" Notez que les fraudes sont parfois le fait de l'imprimeur. Ce que j'ai vu arriver pour des ouvrages de luxe."

Autograph letter signed and dated by Paul Valéry, 21 lines in black ink, addressed to Adrien Raisin Dadre, vice-president of the Seine tribunal, concerning publishing rights and print run control.
Fold marks inherent to the envelope, a tear in the left margin of the letter at the fold level, paper clip marks in the lower margin of the letter, envelope included.
Paul Valéry thanks his correspondent for his precious help: "... c'est là une question vitale pour les écrivains...dans cette question, comme dans quelques autres, la loi ni la jurisprudence n'étaient équitables ni même sensées..." ["...this is a vital question for writers...in this question, as in some others, neither the law nor jurisprudence were equitable or even sensible..."]
He is also concerned about print run problems with publishers that border on illegality: "La question du contrôle des tirages demeure toujours épineuse. J'avais proposé, il y a 10 ans, un timbrage d'état. Tout exemplaire non timbré serait réputé contrefait. Notez que les fraudes sont parfois le fait de l'imprimeur. Ce que j'ai vu arriver pour des ouvrages de luxe." ["The question of print run control remains always thorny. I had proposed, 10 years ago, a state stamping system. Any unstamped copy would be deemed counterfeit. Note that fraud is sometimes the printer's doing. Which I have seen happen with luxury books."]