin, English composer, conductor, and pianist (1913-1976).
8 autograph (7 lettercards and 1 letter) signed ("Ben"). Apparently Aldeburgh, Suffolk, ca. 1969.
Oblong (small) 8vo. 16 pages on 8 ff. All with printed letterhead. Interesting, apparently unpublished correspondence detailing Britten's collaboration with the Revd. Kenneth Sherlock (1901-90), rector of St Bartholomew's Church, Orford, in Woodbridge, Suffolk, where all three "Parables for Church Performance" ("Curlew River", "The Burning Fiery Furnace", and "The Prodigal Son") were performed. Britten is very warm in tone to Sherlock and, in a number of letters, alludes to his declining health, which continued to deteriorate until his death in 1976. - 1) A somewhat philosophical letter about Russia, the Russian people and the human spirit generally and further mentioning a forthcoming tour of Germany and Austria. 2 pp. On headed paper ("The Red House, Aldeburgh, Suffolk"). - The remainder on personalised correspondence cards. - 2+3) About Curlew River: "It was wonderful being able to do Curlew River in your wonderful church […] I'm just off to Holland, after having whizzed up north with Rostropovich […]"; "It is lovely that Curlew River can be back where it belongs in 1965!". - 4) Mentioning "The Prodigal Son": "All goes well here now - only a lot of patience is needed! Don't worry - somehow there will be a Prodigal Son in Orford Church in time! [...]". - 5) Thanking Sherlock for his support: "It is always a real joy for us to come and work in Orford Church - not least because of your own unfailing kindness and deep understanding of what we are trying to do [...]". - 6) "Peter and I are just off to USSR via London for a month or so, so I am afraid a meeting about next year will have to wait till September. But Stephen R. can in the meantime give you all our proposals for next year's Festival at Orford [...]". - 7) "I am here for a week or so (before going off to Helsinki, + to USSR again) [...]". - 8) "What a wonderful lot of flowers - how cheering to be reminded that spring and health will not be far away! I was very touched by them [...]". - Letter 1 shows slight separation to the lower fold; 2 to 8 in excellent condition. Not in the Collected Letters, Volume 6 (1966-1976), ed. by Philip Reed & Mervyn Cooke.
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