Letters and autographs

CHARLES DE MESNY, CHEVALIER DE COLOGNE, AGENT TO THE KING OF PRUSSIA. Important and fascinating archive of around 45 documents detailing relations between France and Prussia under Louis XV and during French emigration to Germany during the Revolution. Around 110 pages to study, including: FREDERIC II, DIT LE GRAND (1712-1786), King of Prussia. -3 L.S., two with long autograph apostilles and draft replies. Potsdam, February, August and December 1768. 3 pp. in-4. The King warns his agent about gold deliveries and silver exports and makes recommendations. He admonishes him and asks him to render accounts, and sends him a passport for France and a laissez-passer, etc. -a draft reply from Charles de Mesny. -a manuscript entitled: "Négociations du Chevalier Mesny de Cologne entre la France et la Prusse au mois de Juin 1768". Wesel, Potsdam and Versailles, June to August 1768. 20 pp. in-4. Silk laces. Transcription of the correspondence between Charles de Mesny, accredited agent of the King of Prussia, and that of Frederick II, with the Duc de Choiseul, for the conclusion of commercial treaties. A fascinating work. - COLBERT, Édouard Victurnien Charles René (1754-1839). Important set of 16 L.A. Essen, 1795-1796. Approx. 50 pp. in-4. Fine seals with the famous Colbert family coat of arms. Exciting correspondence recounting various episodes of the Revolution, echoes of the moods of French émigrés. In particular, the Vendée, Quiberon and Noirmoutier. "I am waiting for news from my brother and from England to make up my mind, as the silence of Mal de Castries leaves me free to do what I think best to serve Royalty in France. Since I pointed out to him that my arrival in the Vendée without any instruction whatsoever and as a simple volunteer could be of no use, I have had no news from him [...]"; "I also regret that the Baron de Breteuil has not been called by the King [...]". "Monsieur le Duc de Bourbon, who is only passing through London, will leave on Le Robuste [...]". - CALONNE, Charles Alexandre de (1734-1802), comte d'Hannonville, former minister of Louis XVI. Set of 5 L.A.S. Coblenz and Trêves, July and August 1792. 14 pp. in-4. Calonne, alongside the King's brothers, appeals to the King of Prussia for help in dealing with "the shortage of finances of our august princes at the most important and decisive moment of their noble enterprise". The ex-minister mentions the men available for the Princes' army, loans from Holland and drafts from Russia, the diamonds of the Countess de Vergennes, thanks for the funds received, etc. - COMTE DE MINNERAYE. Set of 8 L.A.S. and one P.A. Koblenz and s.l., July to September 1792. 14 pp. in-4. Curious red or black wax seals featuring a cat with the motto "a mauvais chat mauvais rat". Discusses finances and news affecting towns where emigrants have ended up. The worst rumors are circulating: "The Army General Staff announces that we're making great strides towards Paris, but the mail from the lower rin ma fait dresser les cheveux hÿer. It announces that the king is assassinated and the queen dead [...]". To be studied. - MISCELLANEOUS Aristocrats. Passive correspondence from the Chevalier de Cologne. 10 L.S. Essen, Pirmont, Breslau, Augsburg, Vienna, s.l. September 1795 to May 1796. 11 pp. in-4 and 2 pp. in-8. Discusses alliances, finances and various considerations on the Revolution. "What do you say about the famous Vendémiaire days? It seems to me that the royalists and constitutionalists of 1791 were in too much of a hurry [...]". Expert: Madame Mathilde Lalin-Leprevost

