Arts & Literature

[BAUDELAIRE] BRACQUEMOND, Félix (1833-1914)

Etching depicting the poet
[Second edition of The Flowers of evil – March 1861], 1 p. in-12°

Famous portrait by Bracquemond for the second edition of The Flowers of evil

[BAUDELAIRE] CARJAT, Étienne (1828-1906)

Period albumen print
[Paris, between late 1861 and early 1862]. Wet stamp « Et. Carjat »

Étienne Carjat’s masterpiece, the only known period print

[BAUDELAIRE] FLAUBERT, Gustave (1821-1880)

Autograph letter signed « Gus Flaubert » to Jules Sandeau
Croisset, 26 January [1862], 2 p. in-8 on blue laid paper

« Yesterday I received a letter from Baudelaire inviting me to ask for your voice for his candidacy to the Academy »

[BAUDELAIRE] VERLAINE, Paul (1844-1896)

Autograph letter signed twice « Paul Verlaine » to Léon Deschamps
Paris, 23rd August 1892, 3 p. in-12° on bi-folio

« Baudelaire was my dearest fanaticism and is, that is to say, will remain one of my greatest admiration »

[BAUDELAIRE] VERLAINE, Paul (1844-1896)

Autograph letter signed « Paul Verlaine » to Léon Deschamps
Paris, 19th October 1890, 1 p. in-8

« I had accompanied, very young and all obscure as I was, the coffin of Baudelaire »

[CAMUS] CHAR, René (1907-1988)

Autograph letter signed « René Char » to Marianne Oswald
N.p, 15th March, 2 p. in-8°

« Above all, we must talk about Albert and the abyssal emptiness that his disappearance caused. It is up to friendship to bloom this void »

[CHAR] ARAGON, Louis (1897-1982)

Autograph letter signed « Aragon » (draft), to René Char
[Paris, 10th August 1946], 1 p. 1/2 in-4°

« I do not accept to be lectured, I admit even less that it is claimed to be given to Esla. And the Olympian tone of your letter proves to me that if there are some who get lost, it is only in the image of kicking the ass »

[DELACROIX] DEGAS, Edgar (1834-1917)

Autograph letter signed “Degas” to collector Montagnac
Np, 27 June [18]95, 2 pages in-8°

“I pay you as follow: three pastels from me”

[DELACROIX] SAND, George (1804-1876)

Autograph letter signed « G.S. » to Eugène Delacroix
[Paris] Postal mark [23rd December 1841], 1 p. 1/2 in-8°

« I saw your femmes d’Alger »

[DELACROIX] SAND, George (1804-1876)

Autograph letter signed « G.S. » to Eugène Delacroix
[Nohant, 13 August 1843], 4 p. in-8°, autograph address on fourth folio

« I no longer exist, I told you. It’s been three years since I died, having committed suicide voluntarily to prevent myself from dying and not to drag a ridiculous agony »

[DELACROIX] SAND, George (1804-1876)

Autograph letter signed « George Sand » to Eugène Delacroix
[Nohant], 1^st December [18]52, 2 p. in-8°

« No one understands you better than I do »

[DUMAS] Ferdinand DUGUÉ (1816-1913)

Autograph manuscript signed « F Dugué »
N.p.n.d [1870], 2 p. in-8°

« D’Artagnan conquered death!… »

[DUMAS] FERRIER, Ida (1811-1859)

Autograph letter signed “Ida”
[Between 1840 & 1844] Saturday, 1/2 p. in-12

“I had instructed Alexandre to present them to you, but I believe that he has forgotten my committee”

[FLAUBERT] Paul NADAR (1856-1939)

Late print showing Flaubert in bust
[Paris, c. 1910], cabinet format mounted thick cardboard

Scarce and legendary portrait of Flaubert by Nadar

[HUGO, Victor] Adèle Foucher & Auguste Vacquerie

Period photographs on albumen paper
Adèle Foucher – Auguste Vacquerie

Beautiful original prints from Victor Hugo’s inner circle

[HUGO, Victor] Charles GALLOT (1838-1919)

Portrait of Victor Hugo, period albumen print on thick cardboard
[Paris, 12th April 1885], cabinet format

Rare original print of the last portrait of Victor Hugo alive, five weeks before his death

[HUGO] Juliette DROUET (1806-1883)

Autograph letter signed « Juliette » to Victor Hugo
N.p, 12 February [1849], 4 pp. in-8°

« I like the violent and expeditious genre »

[JARRY] QUENEAU, Raymond (1903-1976)

Autograph letter signed « Queneau » [to Michel Arrivé]
N.p, 9th August 1964, 1 p. in 8vo, NRF letterhead

“There is a chance […] so that a carefully drawn up plan by you leads to the realization of a Jarry volume in this honored collection”

[LAMARTINE] LAMARTINE (de), Valentine (1821-1894)

Autograph letter signed « Valentine de Lamartine » to Victor de Laprade
Paris, 31st May 1872, 4 pp. in-8° on mourning paper

« Thank you, thank you for thus satisfying yourself in my work, the last worship that I can still render to the One who has been the Happiness and glory of my life. »

[LISZT, Franz] Ferenc KÓZMATA (1846-1902)

Portrait of Franz Liszt, vintage albumen print
[Budapest, c. 1965], carte-de-visite format

Handsome portrait of Liszt in cassock by Kózmata

[MANET] DAUDET, Léon (1867-1942)

Autograph manuscript signed « Léon Daudet »
N.p.n.d [Paris, June 1932], 4 pp. large in-4°

« Manet is the beauty of colour, the celebration of the decomposition of light through the prism »

[MARX] SARTRE, Jean-Paul (1905-1980)

Original typescript with autograph correction by Jean-Paul Sartre
N.p.n.d [c. 1957], 1 p. in-4° on thin paper

« The Marxist method is progressive because it is the result, in Marx, of long analyses…»

[NAPOLEON] DAVOUT, Louis-Nicolas (1770-1823)

Autograph letter signed « L Davout » to his wife, Aimée Leclerc
Osterode [current Ostróda in Poland], 16 April [1807], 6 p. in-4°

« We do not know here whether the peaceful intentions of our emperor will prevail over the intrigues of our eternal enemies, but in any case we are more able than ever to make them triumph by our arms »

