FRENCH

On 5.5 x 14 cm. strip of paper. Apparently written in response to a request for an autograph. Reads: 'I am much flattered by the demand | C L. Bonaparte' ('demand' being a mistake for 'request').

viii + 491 + [1]pp., 8vo. Aged and slightly damp-stained along the fore-edge. In worn calf quarter-binding, marbled endpapers. Inscribed on half-title 'A M. J de Vasconcellos | Hommage de l'auteur | G Vapereau'.

3pp., 8vo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He is 'shocked as well as surprised' at the sad news of the death of his 'old friend', who had told Foster's assistant the previous Tuesday that he had had 'a fainting fit which he understood came from any of the heart'. Foster is 'truly grieved at the loss', 'a more excellent worthy character it was not my lot to have met with and my experience has now run over many years. He was truly a friend and at my time of life there is little chance of my being able to fill the vacancy his death creates'.

A total of 10pp., 12mo. Neatly written out in a close mid-Victorian hand. Accompanied by a slip of paper carrying a list of the eight sections into which the items in the 'Largest Box' were divided. Three of the eight are lacking. The five sections present are: '2 French Medals', '3 French Medals', '5 Medals of Various Countries', '7 French Sovereigns | Members of the Bourbon Family | French Statesmen.', and '8 Napoleon and his Family.

1p., 12mo. On aged and worn paper. Docketted on reverse: 'Letter Lectures | Prevost Peradol | 23 April 1869'. Reads: 'Sir | I accept the honourable invitation which is transmitted to me through your kind letter from the Directors of the philosophical institution of Edinburgh. The subject will be the social and political condition of France in two lectures.'

Covering leaf of letter, 18 x 22.5 cm, folding into 7 x 15.5 cm packet. In fair condition, aged and worn. Addressed by Guizot to 'Mr. Bentley bookseller | 8 New Burlington Street | London | England.' Seal in black wax (without impression) and three postmarks, two circular French ones, including one from Paris, and an English one in red ink. Perhaps the cover of a communication relating to his book 'Corneille and his Times', published by Bentley in 1852.

2pp., 4to. On laid paper. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Armorial engraving as heading, with crown, clouds and halo. Addressed to 'Sérénissime seigneur', and fulsome in his praise: 'C'est vous qui avez touché le coeur des potentats de l'Europe, et qui les avez rendus fovorables [sic] à notre cause; [...]'. Concludes by looking to the day when 'notre restauration sera accomplie, quand vous aurez assuré, ô prince magnanime, le triômphe de l'autel et du trone et le repos de mon pays'. Presumably written on the death of Louis XVIII.

Both items in good condition, with light signs of age, and both tipped in to a paper folder, on the front of which is written the entry from the1833 bookseller's catalogue from which they were purchased: 'La Lande Member of the Academy of Sciences at Paris, a very interesting Letter to some Magistrate soliciting relief for the purpose of his labouring usefully, having expended much money on his pursuits, without reserving any indemnity. It exhibits his delicacy in soliciting this assistance, and expresses a hope that his asseverations will obtain credit.

1p., 4to. In very good condition, on lightly aged paper. Tipped into a paper wallet, on the front of which is written in a contemporary hand the entry from the1833 bookseller's catalogue from which it was purchased, indicating that the item was considered uncommon even at that time: 'Cassini, the Astronomer, relative to a Memoir of the Sieur du Tremblay. | A choice specimen of a scarce Autograph. | No 176 Thorpe's Catalogue 1833'. Cassini's copy letter, with nine lines of text, is written over the unsigned letter to which it is the reply..

On 5 x 12.5 cm slip of good-quality laid paper. In good condition, lightly aged. In blue ink, and simply consisting of the christian name above the underlined surname: 'Maurice Chevalier'.

Printed in black on one side of a 49.5 x 65 cm. piece of thick paper. In fair condition, aged and rolled into a tube. A tasteful design, featuring an engaving of a palm leaf. Signed at foot by 'Paul Chabas' and 'A. Bréauté'.

1p., 8vo. In fair condition, on aged paper. Tasteful floral design to letterhead, in Art Nouveau style. His affairs have forced him to advance his departure (from Paris) by an evening, but assures him that, before the moment comes, he will have himself sought out his wigs.

2pp., folio. In fair condition, on aged paper. He writes that two of his aides-de-camp belong to the 'famille distinguée' of Duverger, and asking for assistance in obtaining preferment for a third in the service of the King of Westphalia. The document is annotated by the recipient at the head of the first page.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The letter reads: 'My dear Sir, | Only one Word to let you know how deeply I feel your untimely loss and to ask you to be by Mrs. Lewis, her daughter and all your people the interpreter of all my sincerest sentiments of regret. | Yrs. truly | Duke de Penthièvre'.

1p., folio. In fair condition, on aged paper. The petition is headed 'A Monsieur le Baron de Schonen | liquidateur de l'ancienne liste civile', with 'Sallemant' (the name of the petitioner) beneath it in another hand. Clausel's note, of eleven lines of a few words each, is in the left-hand margin, and recommends to 'la bienveillance de Mr. de Schonen' the petition of a woman who describes herself as 'une malheureuse veuve'. Laid down on the reverse is a piece of card, carrying a biographical note in English in an nineteenth-century hand.

