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] 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°

« I understand you well, to absorb yourself in the serious and continuous drunkenness of creation »

[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”

[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

[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…”

[POUGY, Liane de] Harry Baur (1880-1943)

Set of letters addressed to Liane de Pougy
Paris / Brussels, various formats, 1931-1939, 7 pages and 1 telegram

“It is beyond my control not to feel all that is hopeless in the end of my life”

[POUGY, Liane de] 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”

[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 »

[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? »

[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.”

[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)

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 »

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 », titled « D’une petite fille massacrée »
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, Honoré de (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”

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. 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 »

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?”

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 »

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 »

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

« The book is called Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland »

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 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 with autograph dedication
[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 « 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 »

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 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 »

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 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 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 “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 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 »

DALÍ, Salvador (1904-1989)

Autograph letter signed twice « Dalí » to a friend
N.p.n.d, 1 p. in-4°

Charming letter from the artist, enriched with an original drawing

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 »

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”

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 (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 »

DUMAS, Alexandre fils (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”

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

« Un homme est mort qui n’avait pour défense / Que ses bras ouverts à la vie »

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”

FLAUBERT, Gustave (1821-1880)

Autograph letter signed « Gve Flaubert » to Pauline Sandeau
[Paris], Wednesday, 3 h [20th March 1867], 1 p. in-8° on laid paper

« I have an appointment with a police commissioner, for literary information »

FLAUBERT, Gustave (1821-1880)

Autograph letter signed « Gus Flaubert » to Jules Sandeau
[Paris], Monday morning [14 December 1863], 1 p. in-8vo

« I’m not going to see you because I guess you’re in all the embarrassment of a Premiere »

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”

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»

GARCÍA LORCA, Federico (1898-1936)

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

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 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, who writes what he 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”

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 Joseph Billiet
Cuverville, 15th MArch 1919, 2 p. 1/2 in-4

“It is about finding happiness beyond, beyond distress”

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 »

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, Victor (1802-1885)

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)

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 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 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” to Maurice Morel
St Benoît sur Loire, 23 September [19]43, 1 p. in-4, envelope attached

“There is no madness in hope”

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 »

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’ »

LAWRENCE, David Herbert (1885-1930)

Autograph letter signed “DH Lawrence” to George Conway
Hôtel Beau Rivage, Bandol, 29th December 1928, 2 p. in-8vo, with envelope

« We have lived too long to be shocked by words any more »

LEVI, Primo (1919-1987)

Set of two letters signed « Primo Levi » to Roland Stragliati
Turin, 19th and 29th June 1980, 8 p. in-4°

« Come le ho scritto, sarebbe piuttosto una clef de serrage »

LISZT, Franz (1811-1886)

Original photograph by Julien Ganz
Period albumen print (1882), cabinet format

Striking and unpublished portrait of the musician

LONDON, Jack (1876-1916)

Autograph letter to Charmian Kittredge
Aboard the S.S. Siberia, 13th January 1904, 4 p. in-8, in english

“What wild dreams I had! And you were in all of them”

LORRAIN, Jean (1855-1906)

Autograph letter signed “Jean Lorrain”, to a friend
Auteuil [no date], 2 pages in-12 oblong

“Would you like to come to Auteuil for lunch?”

LOUŸS, Pierre (1870-1925)

Set of 4 autograph letters signed “P” and 2 autograph manuscripts
Villa Velléda [Bassin d’Arcachon, c. 1912], 15 pages in-12

“In the smile of the Mona Lisa, I have never seen any enigma, nothing but concealment”

LUBICZ-MILOSZ, Oscar Venceslas de (1877-1939)

Autograph letter signed “Votre Milosz” to a friend and poet
S.l.n.d (Monday), 2 pages in-8

“I am at ease to be able to attach to this fold a final copy of the XVII Poems”

MALIBRAN, Maria (1808-1836)

Autograph letter signed « Maria » to Louis Viardot
[Brussels, 18th March 1832], 1 p. 1/4 in-4°