[NERVAL] COLON, Jenny (1808-1842)

Autograph letter signed “Jenny” to her friend Jouslin de la Salle
N.p.n.d, 1 p. in-8 embossed to her initials

“Were you able to decipher William’s letter? As for me, I have nothing but one word is that he wanted to leave…”

[NERVAL] VILMORIN, Louise de (1902-1969)

Autograph manuscript signed “Louise de Vilmorin” 
N.p, [Hôpital Américain, Neuilly-sur-Seine], 14th June 1952, 2 p. 1/2 in-4

“The sad and wonderful stories of Gérard de Nerval are the work of an explorer of sorrow”

[POUGY] GHIKA, George (1884-1945)

Autograph letter signed « Georges Ghika » to Liane de Pougy, princesse Ghika
N.p, 8th june 1923, 1 p. in-8°, blue ink on beige paper

« Encore… »

[POUGY] Tonia Navar (1886-1959)

Set of 7 letters addressed to Liane de Pougy
Various formats [circa 1930’s], 16 pages

“There will be a whole swarm of lovely women around you”

[PROUST] BOYER, Paul (1861-1952)

Original photograph by Paul Boyer
Period albumin print (c. 1891). Carte-de-visite format

Very scarce original photograph of young Marcel Proust

[RIMBAUD] CHAR, René (1907-1988)

Autograph letter signed « René Char » to Marianne Oswald
L’Isle [sur-la-Sorgue], 25 April [19]68, 1 p. 1/4 in-8°

« More than ever I understand Rimbaud to have “gone away”…»

[RIMBAUD] DELAHAYE, Ernest (1853-1930)

Autograph letter signed  “Ernest Delahaye” à Marcel Coulon
Maisons-Laffitte, 8th June 1929, 2 p. in-12, autograph envelope attached

“I will wait « gluttinously », as the man of A Season in Hell would say”

[RIMBAUD] Paul VERLAINE (1844-1896)

Autograph letter signed twice « P Verlaine » and « P.V » to Émile Bally
Paris [1^st June 1894], 3 p. 1/2 in-8° with autograph envelope

« I am there, along with Rimbaud, Valade, d’Hervilly and three or four others »

[RIMBAUD] VERLAINE, Paul (1844-1896)

Les Hommes d’Aujourd’hui 
Original edition, n°318, 4 pp. in-4°

Proof copy with autograph corrections by Verlaine

[RIMBAUD] VERLAINE, Paul (1844-1896)

Autograph letter signed « Votre P Verlaine » to l’abbé Louis Le Cardonnel
Paris, 9 Feb[ruary] [18]86, 2 p. 1/4 in-8° on mourning paper

« I don’t really know where I’m going, it’s called not living anymore »

[RIVIÈRE] CLAUDEL, Paul (1868-1955)

Autograph manuscript signed « Paul Claudel »
Château de Lutaines, June 1925, 17 p. 1/2 in-4°

« Rivière is the best illustration of this Providence whose hand he never ceased to feel upon him »

[RUBINSTEIN, Anton] Julius Cornelius SCHAARWÄCHTER (1847-1904)

Portrait of Anton Rubinstein, vintage albumen print
[Berlin, c. 1847], carte-de-visite format

Elegant portrait of the young Russian composer and prodigy

[SARTRE, Jean-Paul (1905-1980)]

Autograph letter signed « Christian Chapuis » to Jean-Paul Sartre
Maîche [Doubs], 21st June 1954, 4 p. in-8°

 « I read in “Intimacy”, a chapter of the “Wall” that a man lies for two hours with a woman. Is this possible? »

[SATIE] JACOB, Max (1876-1944)

Autograph letter signed twice to the Salacrou couple
N.p.n.d [4th july 1925], 2 p. in-8°

« Oh! Satie! Nightmare! »

[SCHUMANN, Clara] Fritz LUCKHARDT (1843-1894)

Portrait of Clara Wieck-Schumann, vintage albumen print
[Vienna, c. 1870], carte-de-visite format

Famous portrait of Clara Wieck-Schumann by Fritz Luckhardt

[VALÉRY, Paul] Henri MANUEL (1874-1947)

Portrait of Paul Valéry, period film print
[Paris, c. 20’s], cabinet format

Handsome and scarce portrait of Paul Valéry by Henri Manuel

[VERLAINE] KRANTZ, Eugénie (18–/1897)

Autograph letter signed twice “Eugénie Krantz” to Edmond Lepelletier
Paris, 39 rue Descartes, 8th January 1896, 2 pp. in-12 oblong

Extraordinary first-hand and unpublished testimony on Verlaine’s last moments, the day of his death

[VERLAINE] KRANTZ, Eugénie (18–/1897)

Autograph letter signed several times “Eugénie Krantz” to Edmond Lepelletier
Paris 29th January [1896], 4 p. in-12

Hospitalized a few days after Verlaine’s death and abandoned by all, Eugénie Krantz calls for desperate help

[VERLAINE] VANIER, Léon (1847-1896)

Les Hommes d’Aujourd’hui
Original copy from the second edition, 4 pp. in-4°
Librairie Vanier, n°244 – Paris 19 quai St Michel

Famous copy on which Verlaine appears crouching and holding a fancy lyre

[VERLAINE] VERLAINE, Jeanne (18–/18–)

Autograph letter signed “J. Verlaine” to a gentleman (probably Edmond Lepelletier)
Rue Montholon [Paris], circa 1889, 2 pp. in-8

“I would assure you that, when he came to the Broussais hospital to visit Mr. Verlaine, he asked me for a way to sue his publisher Vanier against whom he was extremely irritated.”

