FERNANDEL

Original photograph by Studio André Nisak showing Fernandel smiling with a cigarette in his right hand.
Some minor creasing marks to the margins of the photograph.
Photographer's printed stamp on verso of the print.
Autograph inscription signed by Fernandel, in the right margin of the photograph, to Claude Armand.
Provenance: from the collection of the great autograph collector Claude Armand.

Typed letter dated and signed in blue ink by Fernandel, addressed from his Marseilles property "Les milleroses" to his great friend the Provençal writer, caricaturist and filmmaker Carlo Rim, who was also his biographer.
(24 lines, creases inherent to folding for mailing as well as in the left margin).
Fernandel first conforms to the courtesies of New Year wishes: "Obligé de commencer ma lettre comme la tienne (par correction), je te présente mes meilleurs voeux pour toi et tous ceux que tu aimes." ["Obliged to begin my letter like yours (out of courtesy), I present my best wishes for you and all those you love."] before signifying that he will not delay in sending him the exhaustive list of his filmography, Carlo Rim wishing to write a biography of his friend Fernandel: "... afin que tu puisses avoir des choses vraies à raconter..." ["... so that you can have true things to tell..."]
Finally, Fernandel returns to an article published in Cinémonde and written by Alice, Carlo Rim's wife, for whom he harbors vindictive memories: "... dis-lui de ma part, qu'on ne peut pas écrire de plus grandes conneries, car d'après son papier, j'ai été imposé dans le film d'Aron... et qui m'avait démandé si cela ne me faisait rien d'avoir Gaby Morlay comme partenaire..." ["... tell her from me, that one cannot write greater nonsense, because according to her article, I was imposed in Aron's film... and who had asked me if it didn't bother me to have Gaby Morlay as a partner..."], Fernandel concluding his letter with a peremptory: "... mon cher Carlo, je te supplie de ne pas prendre ta femme comme collaboratrice pour le livre, car alors..." ["... my dear Carlo, I beg you not to take your wife as collaborator for the book, because then..."]
Manuscript signature in blue ink by Fernandel at the foot of the letter.

Original photograph taken on the set of "L'armoire volante", a humorous police intrigue, with Fernandel in the leading role.
The photograph shows Carlo Rim standing to the right of Fernandel, giving him advice, with three people involved in the filming present in the background, period silver gelatin print.
Carlo Rim was a Provençal writer "Ma belle Marseille", a caricaturist, a filmmaker and was notably the friend of Fernandel, Raimu and Marcel Pagnol but also of Max Jacob and André Salmon whom he met in Sanary."
Manuscript annotations, in pencil, by Carlo Rim, on the verso of the photograph: "Carlo Rim Fernandel L'armoire volante 1948."

Original photograph taken during the filming of "L'armoire volante," a humorous police intrigue, starring Fernandel.
The photograph shows Carlo Rim from behind, his hands resting on a window balcony, offering his advice to Fernandel facing him, vintage silver gelatin print.
Carlo Rim was a Provençal writer "Ma belle Marseille", a caricaturist, a filmmaker and was notably the friend of Fernandel, Raimu and Marcel Pagnol but also of Max Jacob and André Salmon whom he met in Sanary."
Manuscript annotations in pencil by Carlo Rim on the verso of the photograph: "Carlo Rim Fernandel L'armoire volante 1948."

Autograph signed letter card from Fernandel, on letterhead from his property L'Oustau de la Mar at Carry-le-Rouet, addressed to his great friend the Provençal writer, caricaturist and filmmaker Carlo Rim, who was also his biographer.
(10 lines in turquoise ink, the ink having smudged on three words).
"18 Sept 1951
My dear Carlo,
I leave tomorrow for Italy, but I haven't forgotten you. You will receive documentation and manuscript pages "My memoirs" published by "Ce soir" in 1938, you will thus have all the details from my birth and my different jobs before being an artist (at least I believe so). Affectionately Fernandel."