Rare books from Le Manuscrit Français

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.
Fold marks, very slight missing bit on top right corner without affecting the text, some small tears on left hand margin.
First draft, unpublished manuscript with multiple corrections for "Le Voyageur", one of the most beautiful and important poems of the Alcools
collection.
Apollinaire has drawn, amongst various sketches of animals, a superb cubist portrait representing two sailors.
The oldest and only manuscript of this poem still in private hands.
This document contains two poems or draft poems.
The poem, on the verso, is the declension of twenty-seven verses that develop the adventures of two sailors, verses that constitute the heart of the famous poem "Le Voyageur", first published in the journal Les Soirées de Paris (1912), then in Alcools (1913).
On the front side are six verses that seem… Read More

FLAUBERT, Gustave (1821-1880)
Autograph letter signed "Gve Flaubert" to Paul Meurice
[Paris, late April 1857], 1 page in-8 on double folio, laid paper, black ink.
Usual fold marks
Important letter from Flaubert which accompanied Madame Bovary, dedicated to Victor Hugo
"A novel which I'm asking you to send to Mr Hugo"


"Monsieur, Quoique je n'aie pas l'honneur de vous connaitre personnellement je prends la liberté de vous remettre l'exemplaire d'un roman [Madame Bovary] que je vous prie de faire parvenir à Mr Hugo. Soyez assez bon, aussi, pour en accepter un autre ci-joint et daignez agréer l'hommage de toute ma considération. Gve Flaubert"


In this letter, Flaubert asks Paul Meurice to send Victor Hugo – then on exile on Guernesey island – an example of his masterpiece Madame Bovary, the only luxury print, following the publication at Michel Lévy.
The complicity between Meurice and Hugo was deep. In 1848, Hugo made him the editor-in-chief of the newspaper L'Événement, which he had just… Read More

[DREYFUS AFFAIR] ZOLA, Emile (1840-1902)
Unpublished autograph manuscript, signed " Emile Zola "[Grosvenor Hotel, London, 19 July 1898], 5 pages in-4 on ligned paperFold marks, small hole at the folding junction on 5th folio, without affecting the text

Unpublished manuscript on the Dreyfus AffairWritten six months after his open letter "J'accuse…!" and directly in its continuity, this momentous manuscript testifies to the writer's tireless commitment to the cause of Captain Alfred Dreyfus

" La vérité aveuglante est pourtant que ce sont nos adversaires qui, dès le premier jour, et pas les moyens les plus monstrueux, se sont efforcés et s'efforcent encore de nous fermer violemment la bouche. […] De toute ma lettre au président de la République [" J'accuse…! "], on avait extrait savamment quelques lignes, limitant les poursuite uniquement pour empêcher la vérité de se faire jour sur l'affaire Dreyfus. Le plan était de me condamner tout en me bâillonnant. et l'on se souvient du terrible… Read More

ZOLA, Emile (1840-1902)
Corrected proofs for his novel
The Beast within
Paris, January 1890, 45 proofs printed on recto
Very good overall condition except some slightly frayed margin on the first folios, some browning
Precious and complete set of proofs abundantly corrected by Zola's hand for the original edition of his masterpiece The Beast within


The Beast within in gestation
The folios of this set of proofs evidence on the author's progress in writing his masterpiece. Emile Zola indulged in a meticulous rereading of all the lines, refining the style, redacting and correcting for a greater accuracy of tone and rhythm. Thus, the whole is abundantly annotated, with the exception of folio #35 to #38. The most important corrections can be found on folio #2 to #13 and #40, which correspond to chapters I to IV and XI. Also, Georges Charpentier (his editor) added notes on the twenty-nine folios and two mentions indicating to Zola to henceforth respect the paginated division.
These proofs present an… Read More

GAUGUIN, Paul (1848-1903)
Autograph letter signed " Paul Gauguin " to Daniel de Monfreid
[Tahiti], November 1895, 3/4 p. in-4°
Tears on folds, some spots and browning
Fascinating letter opening the last chapter of his life: his second trip to Polynesia
Gauguin evokes his settlement in Tahiti, his life of sexual and financial debauchery, his desires for painting and his family, who remained in Europe


" Mon cher Daniel
À l'heure où je reçois votre aimable lettre je n'ai pas encore touché un pinceau si ce n'est pour faire un vitrail dans mon atelier. Il m'a fallu rester à Papeete en camp volant, prendre une décision ; finalement me faire construire une grande case tahitienne dans la campagne. Par exemple c'est superbe comme exposition à l'ombre, sur le bord de la route et derrière moi une vue de la montagne épastrouillante. Figurez-vous une grande cage à moineaux grillée de bambous avec toit en chaume de cocotier, divisée en deux parties par les rideaux de mon ancien atelier. Une des deux… Read More