[WAGNER] GAUTIER (fils), Théophile (1836-1904)

Autograph letter signed « Théophile Gautier » to Louis Fourcaud
[Paris], 17th Jan[uary] 1886, 1 p. in-8°

« Saint-Saëns and Massenet will be nothing more than fading shadows »

[ZOLA] FLAUBERT, Gustave (1821-1880)


Autograph letter signed « Votre Gve Flaubert » to Emile Zola
[Paris, 17 December 1874], 1 p. in-8°

« Tourgueneff, de Goncourt & Daudet will be at my place on Sunday »

[ZOLA] FLAUBERT, Gustave (1821-1880)

Two autograph letters signed « Gve Flaubert » to Émile Zola
[Croisset, 2th May and 3rd June 1874], 5 pp. in-8°

« Father Faujas is sinister and great – a true director! How well he manipulates the woman, how skillfully he seizes her, taking her by charity, then brutalizing her! »

[ZOLA] FLAUBERT, Gustave (1821-1880)

Autograph letter signed « Votre vieux Gve Flaubert » to Emile Zola
Croisset, Sunday [15 février 1880], 3 p. in-8°

« Nana turns into myth, without ceasing to be real »

[ZOLA] FLAUBERT, Gustave, (1821-1880)

Autograph letter signed « Gus Flaubert » to Émile Zola
[Croisset, 25th July 1876], 3 p. in-8°

« I received yesterday from our young friend Maupassant a very pleasant epistle, and full of the detail of his lust – on a boat, with a fat woman »

[ZÜRN] BELLMER, Hans (1902-1975)

Autograph letter signed « Bellmer » to Marc Duprat
[October 1970 ?], Friday evening, 2 pp. in-8°

« Give Unica your personal impression that I… sincerely regrets having provoked this awful breakup in such a brutal way »

APOLLINAIRE, Guillaume (1880-1918)

Epistolary autograph poem signed « Guillaume Apollinaire », to André Billy
Nîmes, 20th March 1915, 1 p. in-8° on Café Tortoni’s letterhead

« On his beautiful forehead shines a flame / In his hand blooms a twig »

APOLLINAIRE, Guillaume (1880-1918)

First draft manuscript for the poem “Le Voyageur”, from the poem collection Alcools
N.p.n.d [c. 1909-1910], 2 p. in-4to, black ink, multiple corrections

« Deux matelots qui ne s’étaient jamais quittés »

ARAGON, Louis (1897-1982)

Autograph manuscript on his vision of poetry
N.p.n.d [50s], 6 pp. in-4°

« However, Arthur Rimbaud… »

ARAGON, Louis (1897-1982)

Autograph poem signed « Aragon »
N.p.n.d, 1 p. in-8°

« You will not awaken this child. She’s dead »

ARAGON, Louis (1897-1982)

Autograph letter signed « Aragon » [to Elisabeth de Clermont-Tonnerre]
N.p.n.d, [1950], 1 p. in-4°

« Excuse me, Madam, for not wanting to have lunch with Thomas Mann… »

ARAGON, Louis (1897-1982)

Autograph letter signed « Aragon » to Max-Pol Fouchet, head of Fontaine magazine in Algiers
[N.p] Sarturday 31st May [1941], 4 p. large in-4°

« Never has poetry, French culture of which we are the unworthy custodians, been put to the test of an era such as this »

ARTAUD, Antonin (1896-1948)

Autograph letter signed “Antonin Artaud” to his sister Marie Ange Malausséna
Espalion, 7th April 1946, 2 pages in-8

“You would do me a great service by sending me 4 or 5 tubes”

ARTAUD, Antonin (1896-1948)

Autograph letter signed “Antonin Artaud” to his sister Marie-Ange Malausséna
Espalion, 11th April 1946, 4 pages in-8

“High-dose heroin does not cause addiction when it is of good quality”

ARTAUD, Antonin (1896-1948)

Autograph letter signed « Antonin Artaud » to Adrienne Monnier
Psychiatric Hospital of Ville-Evrard, 4th March 1939, 2 p. in-4° with enveloppe

« This story of look-alikes is as old as centuries, and all the great characters throughout history have found real doubles »

BALLANCHE, Pierre Simon (1776-1847)

Autograph letter signed “Ballanche fils” to a gentleman
Lyon, 29 April 1811, 2 pages in-4

“You probably know a translation of the Telemaque, in Italian verses”

BALZAC (de), Honoré (1799-1850)

Autograph letter signed « de Balzac » to Charles Motte
[Paris], 8 8bre [October 1831], 2 p. in-8°

« Let me add seriously that I offer you my book »

BALZAC (de), Honoré (1799-1850)

Autograph letter signed in the third person « M. de Balzac » to Maurice Schlesinger
N.d.n.p, Sunday [1837], 1/2 p. in-8 with autograph address

“It is absolutely necessary to agree on Gambara”

BARBARA, Monique Serf, dite (1930-1997)

Autograph letter signed « Barbara » to her « dear Jean »
N.p.n.d, 1 p. in-8°

« I am silent, struggling in dark dramas »

BARBUSSE, Henri (1873-1935)

Autograph letter signed “Henri Barbusse” to a friend
Villa Célestine, Antibes [September 1919], 1 p. in-4

“I consider it the duty of the man of letters to draw the attention of whom right on the works that are worth it”

BAUDELAIRE, Charles (1821-1867)

Autograph letter signed « Charles » to his mother, Madame Aupick
[Paris], 1^st July 1853, 3 p. in-8°

« What is quite certain is that I no longer want to give anything to chance in my life, and that I claim that the will occupies the full extent of it »

BAUDELAIRE, Charles (1821-1867)

[Second notice on] Pierre Dupont – Corrected proof
[Paris] 6th June 1861 [stamped], 11 p. in-8vo bradel

“The public was so tired of Victor Hugo’s tireless faculties, his indestructible beauties”

BAUDELAIRE, Charles (1821-1867)

Autograph letter signed “Ch. Baudelaire” to F. Bichet
[Paris], 4 February 1860, 1/2 p. in-8

“The second part of Opium…”

BAUDELAIRE, Charles (1821-1867)

Autograph letter signed « Charles Baudelaire » to Alphonse de Calonne
[Paris], 23rd February [18]64, 1 p. in-8° on blue paper

« A heavy work, I assure you, but of which I am quite happy »

BEAUMARCHAIS (de), Pierre-Augustin Caron (1732-1799)

Autograph letter signed « Beaumarchais » to comedian Préville
Paris, 31st March 1784, 2 pp. on bi-folio in-8°

« My play isn’t a big thing ; but seeing it in the theater is the result of four years of fighting »

BEAUVOIR (de), Simone (1908-1986)

Autograph manuscript for her essay Must we burn Sade ?
N.p.n.d [1951], 7 pages in-4 on grid paper