Slavery. Pétition aux Chambres, pour demander l'abolition de l'Esclavage dans les Colonies Françaises. [Paris], Société française pour l'abolition de l'esclavage, 1847 (August 30). Paperback, illustrated engraved title label on front cover, 16 pp. ("A Messieurs les Membres de la Chambre des Députés") and [12] pp. of blank table for collecting signatures, 16 pp. ("A Messieurs les Membres de la Chambre des Pairs") and [12] pp. of blank table for collecting signatures, autographed, preceded by an autographed letter of [4] pp. in-4 by Dutrône, secretary of the Society. Attached is a set of 8 engravings (on loose sheets), depicting scenes of slavery in the colonies, published by the Société française pour l'abolition de l'esclavage. Very rare set of this important petition initiated by Victor Schoelcher, which led to the abolition of slavery proclaimed by decree on April 27, 1848 (Only one copy listed by OCLC at BnF). "Reinstated under Bonaparte by the law of 30 Floréal Year X (May 20, 1802), slavery was definitively abolished on April 27, 1848. The decree issued by the Provisional Government on March 4, 1848 created the Commission for the Abolition of Slavery, stating that "no French land may bear slaves any longer". According to the recitals of the abolition decree of April 27, 1848, "slavery is an attack on human dignity; [...] by destroying man's free will, it abolishes the natural principle of right and duty; [...] it is a flagrant violation of the republican dogma: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity." The abolition of slavery took effect in all French colonies and possessions within two months of the decree being promulgated in each of them. 250,000 black and mixed-race slaves in the West Indies, Reunion and Senegal were freed. The decree of April 27, 1848 absolutely prohibited "all corporal punishment and all sale of unfree persons". It prohibited all French citizens, even in foreign countries, from owning, buying or selling slaves, and from participating, either directly or indirectly, in any trafficking or exploitation of this kind. Any breach of these provisions will result in the loss of French citizenship". Article 7 specifies that "the soil of France frees the slave who touches it". The main instigator of this measure, Victor Schoelcher, was elected people's representative in Guadeloupe and Martinique. Opting for Martinique, he elected his Guadeloupean running mate Louisy Mathieu, a thirty-one-year-old former slave and typographer at a Pointe-à-Pitre printing works, to the National Constituent Assembly. His deputy was Henri Wallon." assemblee-nationale.fr.

Pierre-Jean de BÉRANGER (1780-1857). 6 L.A.S., 1831-1855, to various; 10 pages in-8 or in-12, qqs addresses. Thanks for laudatory articles, appointments; to a national guard friend, (June 1848), hoping he had not "personally to suffer in such a terrible disaster"; to F. de Lesseps (July 12, 1852) concerned about the appointment of Eugène Tastu, son of Amable Tastu, to the Consulate of Jassy (in Moldavia [Romania]): "Bon Dieu, lui et sa mère, que deviendront-ils dans ce pays? "to a painter (December 17, 1855) to whom he refused permission to paint his portrait: "Scheffer, I must say, stole my portrait [...] I would have liked the public not to know my ugly old face, not out of self-love, but because nothing has ever displeased me as much as being recognized in public places". Enclosed is an autograph manuscript of a song L'Abbesse d'un couvent comme il y a encore beaucoup (6 pages in-8).

Autograph handwritten letter by Monsieur, Fils de France, Frère du Roy, Signed by Charles Philippe future Charles X, (December 21, 1815) Lieutenant General of the Kingdom, for the Brevet d'Huissier du Conseil de Monsieur. Red wax seal with the coat of arms of France (framed)

