History & Science

We offer a selection of letters and manuscripts from men and women who, through their writings, acts or discoveries, have influenced the course of history.

Sort by: Author Price

[BARBÈS] De LAVETIER

Original albumen print by de Lavetier
La Haye, 2th August [1869], cdv format

« à Jules Claretie »

SOLD
Add to Selection

[DREYFUS AFFAIR] ZOLA, Emile (1840-1902)

Unpublished autograph manuscript, signed « Emile Zola »
[Grosvenor Hotel, London, 19 July 1898], 5 pages in-4 on ligned paper

“Of all my open letter to the president, a few lines had been skilfully extracted… to prevent the truth to shine on the Dreyfus affair”

EUR 40.000,-
Add to Selection

[EINSTEIN] BERGSON, Henri (1859-1941)

Autograph letter signed « Henri Bergson » to Jean Becquerel
Paris, 24 Sept[ember] 1922, 16 pages in-8°

« From the point of view of the theory of Relativity, there is no longer absolute motion or absolute immobility »

EUR 15.000,-
Add to Selection

[EUGÉNIE de Montijo, Empress] W&D Downey

Portrait of Empress Eugenie by W&D Downey, period albumen print
[London, c. 1871], CDV format

Elegant portrait of the Empress, with a melancholic gaze

EUR 250,-
Add to Selection

[NAPOLEON III] FLAMANT, Louis Emmanuel

Photomontage on period albumen vintage print
N.p.n.d, cabinet format (10 x 13,5 cm)

Famous photomontage depicting the death of Napoleon III, surrounded by his family and loved ones

EUR 450,-
Add to Selection

[POUGY] GHIKA, George (1884-1945)

Autograph letter signed « Georges Ghika » to Liane de Pougy, princess Ghika
N.p, 2nd July 1923, 1. in-4°

« I boast of a privilege »

SOLD
Add to Selection

[POUGY] GHIKA, George (1884-1945)

Autograph letter signed « Georges Ghika » to Liane de Pougy, princesse Ghika
Le Clos-Marie, Roscoff, 2nd July 1924, 2 p. in-4°

« It seems that your pearly body, slightly amber from distant sailings... »

EUR 300,-
Add to Selection

[PRINCE IMPERIAL] BASSANO, Napoléon Maret, duc de (1803-1898)

Letter signed « Duc de Bassano » to the Comte de la Chapelle, Alfred de Morton
[Camden Place, Chislehurst] July 1879, 1 p. in-8° on mourning paper

« I have been instructed by Her Majesty the Empress to convey to you her many thanks for the sentiments you have expressed to her in her immense misfortune »

EUR 300,-
Add to Selection

[PRINCE IMPÉRIAL] BIZOT, Adrien (1848-1929)

Autograph letter signed « Adrien Bizot » to the Prince Impérial
Melun, 20 septembre 1878, 4 p. in-8°

« Sad country, Sad weather! But patience, the sun of Austerlitz is not dead! »

EUR 800,-
Add to Selection

[PRINCE IMPÉRIAL] Elliott & Fry

Portrait of the Prince Impérial by Elliott & Fry
[London, c. 1875], albumen carte-de-visite

Elegant portrait of Prince Imperial, printed in his honor after his tragic death in Southern Africa

EUR 280,-
Add to Selection

[PRINCE IMPÉRIAL] Gösta FLORMAN (1831-1900)

Portrait of the Prince Impérial by Gösta Florman, period albumen print
[Stockholm, 1878], carte-de-visite format

Supere portrait of the Prince Impérial by Gösta Florman

EUR 450,-
Add to Selection

[PRINCE IMPERIAL] H. Marres

Photomontage on period albumen print
N.p.n.d, cabinet format (10 x 13,5 cm)

Extremely rare photomontage depicting the killing of the Prince Imperial by the Zulus, in southern Africa

EUR 750,-
Add to Selection

[SECOND EMPIRE] The imperial family and its private circle

Nineteen period albumen prints
The Imperial Family and its entourage, CDV format

Exceptional gathering of nineteen vintage albumen prints offering a wide panorama of the imperial family, its relatives and supporters