“Sade’s eroticism is no longer just an individual attitude; it is also a challenge for society”

BEAUVOIR (de), Simone (1908-1986)

Autograph manuscript (fragments) accompanied by an autograph letter signed for La Longue Marche – Essai sur la Chine
[Paris, 1956] 15 pages in-4°, with two autograph envelopes

« China is not a political entity; I guess with joy, that it has a sky, its colors, its trees, a flesh »

BELLMER, Hans (1902-1945)

Autograph letter signed « HB » to Joë Bousquet
Revel, Tuesday 11 Sept[ember] 1945, 1 p. in-4° on pink paper

« I write like an articulated doll »

BERGSON, Henri (1859-1941)

Autograph letter signed « H. Bergson » to Michel Georges-Michel
Saint-Cergue, 1st August 1926, 3 pp. in-8°

« There is an uninterrupted current of humour that flows through these pages and is not, it must be admitted, the characteristic of my work »

BLIXEN, Karen (1885-1962)

Autograph letter signed « Karen Blixen » to Negley Farson
Rungstedlund, Rungsted Kyst, 20.12.1957, 3 pp. in-8°

« The greatest passion of my life has been my love for the Africans! »

BORGES, Jorge Luis (1899-1986)

Autograph card-letter signed with his initials to Ricardo Güiraldes
[Buenos Aires, 7th December 1926], 1 p. small in-8°

« Ya con un pie en el estribo en literales vísperas de empamparme »

BOULEZ, Pierre (1925-2016)

Autograoh signed card to André Dubois
[Marseille, 24 april 1954], 1 page in-8

“In 2 hours we leave to other heavens”

BOULEZ, Pierre (1925-2016)

Autograph card signed to André Dubois
[Cologne, 10 IX 1952], 1 page in-8

“What will I tell you about the journeys in this divine valley, which Victor Hugo has not already said?”

BOURDELLE, Antoine (1861-1929)

Autograph letter signed « Bourdelle » to a friend
Paris, 12th April 1920, 2 pp. in-8°

« My technique, learned and supplemented by Rodin, is even inscribed in portraiture »

BOURDELLE, Antoine (1861-1929)

Autograph letter signed « Ant Bourdelle » [to André Fontainas]
Paris, November 1928 [in reality 25th December], 4 pp. in-4°

« The two Beethoven »

BOURDELLE, Antoine (1861-1929)

Autograph letter signed « Bourdelle » to M. Thiebaut-Sissou
Paris, 9th March 1920, 1 p. in-8°

« I won’t be exhibiting at the show, or very little. I am at great work and that alone binds me »

BOUSQUET, Jöe (1897-1950)

6 autograph letters signed, all adressed to Variétés journal
Carcassonne, 1946-1947, 21 pages in-8

Cosmic reality and color, Dubuffet & Bellmer…

BRAQUE, Georges (1882-1963)

Autograph letter signed « Georges Braque », to Daniel Wallard
N.p, 19th February 19[44], 4 p. in-12°

« I will now get back to work, of which I have the violent desire »

BRAQUE, Georges (1882-1963)

Autograph letter signed « G Braque » to a « dear friend »
Paris, 4th June 1943, 2 pp. in-8°

« Nature does not give us the taste for perfection, we can not conceive it better or worse »

CAILLEBOTTE, Gustave (1848-1894)

Autograph letter signed « G Caillebotte » to Claude Monet
N. p.n.d, “Friday” [Petit-Gennevilliers, after 1887], 1 p. in-8°

« Extraordinary effect in mass »

CAILLEBOTTE, Gustave (1848-1894)

Autograph letter signed « G Caillebotte » to Claude Monet
N.p.n.d, Friday [Petit-Gennevilliers, after 1887 ?], 3 pp. in-8°

« I have covered a lot of canvases and wasted a lot of colour »

CAMUS, Albert (1913-1960)

Autograph letter signed « Albert Camus » to Jean-Louis Barrault
N.p, [Paris] Tuesday 6th October 1953

« You see, I’m excited… And not only excited, but also moved, and vaguely proud »

CARROLL, Lewis (1832-1898)

Autograph letter signed « C.L. Dodgson » to Mr Burton
Eastbourne, Aug[ust] 25 [18]77, 2 p. in-12° with pink ink

« I hope you will excuse the liberty… I took a few days ago in making friends with your little daughter »

CASSATT, Mary (1844-1926)

Autograph letter signed « Mary Cassatt » to Achille Segard
Villa Angeletto – Grasse, 14th April [1913], 6 p. in-8° on mourning paper

« And then I wanted to be such a great painter, Titian or Rembrandt, just that… »

CELINE, Louis-Ferdinand (1894-1961)

Autograph letter signed « LF Céline » to Charles Deshayes
Korsør, 1st September 1947, 5 p. in-folio, with enveloppe

« Bagatelles was never banned under Daladier. It was banned in the South Zone under Pétain! »

CELINE, Louis-Ferdinand (1894-1961)

Autograph letter signed twice, « Des » and « Louis », to his wife Lucette
Københavns Fængsler’s prison, 22nd August 1946, 2 pp. in-4°

« Unfortunately, I no longer have enough years, months to live to puke all that I have swallowed in these months of resentment, humiliation and hatred »

CELINE, Louis-Ferdinand (1894-1961)

Autograph letter signed “LFCéline” to his friends Descaves
Copenhagen, 7th July [1947], (c/o Mikkelsen), 2 pages in-folio

“France does not deserve its writers”

CELINE, Louis-Ferdinand (1894-1961)

Autograph letter signed « Louis Destouches (LF Céline) » to Léon Daudet
[Paris, May 1936], 8 pp. large in-4°

« I write in a kind of spoken prose, transposed »

CENDRARS, Blaise (1887-1961)

Autograph letter signed « Blaise » to Louis Brun
[Biarritz], 7th January 1933, 2 p. in-4to with envelope

« I’m not writing for an award »

CENDRARS, Blaise (1887-1961)

Autograph letter signed “Blaise Cendrars” to Mr J.P Morphée c/o André Gillois radiodiffusion française
Paris, Wednesday 4th [February 1953], 1 p. in-12 with autograph adress, stamp and seal on verso

Cendras makes a short autobiographical record of his works

CEZANNE, Paul (1839-1906)