ROZIER (Abbé). Cours complet d'agriculture. Paris, Hôtel de Serpente, 1781-1796 (volumes 1 to 9), Paris, librairie d'éducation, an VIII-1800 (volume 10) Paris, Marchant, Drevet, Chapart, Caille Ravier, 1805 (volumes 10 to 12). 13 volumes in-4, first edition illustrated with numerous black plates off-text, including fold-outs, and tables in and off-text, some fold-outs. Complete with the tenth volume, almost entirely devoted to vines and wine, and the 2 volumes of supplements edited by Thouin after Rozier's death. An exceptional copy, enriched with a volume of documents recounting the difficulties of publishing the last volume of the Cours complet d'agriculture. When Abbé Rozier died in 1793, volume 9 remained unfinished and unpublished. It was finally printed in 1796, followed by a tenth volume in 1800 and two volumes of supplements in 1805. This volume includes a manuscript faux-title, 6 p. of manuscript table, 1 f. of subscription prospectus for the Cours complet d'Agriculture (1779) mounted on tab, a copy of a letter addressed by Huzard, veterinarian, to Cuchet, bookseller, to be included among the subscribers, Cuchet's autograph letter in reply, 1 f. printed announcing the publicaton of the first volume to subscribers by Cuchet, the printed receipt for the amount of Huzard's subscription completed and signed by Cuchet, a copy of a letter from Huzard proposing to Abbé Rozier a veterinary memoir on "Eaux aux jambes", a disease of horses, for publication in his Cours, autograph letters signed by Cuchet and Abbé Rozier giving him a favorable reply, dated 1781, the latter annotated in Huzard's hand indicating that the article had been inserted in Volume IV, pages 84-89, the printed receipt for the amount of Huzard's subscription for the second volume completed and signed by Lemoisne for Cuchet, a copy of a letter from Huzard to M. Bacher, editor of the journal de médecine, concerning the article "Catharre" by M. Thorel, published in the second volume of the Cours d'Agriculture, which is said to be a copy of one of his articles on the subject of catarrhal epizootics, a copy of a letter from Huzard to M. Mongez, editor of the Journal de Physique, on the same subject, the printed receipt for Huzard's subscription for the third volume, completed and signed by Lemoisne for Cuchet (1783), Cuchet's printed circular letter to subscribers asking them to pay in advance the amount of subscriptions due to the fire in his stock of books (April 25, 1783), printed circular letter from Cuchet to subscribers announcing the publication of the fourth volume, printed receipts for subscription amounts and circular letters for the publication of volumes 5 to 8, annotated by hand "Huzard imp. lib. rue de l'éperon"; a printed memorandum for citizen A. J. Dugour, homme de lettres et libraire, propriétaire du Cours d'Agriculture, par Rozier, contre les citoyens Leroy, frères, libraires à Lyon, contrefacteurs dudit COurs d'Agriculture (20 pages), pièces justificatives - 7 et 8 Thermidor [1798] (36 pages), premier mémoire et consultations pour le citoyen Leroy servant de réponse au mémoire publié contre lui sous le nom d'A.J. Dugour, annotated "Huzard" (48 pages, 1799), a printed extract from the chronique universelle of 27 Pluviose an 7 concerning the trial (4 pages, 1799), Consultation du citoyen Dugour contre les citoyens Leroy (92 pages, 1799), Second mémoire pour le citoyen Leroy contre le citoyen A. Jeudy-Dugour (40 pages, 1799), Réplique pour le citoyen Leroy, contre le citoyen Dugour, par le citoyen Reyre (56 pages), Résumé de l'affaire du citoyen Leroy contre le citoyen Jeudi-Dugour (2 pages), Réfutation de quelques principes d'agriculture avancés par MM. de Buffon, Condorcet et de Rosier, par M. Defage-Chazeau, président du canton de Pont-Saint-Esprit, département du Gard. Paris, de l'imprimerie de Charles, an XIII - 1805 (20 pages), announcement of publication of volumes XI and XII of the Cours complet d'agriculture (2 pages, 1805), Extrait du Magasin encyclopédique concernant le Cours complet d'agriculture, volumes XI and XII (March 1806 issue, 20 pages). Probably a copy by Jean-Baptiste Huzard, an eminent French veterinarian who was president of the Académie des Sciences in 1815. A great bibliophile, he was renowned for his research into documents relating to major scientific works. In particular, Huzard was appointed by the Commission d'Agriculture et des Arts to travel to Lyon in search of Rozier's manuscripts. In this volume, several of the memoirs bear his name in ink, his letters are copied and the original letters addressed to him are mounted on laid paper. Attached unbound: 2 handwritten testimonies in the L

PROUST Marcel [Paris, 1871 - id., 1922], French writer. Autograph letter signed on mourning paper. 4 pages in-4° (slight tears on center fold) "You are a thousand times good to have written me this exquisite note, and if I hadn't been more particularly ill these days, I would have thanked you sooner. [...] I am truly confused ( and would have been quite intimidated had I known in advance ) to see that the little articles have been read by a scholar and writer like yourself. Your double merit should make you quite severe: [...] Handled, however, by hands more beautiful than [mine], it seems to me that it might be d.... as an indirect, more discreet, more frail and more elegant form of literary criticism. Fine minds could devote themselves to it, and very fine minds too - like yours, very attached by grandeur, seriousness, duty, [...] could enjoy it, .... games. .... also sometimes to make little of ridiculous literatures! If I could have turned them over or started them again, (but that's all too far away), I would have published them, if I'd known you were reading this for fun."