15 + [1]pp., 12mo. Disbound without wraps. In fair condition, on aged paper. Publisher's advertisement on last page. 'The following speech was delivered in the course of a debate in the Paris Chamber on the Roubaix Municipal Drug Stores, when a Reactionary Deputy, M. Bouge, very incautiously asked the Socialists "to explain whaht they really do want." Guesde at once marched to the rostrum, and, without preparation, delivered the following.'

viii + 69 + [3]pp., 8vo. In original grey wraps, uncut. A good copy, lightly aged and foxed. Accompanied by a slip carrying an entry for this item from a printed catalogue, including: 'Not in Goldsmiths; Kress C.930 recording the German edition only.' No copy on COPAC, WorldCat or Bibliotheque Nationale.

1p., 16mo. Eleven lines of text. On aged and worn paper, with central closed tears unobtrusively repaired with archival tape. A warm letter of thanks, with valediction 'Mille choses affectueuses à tous les vôtres'.

46pp., 8vo. Stitched and in original plain grey wraps. Aged and worn, in fraying wraps. The pamphlet is anonymous, but carries the following inscription in pencil on the half-title: 'hommage | a Mademoiselle Bergeret | Artiste, de la part de l'Auteur. | Voïart'. The only copies on COPAC at the V & A, and the British Library. This copy lacks the lithographed frontispiece portrait of Prud'hon, by Voïart, present in the copy in the Bibliothèque Nationale, which is ascribed to the wife, whereas other authorities ascribe the work to the husband.

24pp., 12mo. Disbound without covers. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Divided into five sections: 'Atheism and Social Order', 'Indications of a Great Struggle', 'Orthodox Misrepresentation', 'The Horrors of the French Revolution' and 'The Causes of the Excesses'. Scarce: only two copies on WorldCat and no copies on COPAC.

16pp., 12mo. Disbound without covers. In good condition, on aged paper. Drophead title. The cover carried the author's name, publication details, and the full title: 'The Commune of Paris: Its Story and Meaning'. Scarce

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Addressed to 'Dear Sir', but with the rest written in French. He explains that it is with reluctance that he is unable to leave paris and attend the 'Congrès de Statistique', and that it is always with pleasure that he visits England. He refers to a 'traite de Commerce' and the 'Conseil Superieur du Commerce, dont j'ai l'honneur d'etre membre'. The letter is accompanied by an engraved portrait of 'The Late M. Michel Chevalier', cut from a magazine. On 14 x 9 cm paper. In good condition, lightly-aged.

1p., 16mo. On bifolium. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'Monsieur De la Salle | avoué'. Regarding a payment for his part 'dans l'aff. janvier'.

1p., folio. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. He is sending 'de nouveaux ordres du Roy pour retenir à Bicêtre le Ne. Esprit Prosper', and refers to a 'Pension de Deux cent livres qui serez payee par son pere'.

6.5 x 10 cm piece cut from envelope, with the seal (roughly 1 x 1.5 cm) in black wax (2.5 cm in diameter) attached on a strip of paper. The seal a firm impression in good condition and the envelope fragment in fair condition, on aged paper, strip carrying typewriten caption laid down at foot. The Princess's autograph is unsigned, and simply reads: 'À mon cher petit Léopold.'

1p., 12mo. Seventeen lines of closely-written text, with postscript. Slip of paper with biographical note in contemporary hand attached. He begins by stating that he has sent the 'differents papiers' of which he spoke that morning. He next reminds the recipient of 'l'affaire du brave colonel Pozac', regarding which 'vous avez bien voulu charger d'etre mon ambassadeur auprès du maréchal'. Pozac obtained the 'sabre d'honneur comme sr.

Each letter 2pp., 12mo. Both in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He starts the first letter by expressing 'great pride and immense joy' in sending 'my seventh book of French poems [...] According to the reviews, it is the best I ever wrote'. He continues with references to the recipient's 'short but memorable visit to Johannesburg', and to 'the uncomplimentary remarks passed by my confreres in Johannesburg', these being 'indeed compliments, for they indicate that I do not belong to them, in spite of our common profession.

On one side of an 8 x 13 cm piece of paper. In good condition, with light signs of age, and central horizontal fold. Firm, bold signature, 8 cm long, with underlining flourish. Beneath the signature, in a small hand, is the message: 'M Guinot | M: Vigny vous adresse son nom pour vous remercier il ne connait pas votre adresse'. Addressed on reverse, 'à M. Eug. Guinot'.

One page, 8vo, bifolium, three lines of text with added signature and date good condition, in a difficult hand (a scrawl). He is asking that the employees of a certain premises welcome a M. Plouet. Text as follows, as near as I can): "Je prie MM les employées de la [ biblque??] de L[?]y de laisser entrer <. Plouet et la [?]." Image available.

Both items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Accompanied by an envelope, with broken red wax seal, addressed by the Maréchale to 'Madame Bodichon | Mustapha Supérieur | Chemin de la Colonne Voirol | à El Biar'. (In 1857 Bodichon had married the French physician, ethnographer, and scholar Eugène Bodichon (1810-1885), and thereafter divided her time between Algeria and England.) General MacMahon was Governor General of Algeria between 1864 and 1870. ONE: 2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. 'Alger Sunday'.