EUR 900,-
Add to Selection

[SEDAN] NAPOLÉON III (1808-1873)

Autograph dispatch signed « Napoléon » to Charles Duperré
[Wilhlmeshoehe castle, 6-8 September 1870], 1/2 p. in-8°

« Where is the Empress »

EUR 1.900,-
Add to Selection

BABEUF, Gracchus (1760-1797)

Autograph letter signed “Babeuf” to his son, Robert Emile Babeuf
Pluviôse [probably handwritten between January 20th and February 8th 1797]

“It is by practising to suffer that one is able to receive with force all the pains of life”

EUR 2.300,-
Add to Selection

BEAUHARNAIS, Émilie de (1781-1855)

Autograph letter signed “Beauh. De Lavalette” to her cousin Eugène de Beauharnais
S.l, [11] mai [1807], 5 p. in-12

“We were so sad and discouraged by the loss my poor cousin just had that it was impossible for me to have two ideas of my own since the fatal moment”

EUR 1.500,-
Add to Selection

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 »

EUR 20.000,-
Add to Selection

BERGSON, Henri (1859-1941)

Autograph aphorism signed « H. Bergson »
N.p.n.d, 1/4 p. in-8°

« As soon as we love the best in life, we become indifferent to death »

SOLD
Add to Selection

BERGSON, Henri (1859-1941)

Autograph letter signed « H. Bergson » to Raphaël Cor
Paris, 22nd March 1935, 2 p. in-8°

« I find interesting the relationship you establish between immoralism and the sexual question… »

EUR 1.200,-
Add to Selection

BERGSON, Henri (1859-1941)

Autograph letter signed « H. Bergson » to a friend
Paris, 2nd March 1920, 3 p. 1/2 in-8°

« I believe that in philosophical matters the imprecise does not count, and that we must be three times sure of what we bring to the public if we want to obtain from it a beginning of consent »

SOLD
Add to Selection

BERNARD, Claude (1813-1878)

Autograph letter signed « Claude Bernard » to Mr Worms
N.p.n.d, 1 p. 1/2 in-12 on laid paper with his embossed initials

« If you can come one of these mornings… bring me your experimental information on cholera »

SOLD
Add to Selection

BILLAUD-VARENNE, Jacques-Nicolas (1756-1819)

Autograph letter signed « Billaud-Varenne » to his colleagues
Sainte-Ménehould, 16th September 1792, 3 p. 1/2 in-4°

« Keep that calm and energy that got you victory in front of the Bastille and the Château des Tuileries »

SOLD
Add to Selection

BLACAS, Duc de (1771-1839)

Autograph letter signed “B
Prague, 14th March 1835, 4 pages in-8

“What a fateful event that the death of this excellent Emperor”

EUR 550,-
Add to Selection

BONAPARTE, Caroline (1782-1839)

Autograph letter signed “Caroline” to a Prince
[Naples, 15th May 1813], 2 p. grand in-8

“It is cruel to see the disappearance of the people who for 15 years have been attached to the Emperor and have shared all his memories.”

EUR 2.200,-
Add to Selection

CHARLES X (1757-1836)

Autograph letter signed “Charles Philippe” to Charles de Barentin
Edinburgh, 4th March 1803, 1 p. in-4, address on verso, remains of black wax seal

“I promise myself our usual dispositions to employ you for all that is of interest to the service of the King my brother and mine”

EUR 950,-
Add to Selection

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

Autograph letter signed « Le Vte 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 »

EUR 7.800,-
Add to Selection

CITROËN, André (1878-1935)

Autograph manuscript signed « André Citroën »
S.l, 3rd April 1926, 1/2 p. in-8°

« It is by intensifying production and subsequently exporting that the country will be revived » 

EUR 3.800,-
Add to Selection

CLEMENCEAU, Georges (1841-1929)

Autograph carte-de-visite signed « GL » to Michel Alexandre Gaston Tournier
N.p.n.d, 1 p. in-24°

« Nature is… what it is »

EUR 190,-
Add to Selection

CLEMENCEAU, Georges (1841-1929)