PROUST Marcel [Paris, 1871 - id., 1922], French writer. Autograph letter signed, on mourning paper. Undated; 3 pages in-4°, slight tears on center fold. Proust gives his support to his correspondent for an upcoming election and explains that he has also written to Mr. Hetter to try to influence his vote. "I thank you for having guessed the pleasure you would give me by associating me even for such a modest part in the success so desired by all of an election that is needed. I have written to Mr. Hetter on behalf of all of you in the warmest terms, and those which I believed to be the most hostile. Unfortunately, I'm not personally related to him, which would have made my approach easier and more decisive. But as he has kept a very deep memory of my father and remained very faithfully attached to my mother, I believe he will decide to please us. Is Dr. Duplay voting for you? He's not a very influential person, but he was a great friend of Dad's, and he's always been very kind and affectionate to me.

Jean LORRAIN (1855-1906, writer) / Autograph letter signed, 2 p in-8, illustrated letterhead from Grand Hôtel Kraft's, Nice, (1901), to Pierre Gauthiez (1862-1945, historian and critic), concerning his correspondent's dispatch of his "Jean des Bandes Noires" (the life of Jean de Médicis, published in 1901 in Ollendorf's collection "L'Italie du XVIème") - He comes from Florence, and is grateful for the thoughtfulness of sending his work, "although the Florence of yesterday, which I passed through, has appalled me more than delighted me" - If he sent the book to Paris, "there's every chance I won't receive it, as my mother and servants have been here for eight days", "the Paris residence is closed and we are settling today for a long month in sunny, slimy Nice, where I have, I believe, little chance of recovery, for I am very ill" - If he renews the shipment to Nice, "Jean des Bandes Noires has every chance of being welcome here by Jean de Sanglots rouges".

CINEMA - Pauline CARTON (Pauline Biarez dite, 1884-1974, actress, she was the great friend and accomplice of Sacha Guitry) / Autograph letter signed, 2 p in-4, to Max Favalelli

THEATRE - RACHEL(Rachel Félix dite, 1821-1858, tragedienne, died of tuberculosis at age 36) / Autograph letter signed, 1 p in-8: Rachel announces that she will perform the second act of "Virginie" for the benefit of her fellow actors Madame Person and Monsieur de Laferrière.

MUSIC - Marie PLEYEL (née Moke, 1811-1875, Belgian pianist, wife of Camille Pleyel, she was engaged to Hector Berlioz) / Autograph letter signed, 1 p in-8

Alfred VALETTE (1858-1953, writer and editor, director of "Mercure de France") / Interesting autograph letter signed December 29, 1903, in which he announces his forthcoming publications, including a translation by Marcel Proust of John Ruskin's "Bible d'Amiens" and a translation of H.G. Wells, between Moréas, Verhaeren and Péladan.

Mary Augusta WARD (née Arnold in Australia, 1851-1920, British woman of letters) / Important correspondence in English of 18 autograph letters signed, 1 typed letter signed and 2 autograph cards signed, totaling 2 p in-4, 51 p in-8, 4 envelopes enclosed, Years 1900, to the Swiss woman of letters Julie de Mestral-Combremont (1863-1954)