« Next Saturday Mrs. Malibran and Mr. de Bériot will be heard in a Concert given by them at the Grand Théâtre »

MALRAUX, André (1901-1976)

Autograph letter signed « André Malraux » to a critic
Np, 30th [1933], 1 page in-8

“I understand, of course, the mistrust that a book about China can inspire”

MALRAUX, André (1901-1976)

Autograph letter signed « And. Malraux » to Ventura García Calderón
Marrakech, 21st April [1952], 2 pages in-8, l’Hôtel de la Mamounia à Marrakech letterhead

“I have long thought that in literature any personal attack is futile”

MARTIN DU GARD, Roger (1881-1958)

Autograph letter signed « Roger Martin du Gard » to a critic
Porquerolles, 30th June 1922, 6 pp. in-8°

« Les Thibault will prove nothing; there is no theoretical conflict of ideas »

MAUPASSANT (de), Guy (1850-1893)

Period albumen print by Benque & Co
[c. 1885], mounted on thick cardboard, cabinet format (10,5 x 15,4 cm)

Very scarce portrait of the novelist by Benque & Co

MAUPASSANT (de), Guy (1850-1893)

Film print on postcard (9 x 11,6 cm)
Handsome portrait of Maupassant in bust

MAUPASSANT (de), Guy (1850-1893)

Autograph letter signed « Guy de Maupassant »  to a gentleman
N.p.n.d [Cannes, after 1885], 1 p. in-12 on his letterhead Bel-Ami

“I will choose a dark day to be sure to find you”

MAUPASSANT (de), Guy (1850-1893)

Autograph card-letter signed « Maupassant » [to Jacques Normand?]
24 rue Boccador, [Paris, 24th February 1891], 2 p. in-12°

« My head is sick »

MAURIAC, François (1885-1970)

Autograph letter signed « Fr » to priest Jacques Laval
7 February [1938 ?], 4 p. grand in-8°

« My tragedy is to have loved above all sincerity and to have ended up with the lie of my life »

MAURRAS, Charles (1868-1952)

Autograph letter signed « Charles Maurras » to Louis-Xavier de Ricard
S.l, 31st December [1892], 15 p. in-8°, bespoke binding by Michel Kieffer

« I confess that I am anti-Jewish without being anti-Semitic »

MERMOZ, Jean (1901-1936)

Autograph poem titled « Ciel »
S.l.n.d, 1 p. in-4°

« I was slowly following the path of My Life / Far from the World lost and drowned in Envy »

MODIGLIANI, Amedeo (1884-1920)

Autograph letter signed « Modigliani » to art dealer Léopold Zborowski
[Nice, New year’s eve 31th December 1918], 2 pp. in-8°

« I sold all the paintings. Send the money quickly. Champagne flows »

MONET, Claude (1840-1926)

Autograph letter signed « Claude Monet » to a friend
[Giverny], 6th July 1922, 3 p. in-8°

« All my time, I devote it to work although my eyesight declines day by day »

NADAR JEUNE, Adrien Tournachon (1825-1903)

Autograph letter signed “Adrien” to Alcide-Joseph Lorentz
[Paris], 6 January 1858, 1 p. in-8 à with embossed letterhead

“I have urgent matter to deal with…”

NADAR, Félix Tournachon, dit (1820-1910)

Autograph letter signed « Nadar » to Ernest Vaughan from journal L’Aurore
Marseille, 26 8bre [October] [18]99, 2 page in-12

« And then I no longer see Clemenceau in my Aurore »

NADAR, Félix Tournachon, dit (1820-1910)

Autograph letter signed “Nadar” to a friend
N.p.n.d [Paris, 1857], 1 p. in-8

“I write to you at the Rabelais”

NADAR, Félix Tournachon, dit (1820-1910)

Autograph letter signed on letter-head “Nadar” to Mayor of 8th arrondissement of Paris
Paris, 17 January 1883, 1/2 p. in-8

