Verba Volant, Scripta Manent (Epistolary Art)

First edition of the French translation by A. J. B. Defauconpret. Illustrated vi­gnette on the title page of each volume, with two illustrations in each volume (60 in total) by Louis Marckl after Noël Bertrand.
Green half shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands elaborately framed in gilt and blind, spine-ends stamped with a gilt rosette bearing cabbalistic signs, marbled paper boards, marbled endpa­pers and pastedowns, speckled edges, contemporary bindings.
Spines slightly lightened, some corners slightly dulled, more pronounced foxing on some volumes, a tear not affecting text to pp. 303-304 of vol. 2, a restored tear and a marginal lack of paper not af­fecting text to pp. 213-214 of vol. 5.

Autograph letter signed by James Fen­imore Cooper in French, bound in the first volume, written to Charles Goss­elin, publisher of his complete works.
Slight folds to the corners of the leaf, pencil and pen notes by a previous bib­liographer.

Handsomely bound set, exceptionally containing an autograph letter signed by the author to his publisher.

Autograph letter signed and dated September 26, 1955, by Georges Simenon, addressed from Cannes to André David.

18 lines in black ink on one leaf bearing his American address in Lakeville, Connecticut.

Mailing fold as usual.

Georges Simenon apologizes for his delayed response: "mais j'étais en plein roman. Parbleu ! si je me souviens de vous !" and indicates his upcoming availability to his correspondent, even specifying his future address in Cannes. He authorizes André David's project to adapt his novel "Maigret et la Grande Perche" for the screen, while setting his terms: "vous pouvez travailler sur La Grande Perche mais, bien entendu, mon acceptation ne peut dépendre que du résultat (duquel, d'ailleurs, je ne doute pas). Tenez-moi au courant."

Autograph letter dated June 10th (1929) and signed by Somerset Maugham addressed in French to the writer Marcel Prévost, who had just sent him an inscribed copy of his book "L'homme vierge".

27 lines in blue ink on one recto-verso page on Villa Mauresque letterhead from Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, printed stamp of Marcel Prévost's library in the upper right corner of the letter.

Mailing folds as usual.

Somerset Maugham thanks him for the inscription and praises the innovative literary qualities of his correspondent: "... je vous remercie infiniment. Je l'avais lu quand il s'appelait Amal et suis très content de le posséder maintenant en forme plus permanente. Vous avez quelque chose d'extraordinaire, ce don de vous renouveller avec chaque oeuvre ; on ne commence jamais un de vos romans avec la sensation fatigante qu'on va lire quelque chose qu'on a déjà à peu près lu."

Somerset Maugham also expresses his admiration for the number of works published by Marcel Prévost: "Je viens de lire la liste de vos oeuvres ; c'est vraiment impressionnant, voilà le conteur né. Et qu'est-ce qu'il y a de plus rare ?"

First edition, one of 605 numbered copies on pur fil d'arches, this copy being one of the 20 hors commerce lettered name copies, including an additional suite on papier à la main du moulin Richard de Bas.

A few minor foxing spots to the front wrapper; slipcase and chemises split at several joints.

17 woodcuts engraved with a knife by Lucien Jacques.

Our copy is complete with its additional suite of the 17 illustrations on papier à la main du moulin Richard de Bas.

Signed and dated 1968 by Jean Giono to Monsieur Lachaud.

First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on alfa paper, our copy lettered "A" among the 8 hors commerce lettered copies, the only deluxe paper issue.

A tear at the foot of the spine at the level of the sewing supports, otherwise a pleasant wide-margined copy.

Dated and signed autograph presentation by the publisher beneath the print statement: "Affectueusement reservé à mon admirable collaboratrice Suzanne qui est aussi la plus charmante & la plus précieuse des filleules - que dis-je ? la seule filleule qui compte ! Paris 18 octobre 1942."

Very rare first edition of this substantial memorandum on the "Pierre Calvet Affair", which unsettled Canada in the aftermath of the American War of Independence.

Sabin 21044. In the CCF, copies only at the BnF and Rouen.

A few light spots of foxing; a faint marginal dampstain to the fore-edge of the front endpaper.

Half green sheep with corners, smooth spine slightly darkened and ruled in gilt, gilt fillet border to the marbled paper boards, a central gilt cartouche bearing a crowned cipher to each cover. Corners rubbed, a few scuffs to the edges, bookplate pasted to one pastedown, lemon-coloured edges; nineteenth-century binding.

