Cassis (Bouches-Du-Rhône)

Autograph letter dated and signed by Roger Martin du Gard, 58 lines in black ink on a double sheet to the manager of his château du Tertre located in the Perche.
While vacationing in Cassis: "having fled this year, with my wife, the mists of the Perche," Roger Martin du Gard has just learned from his wife, who returned hastily to their château du Tertre, that torrential rains have severely affected their property: "Disaster in the house... the ceiling is nothing but a sieve, it rains as much inside as outside... The terraces are starting to leak again from all sides... everything is affected: paintings, wallpaper, electrical conduits. What should I do?"
The writer urges his correspondent to contact, without delay, the contractor whom he holds responsible for the defective work that caused this new damage: "But the fact remains that all this is the contractor's fault and that it is unacceptable. I cannot accept having, every two years, ceilings and paintings to redo, wallpaper to replace." and against whom he wishes to initiate legal proceedings: "The waterproofing of the terraces is the essential condition for this type of work and I think I am within my rights in taking action against the contractor. I therefore ask you to do urgently everything you deem necessary, certain that you will take your own share of responsibility in this unfortunate affair."
To facilitate the renovation work, the irritated father of the Thibaults warns his interlocutor that part of his family will inhabit the damaged château: "There will therefore always be someone at the end of the line, without you needing to route your correspondence through Cassis... I regret it but you must put yourself in my place and understand that I cannot accept this state of affairs..."