“Mr. Nadar has the honour to present his respects…”

NÉMIROVSKY, Irène (1903-1942)

Autograph card signed « Irène Némirovsky » to Robert Chauvelot
Paris, 30th May 1933, 2 p. small in-8°

« Would you like to give me the great pleasure of coming to my house on Saturday […] have a cup of tea, in privacy, in the Russian way? »

NERVAL (de), Gérard (1808-1855)

Autograph letter signed « Gérard de Nerval » to Arsène Houssaye
[N.p], March 1850, 1/2 p. in-8 on bi-folio, autograph address on verso

« Ladies’ stalls or small lodges »

NERVAL (de), Gérard (1808-1855)

Autograph letter signed « Gérard de Nerval » à Pierre Bocage
N.p [Paris], 19th October 1852, 1 p. in-8°

« It seems to me that the cause is not lost »

PAGNOL, Marcel (1895-1974)

First draft poetic autograph notes
N.p.n.d, 3 p. in-4° on school paper

« La robe infâme / Fit naître ton émoi / Ainsi ton âme / Ne fut jamais à moi »

PELADAN, Joséphin (1858-1918)

Autograph letter signed ‘Peladan‘ to Gabriel Mourey
[Paris, 18th April 1888], 1 page in-8 on yellow paper

“I said, my dear friend, that we send you the new Aurevilly”

PELADAN, Joséphin (1858-1918)

Autograph letter signed ‘Peladan’ to Gabriel Mourey
[Hyères, 21st February 1888], 1 page in-8 on yellow paper

“having to deliver Istar soon enough”

PERET, Benjamin (1899-1959)

Autograph letter signed « Benjamin Peret » to René Alleau
Paris, 12th February 1958, 1 p. in-4

“These failures are inherent to my condition as an independent and revolted intellectual….”

PISSARRO, Camille (1830-1903)

Autograph letter signed « C. Pissarro » to Noël Clément-Janin
Paris, 19th Feb[ruary] 1892, 1 p. 1/2 in-8°, with envelope

« Turner, Delacroix, Corot, Courbet, Daumier, Jongkind, Manet, Degas, Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, Guillaumin, Sisley, Seurat ! This is our march. »

POTOCKI, Jan (1761-1815)

Autograph letter signed “Jean Potocki” to Firmin Didot
Uladowka, 1^st November [1814], 1 p. in-4

“You have received the first book of my Principles of Chronology for the Twelve Centuries Leading Up to the Olympiads”

PROUST, Jeanne WEIL (1849-1905)

[5^th December 1904], original period film print. Round photography (159 mm diameter), mounted on thick paper frame in the photographer’s name.

One of the last portraits of Jeanne Weil Proust, less than a year before her death

PROUST, Marcel (1871-1922)

Autograph letter signed « Marcel Proust » to Robert de Billy
[Paris, second half of July, 1907] 5 pages in-8°

“But isn’t it enough that you are the appearance to rejoice a heart that flees from the truth?”

PROUST, Marcel (1871-1922)

Autograph letter signed « Marcel Proust » to Marie Scheikévitch
Cabourg, [5th September 1912], 3 p. 1/2 in-8°

« This church description that I attached more importance to since I knew you would read it »

PROUST, Marcel (1871-1922)

Autograph letter signed « Marcel » to Robert de Billy
S.l [Paris], between the 11th and the 14th of January 1912, 4 p. in-8°

« Above all, do not send me back the previous 500. You will give them back to me when you come, or give me a sentimental pleasure by never returning them to me and giving me the illusion of maintaining a lady with whom you would have romantic relations »

PROUST, Marcel (1871-1922)

Autograph letter signed « Marcel Proust » to Louis Suchet d’Albufera
[Paris, 26th May 1908], 4 p. in-8° in mourning paper

« It is the elegance of generous and delicate hearts when they render great service like you, to say that it is no service »

PROUST, Marcel (1871-1922)

Original photography by Paul Boyer
Period albumin print (circa 1891). Name card format