BEAUMARCHAIS (de), Pierre-Augustin Caron (1732-1799)
Autograph letter signed " Beaumarchais " to comedian Préville
Paris, 31st March 1784, 2 pp. in-8°, autograph address on fourth page
Spots, fold mark, missing bit on second folio (broken seal) without affecting the text
Very scarce letter from Beaumarchais entirely about to The Marriage of Figaro, written less than a month before the first official performance


" Paris ce 31 Mars 1784
Nous nous sommes trompés tous les deux, mon vieil ami. Je tremblais que vous ne quittassiez le théâtre à Pâques ; et vous, mon vieil ami, vous étiez dans l'opinion que le Mariage de Figaro ne pouvait pas se jouer.
Mais il ne faut jamais désespérer de garder un acteur que le public adore ni de voir vaincre un auteur courageux qui croit avoir raison et qui ne se dégoûte pas par les dégoûts.
J'ai, mon vieil ami, le bon du Roi, le bon du Ministre, le bon du lieutenant de Police. Il ne manque plus que le vôtre pour voir un beau tapage à la rentrée. Allons… Read More

DALÍ, Salvador (1904-198
Original drawings and autograph poem (charcoal on paper)
N.p.n.d [c. 1935], 1 p. in-8° (16 x 20,5 cm)
Some spots
Unpublished poem with superb pencil studies representing surrealist shapes, faces, as well as a masturbation scene


Superb pencil drawings, some of surrealist shapes, others representing faces or a scene of masturbation and fellatio.
The Catalan painter has added an exquisite corpse, which he calls "descriptive poem", which to our knowledge remained unpublished to this day.
Dalí titled the poem "imperceptible outbreak of nutrition", he writes, as usual, in phonetic French:
" ge pique ta nuque
ge coupe ton pique
ge nuque ta coupe
ge vide mon mal
J'avale ta male
[…] "
1935 is a turning point in the creation process for the Catalan master. Dalí found the surrealist works too limited, the impossibility of going further in the exploration of this world led him to proceed to a work of introspection leading to paranoia. He worked on this aspect of himself and… Read More

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° Browning, fold marks, pale ink on some letters, pinhole, small tears on margins
Very scarce letter from Modigliani written in a facetious tone on New Year's Eve

" Minuit juste. Mon cher ami. Je vous embrasse comme j'aurais [voulu] si j'avais pu… le jour de votre départ. Je fais la bombe avec Survage(1) au Coq d'or. J'ai vendu toutes les toiles. Envoyez vite l'argent. Le Champagne coule à flot. Nous vous souhaitons, à vous et à votre chère femme(2) les meilleurs vœux pour la nouvelle année. Resurrectio Vitae. Ic incipit vita nova. (3) Il novo Anno ! Modigliani " [Survage ajoute " bonne année ! " en russe puis, en français, " Vive Nice vive la première nuit de la première année "]
This letter was sent from Nice, where Modigliani stayed at the instigation of his patron, Leopold Zborowski. The latter managed to convince the painter to… Read More

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 enveloppe Fold marks, small sport on lower margin of page 2
A fine letter – partly unpublished – in which kerouac speaks of his legendary novel On the Road and the criticism he has been the subject of, his faith in writing, his disgust with celebrity and more broadly his vision of the evolution of American society
"Dear Granville, Your thesis was given to me by Jas. Benenson. It is such a neat volume, I mean the typing, the exhaustive bibliographies, the whole works. 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' (being used by everybody and his uncle) and of course the nausea of phoney criticisms based on the wrong reasons (as for instance those who 'admire' for being so 'wild & irresponsible' etc.) What you've written about me has… Read More

[BAUDELAIRE] CARJAT, Étienne (1828-1906)
Period albumen print
[Paris, between late 1861 and early 1862]. Wet stamp " Et. Carjat "
(25,1 x 18,5 cm) Mounted on thick cardboard (31,8 x 24,9 cm) with embossed photographer's credit
Cropped corners, some stains, eyes post processed by the photographer, some pen annotations on verso
Étienne Carjat's masterpiece, the only known period print


Friend of the poet, the photographer is also a caricaturist and editor of periodicals. He hosts texts from Baudelaire in his weekly Le Boulevard. Above all, he left magnificent photographic portraits of him, taken during three sessions, at the end of 1861 or the beginning of 1862, in 1863 and in 1866. During the first session, Étienne Carjat takes three different shots, where Charles Baudelaire appears in three successive poses: standing, sitting, and, as here, in bust — the most intense with his dramatic close framing. These portraits were the subject of an advertisement for sale published in Le Boulevard on… Read More

RIMBAUD, Arthur (1854-1891)
Autograph manuscript signed twice " Rimbaud ", to Armand Savouré Harar, 30 March 1890, 1/2 p. in-4°, "R Turner Chafford Mills" watermark Fold marks, tiny spots, slight tear repaired on lower right margin without affecting the text

Receipt from Harar intended to Armand Savouré, the last before Rimbaud ceased all activity with him One of just two receipts signed twice and still in private hands