Asia - Manuscript. Lettres d'Auguste. Pendant son voyage en Cochinchin. sl, sd. Manuscript signed A. Gaildraud of an account of his trip between January 27 and June 28, 1876, written in the form of letters to his parents. An in-4 notebook of [46] carefully handwritten pages. The letters begin aboard the Aveyron and Auguste's arrival in Port Said. "It's a very mixed population, there are Chinese, English and Arabs." At Suez "the commandant and the other officers went to dine with M. de Lesseps, engineer and director of the canal." He arrives in Aden, where the heat is oppressive, and we learn of his rank: "Sergeant in the 29th Company of the 3rd Marine Regiment in Saigon." During the trip from Ceylon to Saigon, Auguste was "late for a night call [...] and [was] punished with 2 days' iron". He even provides us with a small drawing "of the rings where the feet are caught". On March 24 they arrived in Saigon, but the letters stopped until June 12, as he had meanwhile "been admitted to hospital with dysentery". He was very ill and spent several weeks in hospital. When his letters stop on June 28, we fear the worst, but in his last letter he expresses the obvious love he feels for his parents: "See me changed from night to day, from a mad and giddy young man, having become serious and full of courage and ever-increasing affection for all my excellent parents."

THEATRE - REJANE (Gabrielle Réju dite, 1856-1920, comedienne) / Set of 12 autograph letters signed, totalling 25 p in-8, to various people.

ZOLA Denise [Paris, 1889 - id., 1942], French writer. Autograph letter signed and addressed to Mr. de Fleury. Paris, October 31, 1889; 1 page in-4°. Zola is too busy to receive Mr. de Fleury and asks him to change his date. "But I'm so busy that I'm forced to give you an appointment for Sunday.

PRIX NOBEL - Ferdinand BUISSON (1841-1932), philosopher and politician, co-founder of the Ligue des Droits de l'Homme, Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1927. Set of 2 autograph letters signed (each 2 p in-8), 1 autograph card signed (2 p in-12) with envelope and an autograph visiting card (2 p small in-12), friendly correspondence to the Swiss woman of letters Julie de Mestral.

GORDON BENNETT CUP - James GORDON BENNETT(1841-1918,American pressman at the head of the "Herald Tribune", passionate about sports he is the creator and patron of several prestigious competitionsincluding the Gordon Bennett Automobile Cup) / Autograph letter signed, 2 p in-8, headed to his Paris address, envelope enclosed / Joint: suite of 15 old postcards (blank) of the Gordon Bennett Cup of 1905 featuring the Michelin circuit at its various locations.

ZOLA Émile [Paris, 1840 - id., 1902], French writer. Autograph letter signed and addressed to Mr de Fleury. Paris March 13, 1893; 1 page in-4°. Zola would like to see Mr. de Fleury for a chat. "I've been rushed, so I apologize for taking so long to reply. My woodcarver will see you tomorrow, Tuesday. Make your price in advance. I intend to ask you for an appointment soon to have a chat."

Chagall, Les Ames mortes, 2 volumes, artist's autograph signature, Tériade Éditeur, MCMXLVIII, Paris 1948. Missing hors-texte plates, justification page, wear to slipcase.

Jacques CHARDONNE (1884-1968, writer and publisher) / Autograph letter signed, 1 p in-8, La Frette, April 7, 1957

VARIOUS AUTOGRAPHS Important lot of 20 signed autograph letters and autograph cards. Glued in an old photo album. The names of : Auguste Lumière, Paul Bourget, Marie de Régnier, Robert de Flers, Abel Hermant, Ludovic Halévy et Daniel Halévy, Octave Mirbeau....

ZOLA Émile [Paris, 1840 - id., 1902], French writer. Autograph manuscript signed, 5 pages, "Rapport d'Emile Zola sur la candidature du Docteur Maurice de Fleury à la société des gens de lettres". Copy bound in red half-maroquin by Ad. Lavaux, damaged at edge "Doctor Maurice de Fleury is one of the most distinguished and penetrating minds I know. For nearly fifteen years now, I have seen him, on the ever-narrowing frontier between the sciences, interested in all subjects, ceaselessly producing as a good writer who would be a true scholar. [...] For Maurice de Fleury is still a great journalist, having once contributed six months to "Le Temps" and a year to "Gil Blas"; and, for the last twelve years, he has been the medical contributor to "Le Figaro". Those who have been able to follow him know with what an alert and profound pen he has mingled with all the events, all the discoveries whose discussions have enthralled science, while always remaining the liberated practitioner, the scientist of progress and humanity who prides himself on being a writer and a philosopher. Maurice de Fleury is one of our own, his many titles stand out, and I hope that the committee will unanimously nominate him as a Sociétaire.