Autograph letter signed « Paul Cézanne » to Octave Mirbeau
Aix [en-Provence], 11th July 1903, 2 pp. in-8°

« I continue to seek, to develop through drawing and color the idea of art that I think I have »

CHAR, René (1907-1988)

Autograph letter signed « R. Char » to Marianne Oswald
[N.p.n.d], 1 p. in-4°

« It’s alive like a nest on the fork of a branch »

CHAR, René (1907-1988)

Autograph poem signed « René Char »
N.p.n.d, 1 p. in-4°

« Dans le berceau conciliant / Ou tu rougis petite aurore »

CHAR, René (1907-1988)

Period film print, inscribed by Char
[L’Isle-sur-Sorgue], 1960, 1 p. in-8°

« A Marianne, son ami proche »

CHAR, René (1907-1988)

Autograph letter signed « René Char » to Marianne Oswald
N.p, 11 January 1950, 1 p. in-4°

« I killed some bastards out of military and civic necessity in 1940-1944 »

CHAR, René (1907-1988)

Autograph letter signed « René Char » [to Marianne Oswald]
L’Isle-sur-Sorgue, 15th Oct[ober] [19]49, 1 p. in-4°

« I’m always ill, having no envy for my books done or to be done. Life is constantly oscillating between fire and dung. »

CHAR, René (1907-1988)

Autograph letter signed « R. Char » to Marianne Oswald
N.p.n.d [1957], 1 p. in-8°

« A selection of my poems will be released by Gallimard at the end of the month »

CHAR, René (1907-1988)

Autograph letter signed « R. Char » to Marianne Oswald
N.p.n.d, 2 p. in-8°

« Read my poems, they are composed for this, but do not ask me to show myself, nor to flaunt my poetic existence »

CHAR, René (1907-1988)

Autograph letter signed « René Char » to Marianne Oswald
[Paris] 7th May 1960, 1 p. 1/2 large in-4°

« It is not out of pride that I refuse to appear, to say, to speak »

CHASSERIAU, Théodore (1819-1856)

Autograph letter signed “Thre Chasseriau” to M. Lanthy
Wednesday at noon [14 September 1853], 1 p. in-8 with autograph address

“I am very embarrassed at the moment”

CHATEAUBRIAND (de), François-René (1768-1848)

Autograph letter to Laure de Cottens
Paris, 24th March 1835, 4 p. large in-8°

« I still want to go and die out of France »

CHATEAUBRIAND (de), François-René (1768-1848)

Autograph letter signed « Chateaubriand » to Laure de Cottens
Paris, 27 December 1832, 4 pp. in-4°

« I hoped to work in peace to my memories and never see again a homeland that is no longer one for me »

CHATEAUBRIAND (de), François-René (1768-1848)

Autograph letter signed “Chateaubriand” to a lady
S.l, 4 February 1822, 1 p. 1/4 in-8

“Madam, I will be very happy to take care of the box for London”

CHATEAUBRIAND (de), François-René (1768-1848)

Autograph letter signed « Le V^te de Chateaubriand » to Abel
Paris, 29th 7bre [September] 1815, 4 pp. in-8°

« I demanded freedom of thought, which brought Buonaparte’s fury and his new threats to have me shot »

CHATEAUBRIAND (de), François-René (1768-1848)

Autograph letter to Léonce de Lavergne
Paris, 6th August 1838, 3 p. 1/2 small in-4° on bifolio

« I walked on this beach where Bonaparte took his last step »

CHAVANNES, Pierre Puvis de (1824-1898)

Autograph letter signed “P. Puvis” to Hippolyte DURAND-TAHIER,
Paris, 6 February 1896, 1 p. in-12

“It is urgent that I speak to you about Berlin”

CHAVANNES, Pierre Puvis de (1824-1898)

Autograph letter signed “P. Puvis” to Edouard Dubufe
Paris, 1890, 1/2 p. in-12

Pneumatic card by Chavannes to Dubufe

CLAUDEL, Paul (1868-1955)

Autograph manuscript signed « Paul Claudel »
N.p, 4th January 1951, 2 p. in-4°

« Joan is tied to her pole which represents faith. She is rooted in an immutable certainty »

CLAUDEL, Paul (1868-1955)

Autograph letter signed « P. Cl. » [to Joseph Desclausais]
W[ashington], 15th March 1933, 3 p. 1/4 large in-8°

« I thought you were theological, and I see that you know less than a 12-year-old »

CLAUDEL, Paul (1868-1955)

Autograph letter signed « P Claudel » to André Ruyters
Prague, 14th July [1910], 2 p. in-8 oblong, autograph envelope attached

“These literary vampires are real criminals”

COCTEAU, Jean (1889-1963)

Autograph letter signed (with his star) to Jean Marais
Perpignan, 1st July 1940, 2 pp. in-4°

« It’s as if everything is a dream and that we are going to wake up at the Place de la Madeleine… »

COCTEAU, Jean (1889-1963)

Autograph manuscript signed « Jean Cocteau »
[Maisons-Laffitte and Arnaga, 1909], 86 p. in-4°

Complete autograph manuscript of Jean Cocteau’s second poetic collection : Le Prince Frivole

COCTEAU, Jean (1889-1963)

Autograph letter signed with his star drawing to à Jean Marais
N.p.n.d [1940], 1 p. large in-4°

« I adore you and I bless you »

COCTEAU, Jean (1889-1963)

Autograph letter signed “Ton Jean” to Marianne
Milly, Monday 20th May [1958], 1 page in-4 adorned with an original drawing

“I have to do a job with Karajan at the Opera House”

COCTEAU, Jean (1889-1963)

Autograph letter signed “Jean C” to Henri Duvernois
[Ville de Monts] Indre-et-Loire, 26 September 1913, 1 p. in-8

“I have a hundred eyes to read Nounette“

COCTEAU, Jean (1889-1963)

Autograph letter signed twice “Jean Cocteau” and “Jean” to Michaël Smithies
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, 3rd June 1956, 6 pages in-8 with autograph envelope

“Art escapes progress”

COLETTE (1873-1954)

Autograph letter signed « Colette de Jouvenel » to Charles Sylvestre
[Paris, 21st March 1922], 1 p. in-4° with envelope

