RACHILDE

Unpublished autograph letter signed by Rachilde, two pages written in black ink on a double sheet with Mercure de France letterhead.
Interesting letter addressed to an unknown recipient, perhaps a "naval officer". Rachilde defends Les Petites Alliées by Claude Farrère and his style in general: "Je ne veux pas du tout vous laisser croire que l'oeuvre de Claude Farrère, les Petites Alliées, est un ouvrage de basse littérature [...] Claude Farrère est un très joli écrivain qui joint aux becs de sa plume une pointe de dandysme, laquelle pointe peut le faire mal juger aussi bien par vous que par moi, mais n'en demeure pas moins littéraire." ["I do not want you to believe at all that Claude Farrère's work, les Petites Alliées, is a work of low literature [...] Claude Farrère is a very fine writer who adds to his pen's nibs a touch of dandyism, which touch may make him badly judged by you as well as by me, but nonetheless remains literary."] This "touch of dandyism" led to an amusing misunderstanding, as highlighted by Henri Troyat, Farrère's successor at the French Academy, in his reception speech: "As for the feminist Rachilde, deceived by the first name Claude, she had led a fierce campaign for Farrère, taking him for a fellow woman writer."

First edition, a Service de Presse (advance) copy.
Precious signed autograph inscription by Jean-Joë Lauzach to Henri Béraud expanded with the signature of Rachilde.
Small tears to spine slightly faded, boards marginally discolored.
Provenance: from the library of Henri Béraud.

First edition, one of 55 numbered copies on Alfa paper, only large papers.
Preface by A. Ferdinand Hérold.
Beautiful copy.

Printed autographed business card of Rachilde, at her Parisian address in the rue des Ecoles, on which she added these words: "Monday morning I send you the only information I still have, but will I have the physical strength? I am bedridden for the moment, in any case you would do me the pleasure to attend, thank you for your gracious intention, it flatters me a lot and it is not, here, a banal sentence. If I have something new, I telegraph you. "

first edition, one of the review copies service.
Autographed autograph dedication of the author from Rachilde to Marie Huot.
Our copy is enriched with an autograph ticket signed by Rachilde in which she ardently arouses her patriotism and her struggle against the anti-patriots.
Illustrated book of a portrait of Rachilde by Lita Besnard in frontispiece.
Wrinkled back with small gaps at the foot and head.

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on bibliophile vellum, the only deluxe copies.
A handsome copy.

First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on Hollande paper, the only large paper copies.
Spine sunned, a copy with good margins.

First edition on ordinary paper.
Autograph inscription from Rachilde to Henri Béraud.
Provenance : the library of Henri Béraud.

Edition, one of the copies of the first issue.
Bound in half red shagreen, slightly faded back smoothes decorated with gilded nets, marbled paper plates, wrappers preserved and bound in with marginal restorations, mottled head, contemporary binding.
Humorous autograph signed Rachilde to Mr. Michelet namesake of the historian Jules Michelet: "... his old comrade Merovingian time ..."

First edition, review copy.
Signed autograph Rachilde Robert Garric.
Catholic reformist, he was the   founder of "social Teams" in 1920, which aimed to establish a social elite and bring the good word about the brotherhood born of the trenches to the workers, in the tradition of patronage. Simone de Beauvoir, then student of Robert Garric in philosophy at Sainte-Marie Institute of Neuilly, remembers him   in his "Memoirs of a Tidy Wench"   "Garric appeared; I forgot everything else and myself; the authority of his voice subdued me. In twenty years we he explained, he had discovered in the trenches the joys of camaraderie that removed social barriers. [...] To deny all limits and all separations, get out of my class, out of my skin: this slogan electrified me. [...] Must serve my life! Must serve all my life! "
Book decorated with a portrait of Alfred Jarry frontispiece by Cazals.
spine slightly insolated with a little lack in mind, a lack topped the first board, a head track of the last fold sheets.

First edition on ordinary paper, of which there were only 5 Hollande paper.
Retaining an autograph calling card recto-verso from the author.

Edition, one of the copies of the first issue.
Bound in half red shagreen, slightly faded back smoothes decorated with gilded nets, marbled paper plates, wrappers preserved and bound in with marginal restorations, mottled head, contemporary binding.
Humorous autograph signed Rachilde to Mr. Michelet namesake of the historian Jules Michelet: "... his old comrade Merovingian time ..."