French

Autograph Letter Signed ('Alfred Savoir'), in French, to 'Monsieur le Major'.

Author: 
'Alfred Savoir' (1883-1934, pen name of Alfred Poznanski), French dramatist and editor of Polish/jewish extraction
Publication details: 
Paris, 37 rue Bassano; date not stated.
£75.00

One page, quarto. Good, on lightly aged and creased paper, with strip from mount adhering to right-hand margin. He is pleased to be of assistance to General Ponsonby and his officers, and is happy to agree to the authorisation for Banso, as far as it concerns him. His English rights have been purchased by Curtis & Brown of London, to whom application must be made. He does not think they will ask for any remuneration. Asks the recipient to pass on his respects to the general, and in a postscript wonders whether he can tell him a good story concerning a lion hunt.

[Manuscript] Document Signed "Cte Dejean", "Amendement presente par le Comte Dejean".

Author: 
[CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY OF FRANCE] Count J.F.A. Dejean
Publication details: 
No place, c.1815.
£450.00

Three pages, 4to, fragile and damaged with small loss of text. According to staff at the Bibliotheque Nationale de France, the signature is Dejean's but the body of the document is in another hand. Dejean lists the principles of the new "Chambre des Pairs" (House of Peers or Lords French-style). " Les membres de la chambre des Pairs sont hereditaire." Their "dignite" is transferable from male to male.They are named by the King based on a list proivided by the electoral colleges who name the "deputes".

Autograph Letter Signed ('Marie Marimon') in French to an unnamed photographer.

Author: 
Marie Marimon (1835-1923), of the théâtre des Fantaisies Parisiennes, French singer [Victorian photography]
Publication details: 
29/07/71
£35.00

Three pages, 12mo. Good, on lightly aged and ruckled paper, with a little glue adhering to the reverse of the second leaf of the bifolium. She has received the two packets containing the small photographs. Apart from wanting the hair to appear lighter and clearer, she is satisfied with the large photograph, and would like several copies before her departure on 2 August. If this is not possible copies are to be sent to her at the theatre du Gymnase in Paris.

Invoice/Receipt signed indecipherably on behalf of Th. Barrois to Lord Glenbervie

Author: 
Theophile Barrois fils, Libraire, French bookseller and publisher.
Publication details: 
[Headed] No. 11 Quai Voltaire, a Paris, 1817[-1818]
£65.00

One page, 4to, good condition. Books include English grammars in French, Pope's Works, Guarini's "Pastor Fido". Broiefly docketed presumably by Glenbervie.

Autograph Letter Signed ('P. Sainton') in English to unnamed female correspondent.

Author: 
Prosper Philippe Catherine Sainton (1813-90), French violinist
Publication details: 
24 September 1877; on letterhead 'Conteville, pres Boulogne-sur-mer'.
£56.00

Two pages, 12mo. Very good. He was absent when the letter to his wife (the English contralto Charlotte Dolby) arrived. He has heard 'the little boy', and thinks that 'with proper care he may turn out a good Violinist, but he hs to undo every thing and to be guided in the right Way. He has undoubtedly great disposition. If he is persevering and hard Worker (the Violin being the most difficult instrument) I believe he can be one day a very good player'. It is however 'impossible for me to forsee in the future before he has a good start in his Studies.'

Fragment of Autograph Letter Signed.

Author: 
General Reibell [French soldier]
Reibell
Publication details: 
12/09/56
£38.00
Reibell

On piece of grey paper roughly 10.5 x 13.5 cms. Creased and with some evidence of previous mounting on reverse. Docketed 'From general Reibell commanding in the Haut Rhein - who cut his way into the Tuilleries, & saved Louis Philippe & his Queen; commanded the Cavalry in Paris afterwards, on the jour des revoltees [sic] Etc. -.' Reads 'Je ne regarde pas la partie comme perdue, tout faut, nous causerons de ce qu'ils faudras faire | Tout a vous | G[ener]ale Reibell'.

Autograph Letter Signed "W. Galignani" to "Monsieur le Baron" [not named]. In French.

Author: 
William Galignani, publisher, 1798–1882.
Publication details: 
"Samedi matin" [ no place or date, perhaps c.1870?].
£90.00

Two pages, 8vo, fold marks but good condition. He apologises for not returning a book he had borrowed from the Baron ("L'almanack Medical"). He had taken it to the country "pour en lire quelques passages a mon frere" and forgot to bring it back. He plans the eventual return. "L'etat de la sante de mon frere ne s'ameliore que peu et bien lentement - Il reviendra de la campagne probrablement avec moi mardi prochaine." Heconcludes with politenesses at length.