Parallel to the work The Case of Peter Du Calvet (784), addressed to the English courts, this volume presents the case for a Canadian readership.

The merchant Pierre Du Calvet (1735–1786), a French Protestant, settled in New France in 1758; he remained there after the British annexation and pursued a persistent political campaign on behalf of the inhabitants of the Province of Quebec, both to obtain a constitution and to secure fair justice for the former French subjects.

The present text concentrates on his disputes with Governor Frederick Haldimand (1718–1791) and on his brief imprisonment.

A forerunner of the long struggle waged by the citizens of the Province of Quebec for recognition of their political rights within the British Empire,

Du Calvet nevertheless remained largely forgotten in Quebec’s historical memory.

His actions, and even his name, were widely overlooked by posterity until the republication of his memorandum in 2002.

First edition, first issue with all the features of first issue copies including the misprint "Sénart" on the dedication leaf.
Dark green half-shagreen binding, spines with four raised bands decorated with double gilt-tooled compartments with gilt roundels at the corners, very minor restoration to the headbands, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, contemporary bindings.
With an exceptionally added autograph letter signed by Gustave Flaubert to his niece Caroline Commanville, affectionately known as "Loulou", on one page of a bifolium, pasted to a flyleaf of the first volume:

"Mardi 11h. [26 mars 1872]

Mon Loulou, ta gdmère a très bien supporté le voyage et, malgré l'abominable état où est plongé Croisset, son humeur est bonne. Je n'en dirais pas autant de la mienne. Mon irascibilité touche à la démence. Je vais m'habiller pour aller à Rouen payer des notes - choisir des papiers - & faire une visite à l'hôtel dieu. J'ai couché dans ta chambre. On ne sait pas comment se retourner dans la maison - qui pue violemment - et nous n'avons ni femme de ménage - ni cuisinière. Je t'embrasse ainsi qu'Ernest
Ton vieux - peu gai

GFlaubert." 

"Tuesday, 11 o'clock. [26 March 1872]

My Loulou, your gdmother bore the journey very well and, despite the appalling state in which Croisset finds itself, her spirits are good. I cannot say the same of mine. My irascibility borders on madness. I am going to dress and head to Rouen to settle some bills - choose papers - & pay a visit to the Hôtel-Dieu. I slept in your room. One cannot turn around in the house - which reeks dreadfully - and we have neither a housekeeper nor a cook. I embrace you as well as Ernest. Your old man - in poor spirits.

GFlaubert."

On the facing pastedown is another letter by Heeckeren, dated 11 January 1931, providing details regarding Flaubert's letter: "Mon cher ami, Loulou, c'est la nièce de Flaubert et c'est elle-même qui remis cet autographe à ma mère ; c'est elle aussi qui écrivit au crayon la date : 1872... [...]"

First edition of this scarce work entirely autograph manuscript (cf. Manque à Gay. Playfair, 2894. Tailliart, 781.)

Some light foxing, wrappers laminated.

The volume comprises letters written by Octavie Lagrange during a journey undertaken in 1864 and, for the most part, dated from Algiers: "Parmi les mosquées jadis si nombreuses les unes restent consacrées au culte musulman ; les autres ont disparu sous le marteau des démolisseurs ; celles-ci sont affectées à différents services publics ; celles-là converties en églises catholiques. […] Dans les bazars s'étalent de jolis magasins assez bien assortis ; les objets pleins d'originalité, y sentent d'une lieue le terroir, et sont en outre de mince valeur. […] La ville est adossée à un massif de montagnes, le Sahel, circonscrit d'un côté par la mer, de l'autre par la plaine de la Mitildja : cette contrée accidentée est le théâtre de nos excursions habituelles. […] Toute la côte d'El-Biar et de Moustapha est couverte de blanches et délicieuses villas, à demi cachées sous la verdure." The remaining letters were sent from Blida, Cherchell, Médéa, Tizi-Ouzou, Fort-Napoléon, Philippeville, Constantine, Batna, Biskra, Bône, Tunis…

Autograph note signed by Jean Paulhan, 20 lines in black ink addressed to Felia Leal, publisher of "Paroles transparentes," a work by Jean Paulhan illustrated with 14 original lithographs by Georges Braque.