Autograph novel for his collection of articles Aux Embuscades de la vie
N.p [1903], 10 pp. in-4

“This happiness did not seem to be done for the miserable Jew who until now had been striving in vain to conquer gold”

EUR 600,-
Add to Selection

CLEMENT, Jean-Baptiste (1836-1903)

Autograph manuscript signed « JB Clément »
N.p, dated 23rd April 1869,  4 p. in-8°

« J’en couperai pour cette belle France / Dont j’ai chanté la gloire et les revers »

EUR 2.800,-
Add to Selection

CONDORCET (de), Sophie de Grouchy, marquise (1763-1822)

Autograph letter to Jacques Pierre Brissot de Warville
N.p.n.d [Paris, soon after the 24nd of March 1792], 1 p. 1/2 small in-4°

« Here are 2 little things that seem to me likely to destroy the effect of the King’s letter… »

SOLD
Add to Selection

CONSIDÉRANT, Victor (1808-1893)

Autograph letter signed “V Considérant” tp Mr Berger
Paris [Probably 1848], 2 pages in-8

Rare letter of the philosopher

EUR 280,-
Add to Selection

DUMAS (père), Alexandre 1802-1870

Autograph manuscript signed « Al Dumas »
S.l [Naples], 18 9bre [November] 1862, 4 pp. in-folio

« To the letter that we have put before our readers’ eyes… »

SOLD
Add to Selection

HUGO, Victor (1802-1885)

Autograph letter signed “Victor H” à Joséphine Trébuchet
Brussels, 19th December [1851], 1 page in-8 on double sheet

“I fought for the right, for the truth, for the righteous, for the people, for France”

EUR 9.500,-
Add to Selection

JAURÈS, Jean (1859-1914)

Autograph manuscript signed « Jean Jaurès »
[Paris], c. 1st April 1905, 12 p. in-4°

« Several Republican groups are concerned about how to ensure the swift passage of the law on the separation of church and state »

EUR 0,-
Add to Selection

LAMARTINE (de), Alphonse (1790-1869)

Letter signed « Lamartine » to Louis de Jacquelot
Paris, 8 9bre [November 1840], 2 p. in-8°

« The serious circumstances in which we found ourselves made me go out… of my usual calm in politics »

EUR 250,-
Add to Selection

LAMENNAIS, Félicité de (1782-1854)

Lettre autographe signée “F. de Lamennais” à M. Lasneau
Paris, 20 juin 1825, 1 page in-8

“Two copies of my Imitation”

EUR 150,-
Add to Selection

LONDRES, Albert (1884-1932)

Autograph postcard signed « Albert » to his daughter Florise
Bruges [14 December (1922 ?)], 1 p. in-8°

« Will be in Paris tomorrow »

EUR 450,-
Add to Selection

LOUIS XVI (1754-1793)

Autograph letter signed “Louis” to a Monsieur
N.d.n.p (1781 before May), 1 page small in-8 on double sheet

“I could give the last orders on Sunday to Mr. Amelot and Mr. Necker, for I wish that the thing would not drag on for too long”

SOLD
Add to Selection

MAO, Zedong (1893-1976)

First edition of the Little Red Book
[Beijing, May 1964], 250 p. in-16° (13,8 x 10 cm)

« Politics is was without blood, while war is politics with blood »

SOLD
Add to Selection

MASARYK, Tomáš (1850-1937)

Autograph letter signed « Masaryk » to a political activist
S.l, 21st December 1893, 2 p. 1/4 in-8°

« If the party turns against me, it opposes the men of confidence, as well as the vote of confidence that was granted to me »

EUR 950,-
Add to Selection

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 »

EUR 200,-
Add to Selection

MERMOZ, Jean (1901-1936)

Autograph letter to his grandparents
Mazamet 31st March [1935], 1 p. ¾ in-4

« I would not have wanted him to precede me in such a disastrous way. That he followed me there later, much later, it would have been in order… »

SOLD
Add to Selection

MESRINE, Jacques (1936-1979)

Autograph letter signed « ton viejo » to his mistress Jeanne Schneider
Fleury-Mérogis prison, 27th September 1976, 2 pp. in-4°