ZOLA Émile [Paris, 1840 - id., 1902], French writer. Autograph letter signed and addressed to Mr. de Fleury. Paris, April 28, 1890 1 page in-4°; Bottom of page damaged. Zola asks Mr. de Fleury to change the time of their appointment. "Desmoulin tells me that you must come to see me tomorrow morning, Tuesday, at ten o'clock. If you intend to come, please come at half past 9, as I have to leave at half past 10.

DERNIERE LETTRE AVANT DE MOURIR - Gabriel FERRY (Louis de Bellemare dit, Grenoble 1809-1852, author of adventure novels, died at sea on January 3, 1852 in a fire on the ship "L'Amazone", on his way to San-Francisco to follow the adventures of the gold seekers) / Impressive autograph letter signed "L. de Bellemare", probably one of his very last, written before perishing at sea: 3 p in-8 dense letter to a friend, from Southampton on January 1, 1852, the day before his fatal embarkation on the "L'Amazone" [George Sand, who prefaced the 1863 posthumous reprint of his work "Les Révolutions du Mexique", quotes another letter from Ferry to his son, dated January 1, 1852, and recounts his last heroic moments].

Pierre BENOIT (1886-1962, Académie Française writer) / Autograph letter signed, 1 p in-8, from Arcachon

ZOLA Émile [Paris, 1840 - id., 1902], French writer. Autograph letter signed and addressed to Mr de Fleury. Paris October 26, 1889 1 1/2 pages in-4°. Emile Zola thanks his colleague for writing an article about him full of praise. "You could not have written anything more pleasing to me, for you have avenged me of many attacks and shed light on points that people persist in obscuring. There is too much praise here for me to find you just; but in truth, I wish no other justice from the future."

THEATRE - ANTOINE (André Antoine dit, 1858-1943, actor, stage director and theater manager) / Autograph letter signed, 2 p in-8, Théâtre Antoine illustrated letterhead, October 7, 1900, to Léon Hennique, who has adapted Alphonse Daudet's novel "La petite Paroisse": he submits the cast and says he is ready to work on rehearsals.

Maxime DU CAMP(1822-1894,Ecrivain de l'Académie Française ami de Flaubert et Baudelaire) / Autograph letter signed, 1 p in-8, April 301880,to engineer and explorer Louis Simonin(name of addressee written in another hand): He encourages him to read "La Bible de la Découverte moderne" by Abbé Vigouroux, as "in this work the question you touch on is treated in a very complete and scientific way".

Princess Constance de SALM-DYCK (née de Théis, 1767-1845, poetess) / Autograph letter signed, 3 p in-8 plus address page with postage, Dyck, March 14, 1825, to M. Buchon, editor of Le Constitutionnel (a few words missing due to careless opening of the letter at the time) / Enclosed: engraved portrait.

BELOT (Adolphe). Set of 21 autograph letters, 19 signed, to his publisher Edouard Dentu. Paris, Trouville, Le Pouliguen et sl, 1872-1875 et sd. 39 pp. in-8 or in-12; 5 letters written on mourning paper. Born in Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) in 1829, Adolphe Belot was the son of a solicitor at that city's court. He studied in Paris and became a lawyer. After several trips to the Americas, he devoted himself to literature, writing numerous novels and plays. He died in Paris in 1890. Most of his books were published by Edouard Dentu (1830-1884), a publisher and bookseller famous for being the first to publish Allan Kardec's works. This correspondence refers to the publication of some of his novels: Le Drame de la rue de la Paix (1867); La Femme de feu (1872); Une maison centrale de femmes (1875); Mme Vitel et Mlle Lelièvre (1875). Discusses corrections to the text, the sending of proofs and print orders, the transfer of Michel Lévy's rights to Dentu, rehearsals at the Théâtre du Vaudeville, invitations, health problems, etc. Enclosed: -BELOT (Adolphe). 5 signed letters, including 2 autographs, to various correspondents. Paris, 1873 and s.l.n.d., 10 pp. mostly in-8. Two letters, addressed to "Mon cher Marnet", concern the recruitment of actresses for plays. - BELOT (Adolphe)]. 4 press clippings about him, pasted on one sheet. S.l., 1863-1864, 1 f. in-12 oblong. They concern Les Indifférents, performed at the Odéon theater in 1863, and Trois nouvelles, published the same year. - BELOT (Adolphe)]. La Chronique illustrée. Artistic and literary journal. Set of two issues (28 and 46). Paris, 1871-1872, 8 pp. in-folio folded, edges rubbed. Contains two large portraits of Belot, one by Marquet, the other by Demare.