Autograph letter signed by Roger Martin du Gard addressed from Cassis to his friend Alice Rim (3 pages, 48 lines in black ink) in which he savors his peaceful solitude in deserted Cassis. He thanks her for all the delicacies and confectioneries with which she supplies the Provençal hermit who only deplores the absence of his friends Carlo and Rim at his side :
"Cassis. 8 janvier 34
Chère madame, Et serait-ce de petites crottes de musaraignes dans du papier d'argent, que je serais déjà pénétré de reconnaissance par votre amicale attention ! Imaginez donc ce que je puis éprouver en décortiquant ces délicieux tortillons de La Rochelle, croquants et onctueux, insinuants comme des suppositoires, et qui laissent dans mon vieux palais toutes les saveurs de l'amitié ! Ce confiseur charentais a su donner à vos voeux une forme gastronomique qui en double le prix ; et même si ces voeux, comme tous ses pareils, ne se réalisent pas, je suis d'ores et déjà assuré d'en garder un inoubliable souvenir : mais pourquoi La Rochelle ? Si vous vouliez revoir la mer, pourquoi cette infidélité à notre grande Bleue ? Elle s'était faite accueillante pour vous recevoir : elle avait cessé de charrier ses banquises, retrouvé ses ondulations de soie et son peuplement de petites barques, sous le soleil quasi printanier. Mais les fêtes s'achèvent, et les Carlo Rim n'ont pas reparu... Je reste le seul "hivernant". On me montre du doigt aux enfants du port. Le Bestuan est désert. L'hôtel est vide. J'ai vu partir un à un tous les pensionnaires. Puis le personnel. Enfin les hôteliers. on m'a laissé seul, avec les clefs et une vieille fée Carabosse pour me faire la bouillabaisse. C'est simplement merveilleux. J'ai un poêle à essence qui vit aux dépens de mon oxygène, mais qui me préserve de la congestion par le froid, en m'asphyxiant lentement. Gendre, dans son local déserté, dort toute l'après-midi, roulé en boule sur la banquette, avec sa chienne en guise de chancelière. La vieille amie s'en est allée sans attirer l'attention, et la jeune ne trouble pas encore par ses yeux ce monde de marmottes, qui somnole en attendant votre retour. Je vous souhaite un hiver aussi calme que le mien, un quai de Passy aussi ensoleillé que celui du port. Partagez avec Carlo Rim et M. Virgule toutes mes amitiés fidèles, et croyez, chère madame, que je suis confus mais très heureux de vous avoir laissé le souvenir d'un vieux type gourmand ! Roger Martin du Gard." ["Cassis. January 8, 34
Dear Madam, Even if they were little shrew droppings in silver paper, I would already be filled with gratitude for your friendly attention! Imagine then what I might feel when peeling these delicious twists from La Rochelle, crunchy and creamy, insinuating like suppositories, and which leave in my old palate all the flavors of friendship! This confectioner from Charente has known how to give your wishes a gastronomic form that doubles their value; and even if these wishes, like all their kind, do not come true, I am already assured of keeping an unforgettable memory of them: but why La Rochelle? If you wanted to see the sea again, why this infidelity to our great Blue? She had made herself welcoming to receive you: she had stopped carrying her ice floes, rediscovered her silk undulations and her population of small boats, under the almost spring-like sun. But the festivities are ending, and the Carlo Rims have not reappeared... I remain the only 'winter resident'. I am pointed out to the children of the port. The Bestuan is deserted. The hotel is empty. I saw all the guests leave one by one. Then the staff. Finally the hoteliers. I was left alone, with the keys and an old fairy Carabosse to make me bouillabaisse. It is simply marvelous. I have a kerosene stove that lives at the expense of my oxygen, but which preserves me from congestion by cold, by slowly asphyxiating me. Gendre, in his deserted premises, sleeps all afternoon, curled up in a ball on the bench, with his dog as a foot-warmer. The old friend went away without attracting attention, and the young one does not yet trouble with her eyes this world of marmots, which slumbers awaiting your return. I wish you a winter as calm as mine, a quai de Passy as sunny as that of the port. Share with Carlo Rim and M. Virgule all my faithful friendships, and believe, dear madam, that I am embarrassed but very happy to have left you the memory of an old gourmand fellow! Roger Martin du Gard."]
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Fine and amusing signed manuscript letter from Roger Martin du Gard addressed from Cassis to Alice Rim (3 and a half pages, 54 lines in black ink) in which he lyrically praises the benefits of the delicious Parisian confections that his correspondent sends him: "... Et quelles sucreries ! Si Dieu pouvait goûter ce que Boissier fabrique avec ses fruits, comme il serait honteux des grossiers produits de ses arbres, et comme il aurait envie de recommencer sa création..." ["... And what confections! If God could taste what Boissier makes with his fruits, how ashamed he would be of the crude products of his trees, and how he would want to begin his creation anew..."]
He also praises the tranquility of Cassis without summer visitors: "Plus d'autos, plus de poussière, plus de phonos, plus de sirènes entre deux vagues... C'est le beau, clair et silencieux Cassis authentique, où rien ne gêne le travail..." ["No more cars, no more dust, no more phonographs, no more sirens between two waves... This is the beautiful, clear and silent authentic Cassis, where nothing disturbs work..."]and the pleasure of reading "Voilà", a magazine in which Carlo Rim collaborates as an illustrator: "... pas un moucheron de Cassis qui ne s'imagine avoir collaboré avec Carlo Rim, et son livre sera ici une oeuvre collective, nationale..." ["... not a single gnat in Cassis who doesn't imagine having collaborated with Carlo Rim, and his book will be here a collective, national work..."],a pleasure shared by all the residents of Cassis: "... je ne sais comment réagissent les puissants de Marseille qu'il égratigne si gaillardement. Mais, ici, ce ne sont que sourires quand on parle de "Carlo". Et j'imagine qu'un jour la population déboulonnera le Calendal de la jetée, pour hisser sur le socle un Carlo Rim de granit ou un M. Virgule en ciment armé..." ["... I don't know how the powerful people of Marseille react to his spirited scratches. But here, there are only smiles when we speak of "Carlo". And I imagine that one day the population will unbolt the Calendal from the pier, to hoist on the pedestal a Carlo Rim in granite or a M. Virgule in reinforced cement..."]
In a final gourmand flourish Roger Martin du Gard thanks Alice Rim: "Veuillez agréer, chère madame, l'hommage de ma gourmandise reconnaissante..." ["Please accept, dear madam, the tribute of my grateful gluttony..."]
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Original photograph depicting Édith Piaf and Alice Rim on a pedalo in the port of Cassis in 1942
Original photograph taken by Carlo Rim depicting his wife Alice sitting on a pedalo next to Edith Piaf, the latter raising her right hand to shield her face from the sun, contemporary silver print.
Details handwritten in black felt tip by Carlo Rim on the back of the photograph: “Alice [et] Edith Piaf à Cassis 1942.” , other annotations in pencil and red pencil.