« Apart from my relatives, no one notices that Colette was a saint! »

COLETTE (1873-1954)

Autograph letter signed « Colette » to Jean Guillermet
[22nd March 1945], 1 p. 1/4 in-4° on blue paper

« I send my thoughts to both of you »

COLETTE (1873-1954)

Autograph letter signed « Colette Willy » to Alfred Diard
N.p.n.d (between 1893 and 1906), 1 p. in-8°

« A box of Velvet Soap… »

COLETTE (1873-1954)

Autograph letter signed « Colette » [to Jacques de Marsillac]
La Treille muscate – Saint Tropez [30s], 2 p. in-4° with envelope

« Inventons quelque chose qui m’autorise, sans quitter le Journal ami, à être dans ses colonnes autre chose que la critique théâtrale. C’est un affreux métier »

COLETTE (1873-1954)

Autograph letter signed « Colette de Jouvenel » to her « dear Sacha »
[Paris, 1923], 2 pp. in-4°

« “Ripening Seed” will soon be published »

DALÍ, Salvador (1904-198

Original drawings and autograph poem
N.p.n.d [c. 1935], 1 p. in-8° (16 x 20,5 cm)

« I empty my evil »

DEGAS, Edgar (1834-1917)

Autograph letter signed « Degas » to Charles Deschamps
Paris, Friday [mid-1870’s], 3 p. in-8

« You will receive the small painting »

DEGAS, Edgar (1834-1917)

Autrograph card-letter signed « Degas » to Albert Bartholomé
[Paris, 16th December 1899], 1 p. in-12

« The Forains come to dine with the young Rouart »

DELACROIX, Eugène (1798-1863)

Autograph letter signed « E Delacroix » to a unknown recipient
[Paris, 6 rue de Fürstenberg], 15 July 1863

« I am keeping the room and unable to get out »

DELACROIX, Eugène (1798-1863)

Autograph letter signed “Eug Delacroix” to a friend
N.d.n.p, Tuesday evening, 1 p. 1/2 in-8

“I would very much regret not being able to meet you”

DELACROIX, Eugène (1798-1863)

Autograph letter signed « Eug Delacroix » [to Louis Guillemardet]
N.p.n.d, « this 30th March » [1855 ?], 1 p. in-8°

« Would you be so kind as to reserve your Saturday night for me… »

DELEUZE, Gilles (1925-1995)

First draft autograph manuscript with corrections
N.d.n.p (c. 1985), 1 p. in-4 numbered “8”

“It is probably necessary to go back to Lukács, whose History and Class Consciousness already posed the question of a new subjectivity”

DERAIN, André (1880-1954)

Autograph letter signed « A Derain » to a gentleman
Lisieux, 31st May 1915, 1 p. in-4°

« I have been very abandoned from painting circles, I even wonder if I will ever do some again »

DORGELES, Roland (1885-1973)

Autograph letter signed “Roland Dorgeles” to Albert Dubeux
Montsaunes, s.d [le 15 avril]

“You were doing a literature class for future movie stars. They need it damn much!”

DORVAL, Marie (1798-1849)

Autograph letter signed “Marie Dorval” to a doctor friend
20 April 1825, 1 p. ½ in-8

“You seemed to want to see les Enfants d’Edouard“

DUMAS (fils), Alexandre (1824-1895)

Autograph letter signed “A Dumas” to an unknown recipient
N.d.n.p [Paris], 5 pages in-8 on two double sheets

“They send me back to my Dame aux camélias, to my cocottes”

DUMAS (père), Alexandre 1802-1870

Autograph letter signed « A Dumas » to the « Patriarch of Jerusalem »
S.l, 15 April [18]47, 2 p. 1/2 in-8°, with autograph envelope

« It’s only by working 18 hours a day that I can not cope with everyone, but support myself »

DUMAS (père), Alexandre 1802-1870

Autograph letter signed « AlexDumas » to M. Bouquié
N.p.n.d [c. 1852], 1 p. in-12° on bifolio

« Do you please bring either Adele or anyone else – I’ll bring Charlotte »

ÉLUARD, Paul (1895-1952)

Autograph postcard signed and countersigned by Nusch, to Mrs Grindel
[Nice, 19th November 1934], 1 p. in-8°

« Our best kisses »

ÉLUARD, Paul (1895-1952)

Autograph poem signed « Paul Eluard »
N.p.n.d, 2 p. in-folio on thin green paper

« The eyelid of the sun lowers on your face »

ÉLUARD, Paul (1895-1952)

Autograph poem, in honor of Gabriel Péri
N.p.n.d [after 1945], 1 p. in-folio (30,9 x 20,9 cm)

«  Péri est mort pour ce qui nous fait vivre / Tutoyons-le sa poitrine est trouée »

ÉLUARD, Paul (1895-1952)

Autograph manuscript signed « Paul Eluard »
N.p.n.d, 1 p. in-4

« Poetry is a reflection of the world. What I say is what I see and I must necessarily find an echo in the hearts of my fellow men »

ÉLUARD, Paul (1895-1952)

Autograph letter signed “Votre Eluard” to Joe Bousquet
[Arosa 4th November 1928], 4 pages in-4, autograph envelope attached

“Day by day, my body eats my head. I can’t wait to leave this place. Too many nerves, too many nightmares”

FINI, Leonor (1907-1996)

Autograph letter signed « Leonor Fini » [to Gérard Leman]
N.p., « 29th of January » [19]68, 1 p. in-4° with red felt pen

« In October will come out a great monograph about me »

FINI, Leonor (1908-1996)

Autograph letter signed « Leonor Fini » [to Gérard Leman]
[Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire] « 22 May » [1979], 4 pp. in-folio

« I hate honors »

FLAUBERT, Achille Cléophas (1784-1846)

Autograph letter signed « Flaubert » to Charles Vacquerie
Rouen le 12 X^bre [December] 1838, 1 p. 1/2 in-4° in black ink

« I think at this moment that a bloodletting of the arms is useful to you »

FLAUBERT, Gustave (1821-1880)

Autograph letter signed « Gve Flaubert » to Pauline Sandeau
Croisset près Rouen, Sunday [26th August 1860], 1 p. in-8°

« I want to see your pretty eyes, your pretty mouth & and I kiss both of your hands »