" Extrait de compte n°7, Monsieur Savouré
Je vous dois : report de compte n°6 th 5 325. – Reçu au cpte des cartouches : 23 janvier en piastres th 500. 10 février en piastres th 600. 11 février 443.13 café th 2 661.16. Emballage 50 th 42.5. Total thalaris 9 129.4.
Vous me devez : 1er février 90 ½ courrier Aden th 3. 22 février 50 th 3. 30 mars 50 th 3 2% commissions sur th 380 h th 76.4. Réductions… sur 444… café th 211. Total th 296.4. Balance à V/crédit fin mars th 8 833. Bal 9 129.4. Harar 30 mars 90 Rimbaud.
Donné ordre à Mr. Vian à Aden de payer ladite… Read More

RIMBAUD, Arthur (1854-1891)
Autograph letter signed " Rimbaud " to his familyAden, 10th September 1884, 4 pp. in-8° on laid paperSupplied with bespoke leather maroquin sleeve
Imbued with fatalism, Arthur Rimbaud speaks of his difficult existence in AdenOne of his most significant travel letters still in private hands
" I will not live nor die quietly "

" Mes chers amis,Il y a longtemps que je n'ai reçu de vos nouvelles : j'aime cependant à croire que tout va bien chez vous et je vous souhaite bonnes récoltes et long automne. Je vous crois en bonne santé et en paix comme d'ordinaire.Voici le troisième mois de mon nouveau contrat de six mois, qui va être passé. Les affaires vont mal, et je crois que fin décembre j'aurai à chercher un autre emploi, que je trouverai d'ailleurs facilement, je l'espère. Je ne vous ai pas envoyé mon argent parce que je ne sais pas où aller, je ne sais pas où je puis me trouver prochainement, et si je ne pourrai pas employer ces fonds dans quelque petit trafic… Read More

POTOCKI, Jean (1761-1815)
Autograph letter signed " Jean Potocki " to Firmin DidotTulczyn in Polody [Russian province after the Second Partition of Poland in 1793] , 1st December [1810], 1 1/4 p. in-4°Autograph note by Firmin Didot upper margin : " Reçue le 11 avril 1811 / répondue le 16 avril, 1811 "Slight browning and tiny spots
Remarkable letter in which Jean Potocki sends his last works to his printer, while reminding him of his concern for accuracy prior to their publication
" Monsieur,J'ai eu l'honneur de vous adresser de Petersbourg un exemplaire de mon Atlas Archéologique. Je vous en enverai un second fait avec plus de soin. Je seroi charmé que cet ouvrage fut connu en France.Je vous envoye maintenant un exemplaire corrigé de mes principes de Chronologie. Je vous prie de le comuniquer à Messieurs de l'institut qui doivent avoir recu de moi quatre exemplaires que je n'avois pas eu le tems de corriger(1). Quant à la mise au jour de cet ecrit (qui est plustot un cahier qu'un volume), je… Read More

VERLAINE, Paul (1844-1896)
Autograph poem signed " Paul Verlaine "London, 1873, 1 p. in-8°, on laid paperFold marks, slightly irregular right hand margin, pinhole on central fold
A highly significant poem, evoking the chaotic and miserable escape to London with Arthur RimbaudVerlaine makes an innovation from the traditional sonnet and does his first attempt in verses of thirteen syllables
" Sonnet boiteux
Ah vraiment c'est triste, ah, vraiment ça finit trop mal.Il n'est pas permis d'être à ce point infortuné.Ah ! vraiment c'est trop la mort du naïf animalQui voit tout son sang couler sous son regard fané.
Londres fume et crie. O quelle ville de la Bible !Le gaz flambe et nage et les enseignes sont vermeilles.Et les maisons dans leur ratatinement terribleÉpouvantent comme un sénat de petites vieilles.
Tout l'affreux passé saute, piaule, miaule et glapitDans le brouillard rose et jaune et sale des SohosAvec des indeeds et des allrights et des hâos.
Non vraiment – c'est trop un martyre sans… Read More

PROUST, Marcel (1871-1922)
Original drawing, inscribed to Reynaldo Hahn : " R.H. (Bininuls) "N.p.n.d [c. 1909 ?], 1 p. in-8° in black ink on laid paperPeriod central fold mark, pencil annotations on the verso
Rare original drawing by Proust, depicting four sailboats buffeted by the waves
The drawing, entitled "Le Départ (gros temps)", depicts four small sailboats sailing on high, almost vertical waves, each with two passengers on board struggling to hold the jibs and mainsails with difficulty. We can observe the meticulousness with which Proust himself applied to the details, even the smallest, making this drawing rather accomplished.
A pastiche of Turner's paintingAn admirer of the works of William Turner reproduced in John Ruskin's The Harbours of England, Proust's inspiration leaves little doubt, as the similarities are striking between his drawing and the reproductions in the book. It was not only in Ruskin's books that Proust was able to see Turner's works. Kazuyoshi Yoshikawa explains it in a… Read More