In its newspaper Le Grenier d'Arlequin 1916-1940, Carlo Rim recounts the first Édith Piaf concert he attended: “9 December 1935. La môme Piaf, at Gerny's where the smart set begin to flock to listen to her. Some small woman, humble and pitiful in her cheap black dress. The hounded air of someone who has just received a good beating. But we barely only see, in the brutal light of the spotlight, her huge white forehead, her child-like hands clenched on her chest or pressed against her thighs like a starfish. Muffled, as if choked with tears, her voice elevates, rises, tears off into an interminable cry of a mortally wounded animal, an almost inhuman voice that takes you by the throat, grabs your heart – a voice that feels misery and disturbance. And in that moment, la môme Piaf becomes the most beautiful girl in the world.”


Provenance: Carlo Rim, then his son Jean-Pierre Richard. A Provençal writer, caricaturist and filmmaker, Carlo Rim was the friend and confident of many of the greatest artists and authors of the 20th century: Antonin Artaud, Marcel Pagnol, Fernandel, Raimu, Max Jacob, Tristan Bernard, Jacques Prévert...

Original photograph depicting Édith Piaf embraced by Norbert Glanzberg next to Alice and Carlo Rim in the port of Cassis in 1940
Original photograph depicting Edith Piaf embraced and kissed on the neck by the composer Norbert Glanzberg, then a refugee in France, with, to their right, Alice and Carlo Rim, the latter slightly set back, the first three being perched on a low wall, contemporary silver print. While Edith Piaf and Alice Rim are all smiling, Carlo Rim is the only one to take an ironically solemn break, standing almost to attention and with his eyes closed.

Back in France, to the free zone, after having been demobilised from the Polish army, Norbert Glanzberg met Félix Marouani who hired him for Édith Piaf's tours. This is the beginning of a fruitful and intense collaboration, Norbert Glanzberg composed the music of several of Edith Piaf's most famous songs, such as “Padam, padam”... and “Mon manège à moi”.
Details handwritten in pencil by Carlo Rim on the back of the photograph: “Édith Piaf, Norbert Glansberg [sic], Alice Carlo Rim, Carlo Rim à Cassis 1940.”In its newspaper Le Grenier d'Arlequin 1916-1940, Carlo Rim recounts the first Édith Piaf concert he attended: “9 December 1935. La môme Piaf, at Gerny's where the smart set begin to flock to listen to her. Some small woman, humble and pitiful in her cheap black dress. The hounded air of someone who has just received a good beating. But we barely only see, in the brutal light of the spotlight, her huge white forehead, her child-like hands clenched on her chest or pressed against her thighs like a starfish. Muffled, as if choked with tears, her voice elevates, rises, tears off into an interminable cry of a mortally wounded animal, an almost inhuman voice that takes you by the throat, grabs your heart – a voice that feels misery and disturbance. And in that moment, la môme Piaf becomes the most beautiful girl in the world.”Provenance: Carlo Rim, then his son Jean-Pierre Richard. A Provençal writer, caricaturist and filmmaker, Carlo Rim was the friend and confident of many of the greatest artists and authors of the 20th century: Antonin Artaud, Marcel Pagnol, Fernandel, Raimu, Max Jacob, Tristan Bernard, Jacques Prévert...