Paperclip marks to the upper left corner.

The note refers to a planned collaboration with Marc Chagall:
"Saturday,

Dear Felia
well, Chagall approves of the short summary. He even seems delighted with it. He says he has had many such ideas. But we are to discuss it in a few days, when he passes through Paris. (He is attending the Rembrandt anniversary celebrations, to which he has been invited by the Netherlands – something he appears quite proud of). Jean P. sends his love."

Autograph letter dated 3 June 1941, signed and addressed to Frédéric Lefèvre, comprising 40 lines in blue ink on two pages of a bifolium, written from Lyon.

Folds from original mailing, envelope present.

During these troubled times, Frédéric Lefèvre was difficult to reach for his friend Francis Carco: "J'ai appris par Raymond Millet - qui me donne ton adresse - que tu es à Vichy ! On m'avait dit que tu étais retourné à Paris... [...] c'est pour cette raison que je ne t'ai pas envoyé mon dernier livre mais je dois recevoir des exemplaires prochainement et le premier sera pour toi."

Francis Carco discusses his future plans: "J'irai me poser en Haute Savoie afin d'écrire le roman que je dois à Gringoire. [...] un éditeur suisse désire publier une petite plaquette de mes vers inédits. N'aurais-tu pas une copie de ceux que je t'ai envoyés à Cannes, l'automne dernier, et de ceux qui commencent par : C'est le pays de Gérard de Nerval..."

Autograph letter dated and signed by Ginger Rogers, addressed to the renowned Swiss collector Claude Armand, 20 lines penned in blue felt-tip from New York,

Folding marks from mailing, with a light paperclip impression to the upper left corner of the letter; original envelope included.

The celebrated American actress and dancer expresses her gratitude to her admirer for his previous letter, in which he requested a signed photograph that she is unfortunately unable to send, being away from her home in Eagle Point, Oregon, and currently in New York: "Your most gracious letter is in my hands and i cannot tell you how delighted its make me to read of your affection for my work..."

Ginger Rogers is clearly touched by Claude Armand’s warm letter: "Thank you so much for your good lettre. I shall keep it, always with warm good wishes."

Autograph letter dated and signed addressed to Thierry Maulnier who is not named (25 lines in black ink on one leaf).
Central folds inherent to postal folding.

Patrice de La Tour Du Pin thanks Thierry Maulnier and shows himself delighted to be soon published by la Table ronde even though he requires certain conditions: "... mais vraiment pour l'édition que vous me proposez si amicalement, je ne peux accepter malgré mon désir : il m'est impossible de faire paraître en même temps plus de quatre volumes de luxe ou de demi-luxe. Déjà Gallimard trouve que c'est un peu gros ! ..." ("...but truly for the edition that you propose so kindly, I cannot accept despite my desire: it is impossible for me to publish at the same time more than four deluxe or semi-deluxe volumes. Already Gallimard finds that it's a bit much! ...")

Thanks to Thierry Maulnier's tenacity, this collaboration project will certainly come to fruition: "Merci en tout cas d'avoir insisté, j'espère que ce ne sera que partie remise..." ("Thank you in any case for having insisted, I hope it will only be postponed...")

Autograph letter dated and signed, one page by Jean-Louis Barrault addressed to Thierry Maulnier (34 lines in blue ink on a recto verso sheet)

Central folds inherent to the mailing, some foxing spots on the letter.

Jean-Louis Barrault, returning from a tour in South America, hastens to respond to Thierry Maulnier in order to consider a radio adaptation and possibly theatrical adaptation of his text Une ville sous la mer: "I do not know if this purity would remain in a theatrical realization, but this confirms to me that you must absolutely give us the opportunity as soon as possible to serve you directly on the theatrical plane."

The theatre man therefore proposes to his correspondent to meet soon to make concrete this nascent project: "I would be happy this winter if we could see each other sometimes and begin this rapprochement which must lead one day soon to a beautiful work by you realized with love on our stage." and invites him to come and absorb the atmosphere of the troupe he directs: "Tell yourself that you are at home at the Marigny. You can drop by at any hour - even during rehearsals. It is the best way to know each other thoroughly."