Jean-Louis BORY (1919 - suicide 1979, journalist, film critic and novelist, Prix Goncourt 1945) / Autograph answers to journalist Edmond Alvy's survey for the magazine "Prétexte", Années 50, on autobiography and fiction in the modern novel, 2 p in-4, with accompanying autograph letter, 1 p in-8 (very interesting biographical information)

Jean RICHEPIN (1849-1926, writer for the Académie française) / Autograph letter signed, 1 p in-8, Château des Trois-Fontaines, Dammartin-en-Serve: he's not feeling well, "I finished 'La plus forte' with great difficulty, I'm gathering my strength to go and give a lecture in Ostend next week" (he adds in Latin: dame! ("La plus forte" is a lyric drama written by Richepin to music by Xavier Leroux, released in 1924).

EDITEURS Set of 3 autographs: 1°) René JULLIARD(1900-1962, publisher), typed letter signed by himself, 1 p in-4, January 281959, to Louis Merlin, boss of Europe n°1 / 2°) Ferdinand NATHAN(1858-1947, publisher), autograph card signed by himself, 1 p small in-8 / 3°) Pierre SEGHERS(1906-1987, publisher), typed letter signed by himself, 1 p in-4, November 161951

Marquis Joachim Napoléon PEPOLI(1825-1881, Italian politician, grandson of Joachim Murat and grandnephew of Napoleon I) / Autograph letter signed, 1 p small in-4 plus address page with postage, Sardinia, June 12, 1850, to the Maison de commerce Lassalle in Paris concerning various orders.

Jean RICHEPIN(1849-1926, poet, novelist and playwright) / Autograph letter signed, 1 p in-8 / Attached: photo on postcard

Désirée TASCHER de LA PAGERIE (Le Carbet Martinique 1739-1803, direct aunt of Joséphine, it was she who arranged Joséphine's marriage to Alexandre de Beauharnais in Martinique) / Autograph letter signed, 1 p large in-8 plus address page, Paris, 24 nivôse an 6 (January 13, 1798), to citoyen Beauto, concerning her allocation of Loterie offices: "I went to the lottery administrators and told them they would receive a well-recommended petition", "my niece told me to keep quiet", "I am assured of the Fontainebleau office" [Aunt Désirée always knew how to maneuver by using Joséphine: she had herself allocated 2 Lottery offices, highly remunerative, she had the Fontainebleau one managed by the young Adèle, natural daughter of Alexandre Beauharnais].

UNITED KINGDOM - Edward HEATH (1916-2005, Prime Minister from 1970 to 1974) / Typed letter signed by him, 1 p in-8, April 10, 1975, envelope retained / Enclosed: his speech at the Hastings Conference on April 5, 1975, which he announced would be sent in the letter.

ZOLA Émile [Paris, 1840 - id., 1902], French writer. Autograph letter signed and addressed to Mr de Fleury. Paris November 15, 1890. 2 pages in-4°. Zola liked Mr. de Fleury's book very much and congratulates him warmly. "I like your book very much, my dear de Fleury, and I like it above all for its soul, I mean for the particular life that is in it, both undeceptive and infinitely tender. To come to the details, the first story is my favorite: nothing is more pungent or tender than this love born of violated modesty; and how beautiful it is as eternal desire, the doctor, without disgust, adoring the woman, whose suffering sex he has just treated! Conception is also a story of great intensity in its tragic horror; and I find in it, beneath the smell of blood, that gift which seems to me to be your hallmark: infinite tenderness. The last story is even more exquisite: your young man who dares to be happy with the first girl he possesses, when all our novelists have decreed that this first girl is nothing but disillusionment, dirt and suffering."