Beautiful and amusing signed manuscript letter from Roger Martin du Gard addressed from Cassis to Alice Rim (38 lines in black ink) in which he displays all his insatiable appetite for sweets.
Fold mark inherent to postal mailing.
"Cassis. February 11th, 34,
Dear Madam,
a certain Carlo, Comma, - whose infernal nerve you know - had the audacity to present himself alone (word underlined) in Cassis! (I must say that he had been conscious of the disappointment he was going to cause, and that he arrived with his arms loaded with sumptuous bags of fondant sweets and stuffed dates, from the most delicate confectioner) If anything could have consoled us for your absence, it was indeed this cargo of choice delicacies... The intention was so kind, that we did not dare reproach him for his widowhood, and that we concealed as best we could the melancholy of our regrets. I am a little ashamed to play this role of an old coquette whom one spoils by stuffing her with pralines; but "only a little," for gluttony quickly prevails over feelings of dignity that age has greatly dulled... And the said Carlo promised me, in compensation, that before the end of carnival - if by then, the sky has not fallen on our heads - you would both come to see Cassis again, and stay longer than tonight's meteoric appearance. (I would almost believe I dreamed it, if my room did not smell of pistachio and vanilla, and if my papers did not have this imposing confectioner's bag as a paperweight tonight...) May at least the Charentes be gentle to you, dear madam! I send you there, with my faithful respects, a thousand wishes for a joyful Fat Tuesday! Roger Martin du Gard".

Signed manuscript letter from the director and stage director, then mobilized, addressed to his friend and collaborator Carlo Rim (27 lines in black ink)
"Sunday 7 - 1 - 40",
"Mon cher collègue (car moi, aussi je suis caporal ! ). Un nouveau calendrier a été accroché au mur ! .. Puisse-t-il nous rendre à chacun tout le bonheur que nous avons laissé loin derrière nous ! A toi, vieux frère, je souhaite une bonne santé... de la patience... et une mise en affectation spéciale pour tout terminer. Ces mêmes-voeux je les adresse à Alice et Babon que tu embrasseras pour moi. Quant à "Tourelle 3" j'ai bien l'impression que ce n'est pas cette année qu'on y mettra le mot "fin" ! Les recettes des salles ne sont pas suffisantes, paraît-il, pour amortir le devis d'un film... actuellement - Je n'y comprends rien, car , lors de ma permission de 10 jours j'ai pu constater qu'à Paris, les salles de spectacle étaient assez bien remplies ! Enfin, suivant une formule consacrée "sachons attendre" Un petit mot de toi me fera toujours plaisir - je t"embrasse mon vieux Carlo. Christian Jaque. Simone est partie jouer "Jazz" de Pagnol et le "Greluchon délicat" avec Harry Baur, en Tunisie, Algérie et Maroc, elle sera de retour vers le 10 de ce mois. Elle a eu très chaud sous le soleil d'Afrique..." par contre... moi j'ai actuellement ici 22 au dessous de zéro ! Ca ne te dit rien... mignon !" ["My dear colleague (because I, too, am a corporal!). A new calendar has been hung on the wall!.. May it bring back to each of us all the happiness we left far behind us! To you, old brother, I wish good health... patience... and a special assignment to finish everything. These same wishes I address to Alice and Babon whom you will embrace for me. As for 'Tourelle 3' I have the strong impression that this is not the year we will put the word 'end' to it! The box office receipts are not sufficient, it seems, to cover the budget of a film... currently - I understand nothing of it, because, during my 10-day leave I was able to observe that in Paris, the theaters were quite well filled! Finally, following a consecrated formula 'let us know how to wait' A little word from you will always give me pleasure - I embrace you my old Carlo. Christian Jaque. Simone left to perform 'Jazz' by Pagnol and 'Le Greluchon délicat' with Harry Baur, in Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco, she will return around the 10th of this month. She was very hot under the African sun... on the other hand... I currently have 22 below zero here! That doesn't appeal to you... sweetheart!"]

Humorous autograph postcard signed by Roger Martin du Gard addressed from Cassis to Alice Rim (21 lines in black ink) describing the Provençal winter.
"Cassis. 13 dec.33,
Dear Madam,
Thank you for these few lively and friendly pages. Don't regret Cassis. It's freezing here. Not that it's as cold as elsewhere, but we don't know how to heat ourselves. The "Réserve" is empty. There we find a drowsy son-in-law, alone, roasting his shins by the big central stove stuffed like a locomotive and smoking just the same. The port is deserted. I believe the Mediterranean (sic) is carrying ice floes. (To be verified...) Congratulations to Carlo Rim for the Marraine articles, of inimitable quality. I hope he will continue the series. I give him 20 out of 20! ... Give him all my friendship, to which I add my very sympathetic regards. R.M.G.""