Autograph Letter Signed "V. de Broglie" to an unnamed correspondent.

Author: 
Jacques-Victor-Albert, 4th duc de Broglie, sometime French Ambassador in London.
Publication details: 
Londres, le 21 mars 1871.
£45.00

In French. Two pages, 8vo, some staining but text complete and clear. He says that his wife would be happy to take his daughter "[en course?]". They will pass Rutland Gate [Kensington] at midday. He hopes that the weather improves.

Autograph Letter Signed to "Monsieur Anselin, Rue Dauphine No.9, Paris", also bookseller. In French.

Author: 
L. Michelsen, Bookseller
Publication details: 
Leipzig, le 6 Octobre 1832.
£650.00

One page, 4to, chipped with small loss of text, paper fragile. Text as follows: Monsieur Anselin, Paris, Je vous prie de m'expedier aussitot [underlined] par l'entremise de Mr Ren[loss of text] les livres suivants, je vous recommande surtout les petits brochures vieux dont je suis tres presse." There follows a list of 22 titles, all military (e.g "Dictionnaire d'artillerie", "Manoeuvres de chevres & de forces 1821", etc.). Usually one copy required, but he requires 3 of one book (the Dictionnaire) and 2 of its supplement.

Autograph Letter Signed ""Coblence" to John Bellows, Printer and publisher (of a pocket French Dictionary), Gloucester.

Author: 
Victor Coblence
Publication details: 
Paris, 19 Rue des Missions, le 11 Juin 1877. En francais.
£195.00

Printer ("electrotype"). Four pages, 8vo, a few letters masked by a strip of brown paper on the last page, mainly good condition. A stamp (timbre) is stuck top left of page 1, with the image of an electrotype machine surrounded by the name "Victor Coblence" and the word "electrotypie". The contents of the letter indicate a close business relationship and contain many technical (printing) terms. In the first paragraph he discusses Sutton & Co and "la caisse renfermant la forme [a?] la cliche".

Printed document with a form which Firmin Didot has filled in and signed "Alfred Firmin Didot".

Author: 
Alfred Firmin Didot.
Publication details: 
Societe Arti et Amicitiae, Paris, 8 July 1880.
£80.00

Printing family (famille des imprimeirs) and eminent collector. One page, 4to, chipped with small loss of text., torn along a fold mark, fragile. The printed form is headed as above with further details of the Society ("Maison de Retraite et de Sante en faveur des Artistes, des Hommes de Lettres et de Science") Firmin Didot has signed a declaration ("Adhesion aux Statuts") that he will adhere to the "Statuts de la dite Societe . . .

Letter Signed to "Monsieur le Directeur de l'Imprimerie Imperiale". In French.

Author: 
Joseph Hippolyte Vinchon
Publication details: 
Parisd le 20 Juillet [1817?]
£450.00

One page, folio, good condition. In a copperplate hand (ecriture moulee) Vinchon (or a professional) has written an appeal for a job to the Director of the Imprimerie Imperiale. He says: Compositeur, typographer, ayant fait des etudes assez suivis, bien appris mon etat, et desireux de reussis, je viens solliciter de votre bonte mon admission a l'Imprimerie Imperial. J'ai servi, ai fait honorablement la campagne de Rome, suis grave [accent acu], et ai un conge temporaire illimite appuye d'un certificat de bonne conduite, sans punition durant les 3 ans de mon service.

Autograph Letter Signed "Le Duc de Basano" to William Smith, English Member of Parliament

Author: 
Hugues-Bernard Maret, duc de Bassano, French statesman and journalist.
Publication details: 
Paris, 17 October 1814.
£125.00

In French. Three pages, 4to, poor condition but little of text lost or obscured. There is a note, probably in Smith's hand, on the address panel "acknowledgment of the letter by Genl Macaulay". He wants to revisit England and is grateful for the hospitality expended to his wife. by the Smith family. A "M. Guillon negociant de bourgogne et l'ami de mes amis" is to visit England and de Bassano asks for his good offices on his behalf.

Autograph Note, third person, to "Monsieur le President de l'Assemblee Nationale"

Author: 
E.A.J. Anisson Duperon (Anisson-Duperon).
Publication details: 
Paris, 27 August 1790.
£280.00

Director of the Imprimerie Royale, Paris, and later met his end on an "echafaud revolutionnaire" (1794). One page, 8vo, good condiiton "M. Anisson Duperon, Directeur de l'Imprimerie Royale, a l'honneur de presenter son respect a Monsieur le President de l'Assemblee Nationale"; il a celui de les prevenir qu'en vertu du Decret de l'Assemblee il a fait remettre au M. Baudouin son [to the Assemblee] Imprimeur Douze cents Soixante Exemplaires de cinq nouvelles Lois, dont il [joint..?] Deux Exempls de chacune pour la disposition particulaiere de Monsieur le President."

