RIMBAUD, Arthur (1854-1891)

RIMBAUD, Arthur (1854-1891)

Autograph manuscript signed twice « Rimbaud », to Armand Savouré
Harar, 30 March 1890, 1/2 p. in-4°, black ink
Watermark : “R Turner Chafford Mills” watermark
Fold marks, tiny spots, slight tear repaired on lower right margin without affecting the text

Extremely scarce account excerpt, entirely in Rimbaud’s hand

Written from Harar, in Abyssinia, this previously unpublished document is the final record of commercial activities between Armand Savouré and the traveling poet

ONE OF THE TWO RECEIPTS SIGNED TWICE STILL IN PRIVATE HANDS

« Extrait de compte n°7,
Monsieur Savouré

Je vous dois : report de compte n°6 th 5 325. –
Reçu au cpte des cartouches : 23 janvier en piastres th 500.
10 février en piastres th 600.
11 février 443.13 café th 2 661.16.
Emballage 50 th 42.5.
Total thalaris 9 129.4.

Vous me devez :
1er février 90 ½ courrier Aden th 3.
22 février 50 th 3.
30 mars 50 th 3
2% commissions sur th 380 h th 76.4.
Réductions… sur 444… café th 211.
Total th 296.4.
Balance à V/crédit fin mars th 8 833.
Bal 9 129.4.
Harar 30 mars 90
Rimbaud.

Donné ordre à Mr. Vian à Aden de payer ladite somme de 8 833 à Mr. Savouré personnellement. Courrier n° 89 et suivant. 28 mars 1890.
Rimbaud »

Twenty-two autograph receipts from Rimbaud’s final stay in Harar (1888–1891) are known, half of which are held in public collections (nine at the Bibliothèque littéraire Jacques Doucet, two in Charleville). This receipt, previously unpublished, is one of the longest extant (seventy-five words) and one of the few signed twice.

Account excerpt no. 7 follows six others, numbered in the same way, which have been published. It is likely the last of the series. Less than a month later, Rimbaud writes a scathing letter to Savouré: “I had no need whatsoever of your vile coffees, bought at the cost of so many troubles with the Abyssinians […]”.

Rimbaud’s Last Great Adventure: the Desert and Arms:

Before heading to Africa in 1878, Rimbaud travels across Europe: London, Brussels, Stuttgart, Naples, Milan, Liverpool, Vienna, Rotterdam, Stockholm… He considered working in Alexandria but ultimately became a foreman in Cyprus. Subsequently, he undertook various minor tasks, such as supervising coffee sorting or purchasing coffee in Harar.

At the same time, in Africa, he closely observed the exploitation of musk, ivory, and rubber. He then embarked on the arms trade, in Tadjourah (present-day Djibouti) in October 1885. He continued by leading a large caravan to Ankober, crossing deserts and volcanic lands, to offer his merchandise to Menelik II (1844–1913), then king of central Ethiopia, soon to be ruler of Harar. The Abyssinian sovereign’s favor was sought by Europeans: following the opening of the Suez Canal, many wished to establish a port on the Red Sea.

Christian and eager to acquire arms to extend his power, Menelik was fully willing to negotiate. He therefore welcomed both the gifts of diplomats and the offers of merchants, including Rimbaud. The “man with the wandering feet” undertook his third and final journey to Harar from May 1888 to April 1891, where he ran a French trading post facilitating commerce between Djibouti, Zeilah, and Aden.