FLAUBERT, Gustave (1821-1880)

Autograph letter signed « Ton G. » to Louise Colet
[Croisset] Satursday evening [26th June 1852.], 4 pp. in-4°

« Musset was a charming young man and then an old man; but nothing planted, stale, square, serene in his talent or his person »

FLAUBERT, Gustave (1821-1880)

Autograph letter signed « Gve Flaubert » to Pauline Sandeau
[Croisset], Saturday [16th November 1867], 3 p. in-8° on blue laid paper

« After that one, good evening! I will say goodbye to the bourgeois for the rest of my life »

FLAUBERT, Gustave (1821-1880)

Autograph letter to his mistress Louise Colet
[Rouen], Wednesday, 2 pm [2nd December 1846], 3 p. in-8°

« I’m not made for happiness, maybe not even for love »

FOUCAULT, Michel (1926-1984)

Autograph letter signed “M Foucault” to Claude Bonnefoy
N.p, 14th December [1965], 1 page 1/4 in-4

“It was a challenge – it seems to me – to talk about Genet after Sartre”

FRANCE, Anatole (1844-1924)

Autograph letter signed « Anatole Fr. » to Claudius Popelin
Hohwald, 17th April [1882], 1 p. in-8°

« There are pretty ladies »

FRIESZ, Emile Othon (1879-1949)

Autograph manuscript
N.p, c. 1938, 4 pp. in-8°

« In art, let us not forget, fashion is the mask of death»

GAINSBOURG, Serge (1928-1991)

Autograph manuscript
N.p.n.d [c. 1980s], 1/2 p. in-4°

« Jus de truffe… »

GARCÍA LORCA, Federico (1898-1936)

Original drawing titled « Poesia »
N.p.n.d, 1 p. in-8° on double folio

Touching drawing of the poet soberly titled « Poesia »

GARNIER, Charles (1825-1898)

Autograph letter signed “Ch. Garnier” to Léonce Detroyat
[Paris, c. 1885] 1 page in-8 on laid paper

“I am not asking you to forgive me”

GAUGUIN, Paul (1848-1903)

Autograph letter signed « Paul Gauguin » to a collector
N.p.n.d [Paris, 1st or 2nd November 1893], 1 p. 1/2 in-8°

« The exhibition will be launched on the 9th »

GAUGUIN, Paul (1848-1903)

Autograph letter signed « Paul Gauguin » to Daniel de Monfreid
[Tahiti], November 1895, 3 p. 1/4 p. in-4°

« Every night frenzied girls invade my bed; yesterday I had three to function »

GAUTIER, Théophile (1811-1872)

Autograph poem signed « Théophile Gautier »
[N.p.n.d], 1 p. in-8° in black ink on blue laid paper

« And on the mournful, doleful hill / I see my final dwelling-place »

GENET, Jean (1910-1986)

Fragment of an autograph poem
N.p.n.d [Paris, prison de la Santé – 1943], 1/4 p. in4°

« My quail bundled up, crushed under my fingers »

GENET, Jean (1910-1986)

Autograph manuscript (first draft)
N.p.n.d [1971], 4 p. 1/2 in-4°

« The target remained the same: a Negro who thinks… whose book is the announcement and preparation of a black revolution »

GENEVOIX, Maurice (1890-1980)

Autograph letter signed “Maurice Genevoix” à un confrère
Châteauneuf s/ Loire (Loiret), 24 January 1927, 1 page in-4

“I’m lazy enough to, when I work, only be able to work”

GIACOMETTI, Alberto (1901-1966)

Autograph letter signed « Alberto Giacometti » to David Thompson
Paris, 2th August 1956, 3 p. in-8°

« Because of sculpture I am forced to neglect painting »

GIDE, André (1869-1951)

Autograph letter signed “André Gide” to Muni
[Antibes, 6th July 1949], 1/4 p. in-8, autograph enveloppe attached

“With my smiling tributes and my best memories”

GIDE, André (1869-1951)

Autograph letter signed « A. G. » [to Élie Allégret]
Uzès [1st January 1892], 6 p. in-8°

« I definitely believe that we should worry about the judgment only of those we esteem and, for others, not worry about pleasing them »

GIDE, André (1869-1951)

Autograph card signed “André Gide” to Michel Levesque
La Souco, 14th February [19]30, 1 page in-12 on the verso of a postcard

“I’ll see if there’s still a copy of Un Esprit non prévenu…”

GIDE, André (1869-1951)

Autograph letter signed « André Gide » to Charles Chanvin
Cuverville, c. 1900, 3 p. in-8°

« I am happy to see how much you have been able to make yourself loved by some rare friends… and my wife »

GIDE, André (1869-1951)

Autograph letter signed “André Gide” to Joseph Billiet
Cuverville, 15th MArch 1919, 2 p. 1/2 in-4

“It is about finding happiness beyond, beyond distress”

GIONO, Jean (1895-1970)

Autograph postcard signed « Jean Giono » to Anna Robin
Manosque, [31st August 1941], 1 p. in-8°

« I owe a great deal of my happiness to you »

GIONO, Jean (1895-1970)

Autograph letter signed « Jean » to Blanche Meyer
[Manosque] Friday evening [fall 1949], 3 p. in-8°

« I remember the sound of rain on the leaves and those great gestures both desperate and loving that the tall trees deploy in the autumn rain »

GONCOURT (de), Edmond (1822-1896)

Autograph letter signed « Edmond de Goncourt » to a lady
N.p, 5 7bre [September] [18]93, 2 p. in-8°

« Jules’ coffin has remained intact, and so there is now, without new digging, a place for Edmond de Goncourt »

GONCOURT (de), Edmond (1822-1896)

Autograph name card to a gentleman
N.p.n.d, 1 p. 1/2 in-24

« Put a little sword in his kidneys »

GONCOURT (de), Edmond (1822-1896)

Rare photographic portrait of Edmond de Goncourt
Circa 1885, glued on ivory cardboard, 16.5 cm x 10.5 cm

GONCOURT (de), Jules (1830-1870)

Autograph letter signed « J. de Goncourt » to a lady
Château de St Gratien, 29th July  [18]68, 1 p. in-8°

« We are very sensitive to the testimony of affection that you give us »