Paul DESCHANEL(1855-1922, President of the Republic in1920) / Autograph letter signed, 1 p in-8, envelope enclosed

Paul FORT(Reims1872-1960, poet)/ Autograph letter signed, 1 page in-8

ZOLA Émile [Paris, 1840 - id., 1902], French writer. Autograph letter signed and addressed to Mr. de Fleury. Paris, October 15, 1893; 1 1/4 pages in-4°. Zola asks his friend to change their lunch date if possible. "You're very kind to invite me to lunch. But it will waste your time, and mine too, since I only have lunch at one o'clock. Why don't you make an appointment for two-thirty, for example, with Mr. Gille de la Tourette, either on Thursday or Friday. We could simply go to his house.

Maurice DEKOBRA(1885-1973, great reporter and novelist, known for his best-selling novelLa Madone des Sleepings / Typed letter signed in his own hand, 1 p in-4,fine letterhead illustrated with two entwined cobrasand addressed to him in Paris, November 13, 1934, concerning a manuscript deposited withEditions Baudinière

Louise COLET(Aix-en-Provence 1810 - 1876, woman of letters, she was the mistress of Flaubert, Vigny, Musset) / Title page (glued fragment on sheet 14 x 20.5 cm) of her story "Promenade en Hollande" with autograph signed letter to the journalist Paulin Limayrac, work was published in 1859.

ESCRIME - Augustin GRISIER (1791-1865, master of arms, friend of Alexandre Dumas, whose dueling scenes he advised technically) / Autograph letter signed, 1 p in-8

Fernand LEDOUX (1897-1993, actor) / Autograph letter signed, 2 p large in-8, Villerville-sur-Mer, February 2, 1988, to Max Favalelli

Docteur Antoine Emile BLANCHE (1828-1893, psychiatrist and alienist, treated Nerval and Maupassant) / Autograph letter, 1 p in-8, Passy, March 18, 1867: he requests a theater box, "I am such a supporter of Madame Aubray's ideas that I would like to send you all the people I know" ("Les Idées de Madame Aubray" is a comedy by Alexandre Dumas Fils that was first performed at the Théâtre du Gymnase on March 16, 1867, 2 days before this letter).

POLICIER - BOILEAU NARCEJAC (joint signature of Pierre-Louis Boileau, 1906-1989, and Thomas Narcejac, Pierre Ayraud dit, 1908-1998, authors of detective novels / Autograph signed letter from Pierre Boileau countersigned by Thomas Narcejac to writer Claude Seignolle on detached page from one of their works.

LES PAYS BAS EN 1805 (REPUBLIQUE BATAVE): Autograph letter signed (2 p in-8 plus address page) from geographer Edmé MENTELLE (1730-1815) to his colleague Jean-Denis BARBIER DU BOCAGE (1760-1825), in which he announces the copy by himself of a letter from Dutch scholar Jan Hendrik van SWINDEN (1746-1823, mathematician, physicist and politician) who, also one of the Directors of the Batave Republic, provides extensive information on the geographical divisions, constitution and administration of the Batave Republic; Manuscript in Edme Mentelle's hand, copying van Swinden's letter, 22 p. large in-8, with header annotation in Barbier du Bocage's hand.

GASTRONOMY - [GRIMOD DE LA REYNIERE] / Félicie ROUVIERE (wife of Docteur Rouvière), signed autograph letter addressed to the famous gastronome in 1812, she offers on behalf of the "doctor of the jury" (tasting panel created by Grimod de La Reynière), "through me, to his illustrious secretary, a gourmet souvenir from the Vaucluse department": "May he find this Cavaillon melon worthy of him, and eat it with as much pleasure as we have to offer" (in apostille, date in Grimod's handwriting).