« I have to die before I’m 40. Death must hurry »

EUR 950,-
Add to Selection

MESRINE, Jacques (1936-1979)

Autograph letter signed « EL VIEJO » to his mistress Jeanne Schneider
Fleury-Mérogis prison, 20th January 1977, 2 pp. in-4°

 « I like the new title of my book… it punches ! »

EUR 800,-
Add to Selection

MESRINE, Jacques (1936-1979)

Autograph letter signed « EL VIEJO » to his mistress Jeanne Schneider
Fresnes prison, « QHS » 3rd March 1977, 2 pp. in-4°

« I wrote a letter to Badinter to put him in his place! because I accept criticism… but not from a guy like him »

EUR 950,-
Add to Selection

MESRINE, Jacques (1936-1979)

Autograph letter signed « Ton pirate » to his mistress Jeanne Schneider
Fresnes prison, « QHS », 2nd March 1977, 2 pp. in-4°

« What a mess did my new book create »

SOLD
Add to Selection

MESRINE, Jacques (1936-1979)

Autograph letter signed « Ton viejo bandido » to his mistress Jeanne Schneider
[Prison de la Santé], 1st October 1976, 2 pp. in-4°

« They can’t make me shut my mouth… »

SOLD
Add to Selection

MESRINE, Jacques (1936-1979)

Autograph letter signed « Bibi » to his mistress Jeanne Schneider
[Saint-Vincent de Paul prison, Québec], 9 August [19]72, 2 pp. in-8°

« Our turn will come… dying is also part of life. In the meantime I’m alive and well »

EUR 800,-
Add to Selection

MONTIJO (de), Impératrice Eugénie (1826-1920)

Autograph letter signed « Eugénie » to Marie-Thérèse Bartholoni
Farnborough Hill, 17th November 1892, 3 p. in-8° on mourning paper

« Never before have we kissed and armed so much in Europe. As long as it is a guarantee of peace ! »

SOLD
Add to Selection

MONTIJO (de), Impératrice Eugénie (1826-1920)

Autograph letter signed « Eugénie » to French Republic president Patrice de Mac-Mahon
Chislehurst, Camden Place [June 1873], 4 p. in-8

“I am not asking you anything for the future but to respect a past that was the cradle of your glory”

SOLD
Add to Selection

MONTIJO (de), Impératrice Eugénie (1826-1920)

Autograph letter signed « Eugénie », to Marie-Thérèse Bartholoni
Camden Place, Chislehurst, 16th March 1880, 4 p. in-8°, mourning paper

« I hope, upon my return, either to be stronger or no longer need to rely on my strengths »

SOLD
Add to Selection

MONTIJO (de), Impératrice Eugénie (1826-1920)

Autograph letter signed « Eugénie » to Hortense Cornu
[Camden Place, Chislehurst] 13th January [1875], 8 pp. in-8°, mourning paper

« What a singular destiny which makes it so that the most French hearts, the Napoleons, must all to this day be laid in a foreign coffin »

EUR 1.900,-
Add to Selection

MONTIJO (de), impératrice Eugénie (1826-1920)

Autograph letter signed « Eugénie » to an unknown recipient
[Camden Place, Chislehurst], 4 February [18]73, 1 p. 1/2 in-8°

« Sensitive to your sympathy and the regrets you express to me for the one we mourn »

EUR 450,-
Add to Selection

MONTIJO (de), Impératrice Eugénie (1826-1920)

Autograph letter signed « Eugénie » to Marie-Thérèse Bartholoni
Camden Place, Chislehurst, 10 10bre [October 1873], 4 p. in-8°, mourning paper

« When you want an unhealthy share of popularity, you don’t know how to absolve or condemn »

SOLD
Add to Selection

MONTIJO (de), Impératrice Eugénie (1826-1920)

Autograph letter signed « Eugénie » to Marie-Thérèse Bartholoni
Prince’s gate SW [London], 26 November [1881], 5 p. in-8 on mourning paper

« The widow of Napoleon III remains and will remain close to those who died in exile »

SOLD
Add to Selection

MONTIJO (de), Impératrice Eugénie (1826-1920)