GRACQ, Julien (1910-2007)

Autograph letter signed « J. Gracq » [to Ariel Denis]
S.l, 5th August [1969], 2 p. in-8°

« I am much more aware than you, necessarily, of the time that has passed from one book to another, time which for me is not a somewhat abstract chronological framework but maturation or aging »

GUITRY, Sacha (1885-1957)

Autograph letter signed twice « Sacha Guitry » to a gentleman
N.p.n.d «3 in the morning », 1 p. in-4°

« 3 o’clock in the morning – really! »

GUITRY, Sacha (1885-1957)

Autograph manuscript
S.l.n.d, 5 p. in-folio, black ink

« I am not a fascist »

GUYOTAT, Pierre (1940-2020)

Autograph manuscript
N.p.n.d, 6 p. in-folio

« Jean de la Fontaine: Very handsome boy, very whore »

HAHN, Reynaldo (1874-1947)

14 autograph letters signed correspondence to Juliette Massenet
Paris and Versailles, between 1901 and 1926, 26 p. in various formats

“I am too flattered by my Master’s desire not to make available to you my mediocre piano faculties”

HEREDIA (de), José-Maria (1842-1905)

Autograph poem signed « M. de Heredia » to marquise de Saint-Paul
S.l.n.d [1894], 1 p. in-8°

« Carmen m’a donné la rose / Qui sur son cœur s’effeuillait »

HUGO, François-Victor (1828-1873)

Autograph letter signed « François Victor Hugo » to a friend
N.p.n.d [c. 1865-1866] « 21st April », 1 p. in-4° on mourning paper

« We have a small floor available in the cottage we live in »

HUGO, Victor (1802-1885)

HUGO, Victor (1802-1885)

Autograph manuscript (copeau)
N.p.n.d [Hauteville-House], 2 p. in-8°

« He comes, and we see the dawn through his pink fingers »

HUGO, Victor (1802-1885)

Autograph letter signed “Victor Hugo” to a critic
28 January [1870], H[auteville] H[ouse], [Guernesey], 1 p. in-4

“I dedicate, like Aeschylus, my works to time”

HUGO, Victor (1802-1885)

Autograph draft of a poem fragment
N.p.n.d, [Guernesey, c. 1854], 1 p. in-12° on thin blue paper

« Ils ouvrent cette nuit que nul rayon ne perce / Ils y font brusquement tomber à la renverse / Les pâles cadavres béants ! »

HUGO, Victor (1802-1885)

Autograph « VH » à Léon Gatayes
[Paris], 29th May 1843 (postal mark), 1 p. in-8°

« The day we play Les Burgraves »

HUGO, Victor (1802-1885)

Original photograph by Pierre Petit
Period albumen print (1861). Name card format

The very first photograph of Victor Hugo with a beard

HUGO, Victor (1802-1885)

Autograph letter signed « V.H. » to pastor Nathanaël Martin-Dupont
Hauteville House, 3 7bre [September 1868], 1 p. in-12° on mourning paper

« The great soul in this great clarity sees that I am crying, and knows that I’m hoping »

HUGO, Victor (1802-1885)

Autograph notes
[Paris, 1883], on the back of an envelope addressed to him

Moving intimate document of the great man in the last years of his life

HUGO, Victor (1802-1885)

Autograph fragments for a satirical poem
S.l.n.d [Guernesey, 1870], two teared strips in-4°

« Brunet was once a clown. He was radiant / Above humans by dint of stupidity »

HUGO, Victor (1802-1885)

Draft of an autograph poem
N.p.n.d [Guernesey, 1859], 1 p. in-8° (140 x 145 cm)

« Never mind O traitor! at point-blank range my book shoots you! »

HUGO, Victor (1802-1885)

Autograph manuscript
N.p.n.d [1841], 1 p. in-8°

« Love is wont not to lodge in the hand of stinginess »

HUGO, Victor (1802-1885)

Autograph letter signed « Victor Hugo » [to Edgar Quinet ?]
H.H., 7th July, 1 p. in-8° on blue laid paper

« I see it in England, alas, narrow and intolerant, and profoundly hostile to progress »

INDY, Vincent d’ (1851-1931)

Autograph letter signed “Vincent d’Indy“, enhanced with autograph CV
Bruxelles, 24th November 1896, 5 p. 1/2 small in-8

“So I’m just sending you a very simple story of organist, timbalier, conductor of hearts, composer…”

INGRES, Jean-Auguste-Dominique (1780-1867)

Autograph letter signed “Ingres” to M. Beroggi
N.d.n.p, Saturday, 1 p. in-12

“Our modest dinner next Monday, with too unworthy accompaniment of a Haydn Sonata”

JACOB, Max (1876-1944)

Autograph letter signed « Max Jacob » to Raymond Trillat
[St Benoît-sur-Loire], 12th September [1942], 2 p. in-4°

« Here daily visits to such an extent that a report was made (denunciation) to the police… »

JACOB, Max (1876-1944)

Autograph letter signed « Max Jacob » to a friend
St Benoît-sur-Loire, Loiret, 23 Feb[ruary] 1926, 2 p. in-8°

« Valadon is a great artist who feels deeply and has a great science. She doesn’t have the place she deserves »

JACOB, Max (1876-1944)

Autograph letter signed « Max Jacob » to Marcel Thiébaut
Monastère de St Benoît-sur-Loire, 16th May 1924, 2 p. in-8° on bi-folio

« You have exuded the character of my heroes better than I have done myself »

JARRY, Alfred (1873-1907)

Autograph letter signed « Alfred Jarry » to Alfred Valette 
Laval, 31 janv[ier] [19]07, 4 pp. in-12°

« It’s strange how physical health is intimately linked to the health issue.… phynances »

KAHLO, Frida (1907-1954)

Autograph statement signed « Frida Kahlo »
Mexico, 2nd August 1947, 1/2 p. in-4°, with autograph envelope

A few drawings for a friend…

KEROUAC, Jack (1922-1969)

Typed letter signed twice « Jack » and « Jack Kerouac » to Granville H. Jones
[Northport, New York, 22 November 1960] 2 p. in-4°, with envelope

« It is the only thing too that has made me happy in three years, since the publication of On the Road and the subsequent sickeningness of ‘being famous’ »