Very scarce original photograph of young Marcel Proust

PROUST, Marcel (1871-1922)

Telegram to Marie Scheikévitch
[Friday 21st September 1917], 1 p. in-8°

« My health, so detestable at this moment, often deprives me at the last hour of the most desired pleasures»

PSICHARI, Ernest (1883-1914)

Autograph letter signed « Ernest Psichari » to Maurice Reclus
Paris, 11th June 1902, 8 p. in-folio

« My only intention was, I swear, to couple words adrift, with harmony and rarity, as much as possible »

PUCCINI, Giacomo (1858-1924)

Autograph letter signed « G Puccini » to Antonio Bettolacci
N.p.n.d [Torre del Lago, c. 1900], 3 p. in-8°, in Italian

« I have to refine the bells of Tosca »

PUCCINI, Giacomo (1858-1924)

Illustrated postcard, signed « Giacomo Puccini » with autograph note beam
Torre del Lago, ag° [August] [1]902, 2 p. in-12°

« La Bohème »

RENOIR, Pierre-Auguste (1841-1919)

Autograph letter signed “Renoir” to Paul Bérard
Naples, Saturday 26th [November 1881], 3 pages in-12

“I have tried it all, painting with gasoline, wax, siccative…”

RILKE, Rainer Maria (1875-1926)

Autograph letter signed « RM Rilke » to Eduard Korrodi
[Glion] 20 March 1926, 8 p. in-8° in blue ink

« The feeling of this pure and grandiose landscape from which had come to me, in years of solitude and concentration, an incessant and inexhaustible help »

RIMBAUD, Arthur (1854-1891)

Autograph manuscript signed twice « Rimbaud », to Armand Savouré
Harar, 30 March 1890, 1/2 p. in-4°

Unpublished receipt from Harar intended to Armand Savouré, the last before Rimbaud ceased all activity with him

RIMBAUD, Arthur (1854-1891)

Autograph letter signed « Rimbaud » to his family
Aden, 10th September 1884, 4 pp. in-8° on laid paper

« And since every man is a slave in this miserable fatality »

SADE, Donatien-Alphonse-François, Marquis de (1740-1814)

Autograph letter to his wife, Renée-Pélagie de Montreuil
[N.p], 1st avril, [Vincennes Prison], 1 p. 1/2 in-12°

« I suffer like a damned man »

SADE, Donatien-Alphonse-François, Marquis de (1740-1814)

Autograph letter signed “de Sade” to his aunt Gabrielle-Eléonore de Sade
N.p, 22nd April [1790], 3 pp. in-8vo

“My room was searched and I lost everything… precious works, the fruit of fifteen years’ work, I have saved nothing… and all this through the fault of those wretched rascals whom I hope God will one day avenge me”

SAINT-SAENS, Camille (1835-1921)

Autograph letter signed « C. Saint S » [to Louis Gallet]
S.l, 5 February, 2 p. in-4°

« This piece did not amuse me to do »

SAND, George (1804-1876)

Autograph letter signed « GS » to Eugène Delacroix
[Paris, c. 1842], 1 p. in-8

« If you can come and dine with us at Mrs. Marliani’s, you will make us all a great pleasure »

SAND, George (1804-1876)

Autograph letter signed “GSand” [to Paul Porel]
Nohant, May 28 [18]76, 1 page in-8 in black ink

One of George Sand’s last letters, a few days before her death

SARTRE, Jean-Paul (1905-1980)

Original vintage gelatino-film print by Roger Parry
C. 1938, 23.7 x 17.5 cm

SARTRE, Jean-Paul (1905-1980)

Autograph preparatory manuscript for Les Mots
N.p.n.d [c. 1953-1955], 1 p. in-8°

« I became someone, an Other »

SARTRE, Jean-Paul (1905-1980)

Autograph letter signed “J.P Sartre”  to Georges Agiman
N.p, 17th October 1957, 1/2 page in-folio

“La putain respectueuse”