This project would indeed come to fruition but without the participation of Jean-Louis Barrault: Une ville sous la mer, which became La Ville au fond de la mer, was broadcast on radio by RTF on July 1st, 1950, with as principal interpreters, Maria Casares, Roger Blin and Marcelle Tassencourt, Thierry Maulnier's wife, and Michel Witold. A theatrical adaptation would see the light during the Normandy festival, in Caen in August 1953 with, in the principal roles, Monique Mélinand, Jean Servais, Jean Martinelli and Michel Piccoli.

Autograph letter signed and dated, one page, from Maurice Blanchot addressed to the theater actress Marcelle Tassencourt, wife of Thierry Maulnier, 18 lines in black ink.
Central folds inherent to postal handling, envelope included.

Maurice Blanchot praises the acting performance of Marcelle Tassencourt who created, in 1944, the role of Antigone in Robert Garnier's play directed by her husband, Thierry Maulnier:  "... cette Antigone m'a beaucoup touché. Je ne croyais pas que la beauté des vers y fût capable d'une actrice aussi vivante. Que la vie et le style peuvent être à ce point associés, que l'harmonie engendrât l'horreur, et la beauté le déchirement, c'est que je n'imaginais pas pouvoir ressentir aussi complètement et que la plupart des spectateurs me semblent avoir ressenti autour de moi et chez moi." (... this Antigone moved me greatly. I did not believe that the beauty of the verses could be capable of such a lively actress. That life and style can be so closely associated, that harmony could engender horror, and beauty create heartbreak, is something I never imagined I could feel so completely and that most of the spectators around me and within me seemed to have felt.)

Maurice Blanchot particularly emphasizes the actress's perfect mastery of facial expressions:  "... je penserais qu'il y a en vous le pouvoir de confiner à quelques-uns de vos traits - et en particulier à votre regard - les sentiments que les acteurs en général répartissent et éparpillent mollement dans l'ensemble du visage. Mais ce pouvoir ne s'appelle-t-il pas concentration ? (naturelmement je n'ai rien dit)." (... I would think that you have the power to confine to some of your features - and particularly to your gaze - the feelings that actors in general distribute and scatter weakly across the entire face. But is this power not called concentration? (naturally I have said nothing).)

Printed calling card on which André Malraux added, in blue ballpoint pen, these few words for his friends Minka and Karl Hans Strauss:
"I am touched, dear friends, by the affectionate part you take in my grief... And what else is there to say?..."





 

Autograph letter signed by the dandy count, 46 lines written in black ink recto-verso, on Hotel de France de Pau letterhead, addressed to a poet friend.
Fold marks inherent to postal handling.
The poet expresses surprise at his friend's reproaches: "Pourquoi parlez-vous du mal que je pourrais vous faire ?... Alors il faudrait bien essayer, pour ne pas vous désobéir mais il me semble que je m'y mettrai sans conviction." (Why do you speak of the harm I could do to you?... Then I would have to try, so as not to disobey you, but it seems to me I would do so without conviction.) and leans rather toward a misunderstanding of his words: "Est-ce donc ainsi que vous avez interprété ma grande, dirai-je ma belle lettre à Lapauze (elle a droit aux anthologies)? Mais, dans ce cas, elle serait comminatoire. Si elle l'est, ce n'est pas pour vous." (Is this how you interpreted my great, I would say my beautiful letter to Lapauze (it deserves to be anthologized)? But, in that case, it would be threatening. If it is, it is not meant for you.)
But the poet-count-dandy does not hold it too much against her: "En attendant, ce qui est certain, c'est que je réciterai vos poèmes inédits, à l'inauguration du musée Ingres." (In the meantime, what is certain is that I will recite your unpublished poems at the inauguration of the Ingres museum.)

Autograph poem by Théodore de Banville, unsigned, entitled "Les exilés," comprising 20 lines in black ink with deletions and corrections.
Vertical and horizontal fold marks from mailing.
In the upper right-hand corner, the poet has written: “envoi de livre à Don Bernardo Calderon.”
This four-quatrain poem appears to be unpublished and was seemingly not included in the collection "Les exilés" published in 1867.
«Ce  livre, pleurant  sur la gloire
Et sur le bonheur envolé,
Renferme toute notre histoire?
Qui donc n'est pas un exilé ?
[...]

Heureux celui qui sous la mer,
Penchant son triste front blémi,
Poursuit sa route aride et nue
En tenant la main d'un ami !... »

Fine quatrain by Théodore de Banville, likely unpublished.