Writers' autograph manuscripts, work drafts, handwritten notebooks, autograph poems, romantic manuscript fragments

"Your little book is very original and you show qualities of talent that will develop, if you look ahead."

Autograph letter signed by Charles Baudelaire to Narcisse Ancelle, written in black ink on a sheet of blue paper.

Folds from mailing, three minute pinholes not affecting the text.

This letter was transcribed in the Complete Works volume 11 published in 1949 by L. Conard.

A moving letter from Brussels addressed to the celebrated family notary who became in 1844 Charles's legal guardian, charged with managing his annuity and his exponential debts. A...

Complete typescript of a draft film script entitled “Le Cow-boy de Normandie.” Fourteen typed pages bound in a squared paper cover, inscribed in Boris Vian’s hand: “Projet de scénario – Boris Vian 6 bis Cité Véron Paris 18^e.” Accompanied by the original envelope from the S.A.C.D.

This script was later reproduced in the collection Rue des ravissantes and adapted as a short film by Clémence Madeleine-Perdrillat in 2015.
This parody of a western tells the story of Jim Lacy, a disillusioned cowboy who leaves Nevada in search of a more genuine land: Fleurville, in...

Autograph letter signed, partly unpublished, by Louis-Ferdinand Céline, addressed to his lawyer, Maître Thorvald Mikkelsen. Two pages written in blue ink on a large sheet of white paper; numbered “575” in Céline’s hand in red pencil at the top left corner.
Fold marks from mailing.
This letter was only partially transcribed in Année Céline 2005, p. 64.
 
A moving and bitter letter by Céline, who had just lost his aunt Amélie (the “Aunt Hélène” of Death on Credit), and witnesses the slow disappearance of the world he once knew. The writer finds solace in the memoirs of Élisabeth de Gramont, another...

Extremely rare autograph letter signed « Restif Labretone » addressed to Citoyenne Fontaine. Three pages written in black ink on a double sheet of laid paper. Remains of a wax seal, folds inherent to mailing. 
This letter was published, with some inaccuracies, in Lettres inédites de Restif de Labretone by V. Forest and É. Grimaud, 1883.

The set of largely unpublished autograph poems by Robert de Montesquiou-Fezensac is brought together by the Count in a collection entitled Le Dernier Pli des neuf voiles, whose composition extends from his very first collection (Les Chauves-Souris, 1892) to his last trilogy (Offrandes, 1915).

Set of 620 autograph leaves. 532 unpublished, first draught, handwritten on the recto and numbered in pencil, preserved in 3 chemises in half red contemporary morocco, red morocco labels with gilt author and title; the poems are then placed in the chemises with a handwritten title and a number for publication. According to a note from the author...

Unique collection of documents (photographs, posters, etc.) and manuscripts relating to the confidential theatrical adaptation of Au beau rivage by an admirer from Le Mans of René Fallet.
In 1972, Claude-Denis Renard from Le Mans, a great admirer of René Fallet, contacted the latter so that he would accept a theatrical adaptation of his novel Au beau rivage published in 1970 and for which he received the Humor Prize. Animated by his usual kindness, the writer joyfully accepted, forgetting to inquire about the contingencies linked to the exploitation rights of the novel held by the production company Prothea, whose reaction was not long in coming...

Unpublished autograph letter signed by Max Jacob addressed to Fernand Pouey. One page written in black ink on a sheet.
Two transverse folds inherent to mailing.
Remarkable letter in which Max Jacob asks a strange favor of his friend: "Un de nos amis explose [sic] des tableaux 76 Fg St Honoré galerie Charpentier le 4 avril. J'ai des obligations à son endroit et je voudrais lui montrer des sentiments d'ailleurs plus ou moins sincères. Tu peux certainement signaler au critique d'art de la maison cette peinture sûrement honorable." ["One of our friends is exploding [sic] paintings 76 Fg St Honoré galerie Charpentier on April 4th. I have obligations...