Autograph letter signed « Eugénie » to Marie-Thérèse Bartholoni
Farnborough Hill, Hants, 4th November 1908, 4 p. in-8°

« The 15th of November has long ceased to be a feast for me, and the ranks of those who once celebrated it are thinning every day, for death is mowing down all around us »

EUR 500,-
Add to Selection

MONTIJO (de), Impératrice Eugénie (1826-1920)

Autograph letter signed « Eugénie » to Marie-Thérèse Bartholoni
Camden Place, Chislehurst [January 1873], 8 p. in-8°, mourning paper

« The Emperor’s rapid death has, so to speak, awakened the public conscience. »

SOLD
Add to Selection

NAPOLÉON III (1808-1873)

Autograph letter signed « N » to Empress Eugénie
[Camden Place, Chislehurst], 2nd August [1872], 1 p. 1/2 in-8°

« Your absence leaves a great void and although we live under the same roof we see little of each other, it is always very sweet to feel close to those we love »

EUR 1.300,-
Add to Selection

NECKER, Jacques (1732-1804)

Letter signed “Necker” to Mrs les Commissaires du Roi au Dept. du Nord
Paris, 27th July 1790, 1 p. in-folio on laid paper

EUR 700,-
Add to Selection

PASTEUR, Louis (1822-1895)

Autograph letter signed « L. Pasteur » to Professor Charles Bouchard
Paris, 19 July 1888, 3 pages in-8°

« We have tested his immunity by inoculation on the brain’s surface »

EUR 5.500,-
Add to Selection

PASTEUR, Louis (1822-1895)

Autograph letter signed twice, « Louis Pasteur » and « LP », to Comtesse Greffulhe
Paris, 20th February 1892, 2 pages squared in-8 on double sheet, Institut Pasteur letterhead.

“Think of the unnameable number of dogs which there would be to vaccinate in Paris !”

 

SOLD
Add to Selection

PÉTAIN, Philippe (1856-1951)

Autograph letter signed « Petain » [to Jean-Louis Forain ?]
N.p, 10th August 1918, 1 p. in-8° on his letterhead

« A few corpses descend the Marne along the water… »

EUR 1.600,-
Add to Selection

POTOCKI, Jean (1761-1815)

Autograph letter signed « Jean Potocki » to Firmin Didot
Tulczyn, 1st December [1810], 1 1/4 p. in-4°

« I realize every day that it is difficult to see clearly in science when you are so far from the home of the enlightenment »

EUR 26.000,-
Add to Selection

PRINCE IMPÉRIAL, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (1856-1879)

Autograph letter signed « Louis-Napoléon » to Édouard Frémy
Camden Place, 16th March 1872, 1 p. 1/2 petit in-8°

« I will reread these pages, which, as you say so well, are made to console us, and to give us hope for a better future »

SOLD
Add to Selection

PRINCE IMPÉRIAL, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (1856-1879)

Autograph letter signed « Louis-Napoléon » [to Marie Trotter]
Camden Place, Chislehurst (Kent), the 25th of March, 1871, 1 p. in-8°

« Thanks be to God, the Emperor is now with us… deeply moved, as we all were, by the sympathetic reception he had received from the English nation. »

EUR 850,-
Add to Selection

PRINCE IMPÉRIAL, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (1856-1879)

Autograph letter signed « N » to Jeanne de Pierres
Florence, 23 February 1876[77], 1 p. in-8 on double sheet, autograph envelope attached

“I beg you to remember that there is a man who has sincerely loved you and who would be proud to pay with his blood the price of your honor”

SOLD
Add to Selection

STALIN, Joseph (1878-1953)

Autograph letter signed « J. Stalin » to Marietta Sergeevna Shaginyan
N.p, 20th May 1931, 1 p. in-folio, red ink, in russian

« Just tell me concretely who I need to put pressure on »

SOLD
Add to Selection

VACHER, Joseph (1869-1898)

Autograph letter signed « Joseph Vacher » to doctor Lacassagne
[Prison of] Belley, le 30 Xbre [December] 1897, 4 p. in-8°

Letter of a serial killer

EUR 3.000,-
Add to Selection