Letter Signed "[V?] Broglie" to "Monsieur le Baron Denois", Milan (French consul)..

Author: 
Jacques Victor Albert, Duc de Broglie, French Statesman, publicist and historian.
Publication details: 
Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres, Direction Politique, Paris, 26 March 1833.
£85.00

IN FRENCH. One page,m folio, minor defects, but text clear and complete. He discusses the case of a M. de Cormel whose family business requires his staying in Milan and Padua (the death of his uncle, Colonel Paolo Angelini "deced dans le royaume Lombardo Venitien"). He wanst to believe that M. de Cormel will cause no trouble to the Government of "Lombardo Venitien" and requests the Baron's "bons offices" during his stay and for his ultimate journey to Dalmatia.

[Bide de la Grandville] Document Signed. In French.

Author: 
Bide de la Grandville, French military commander
Bide de la Grandville
Publication details: 
Lille, 8 Dec. 1733
£100.00
Bide de la Grandville

One page 8vo, some defects, but text clear and complete, body of letter in secretarial hand. De la Grandville asks the magistrates of the town o Lille to provide 140 "fournitures des lits, et de les faire places a la Citadelle pour cazerner les miliciens engage pour l'armee d'Italie, etant necessaire de separer des bataillons qui sont en garrison dans la ville . . ."

Inauguration du Nouvel Hotel de la Societe; le 14 Janvier 1897.

Author: 
M. A. Mallet; M. F. Delmas; Societe des Ingenieurs Civils de France [Civil Engineering]
Publication details: 
Paris: Aulanier et Cie, Editeurs; 13, Rue Bonaparte, 13. [Imprimerie de la Construction Moderne.] 1897.
£90.00

Octavo: 27 pages. A rather nice production, with nine double-page plates, frontispiece and double-page table. Unbound. In original grey printed wraps, with gold foil seal of the society laid down as part of cover design. Good, in lightly aged wraps. Some tissue guards. Two essays: 'La Societe des Ingenieurs Civils de France de 1848 a 1896' by M. A. Mallet, and 'Le Nouvel Hotel de la Societe des Ingenieurs Civils de France' by M. F. Delmas ('Architecte de la Societe').

Document Signed "[?] Decazes" to "M. Gaillard Senainville, agent de la Societe d'encouragt".

Author: 
Elie, Duc Decazes, French Statesman.
Publication details: 
Ministere de l'Interieur, Paris, 14 April 1819.
£350.00

In French. Two pages, fol., secretarial hand, signed by Decazes. He is appoijmting Inspectors ("travail" and "surveillance" to ensure the proper operation of the Exposition "des produits de l'industrie francaise, qui doit avoir lieu au Louvre le 25 Avril prochain". He recalls that his correspondent was responsible, at the Exposition of 1806, for "toutes les operations concernant la classification des produits, et leur distribution . . .".

Projet d'application de la lumiere electriqu[e] a l'eclairage des villes

Author: 
[ELECTRICAL ILLUMINATION VIA BALLOONS] Charles Dubos, French inventor or scientist
Publication details: 
No date (mid-to late Nineteenth-Century).
£350.00

Four pages, folio, chipped with small loss of text. IN FRENCH. He begins: "Les nombreuses experiences que j'ai fait sur la lumiere electriquee l'appareil que j'ai confectionne me mettant en meme de pouvoir l'appliquer a l'eclairage des villes avec avantage et economie sur tout autre systeme". He discusses the expense of gas and gives a precis of his plan ("L'agende"), giving letters which correspond to a "dessin" which is not present, and listing his points with a little detail: un ballon de gaz; filet ensoie; cordes en soie; Lampe electrique . .

Autograph Signature ('C. F. R. de Montalembert') on fragment of letter in English.

Author: 
Charles Forbes René de Montalembert (1810-70), French royalist journalist and historian
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£46.00

Dimensions roughly three-quarters of an inch by five inches wide. Good, with glues staining from previous mounting to edges of reverse. Reads '<...> | for the right of translation - I remain, my dear Sir, your most | obedient faithful Servant | [signature] C F R de Montalembert | I shall be happy to look through the rest of the Introduction, if you think it useful.' On reverse '<...> | to be very unpalateable to those who <...>'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('I Begrez') to unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
Pierre Ignace Begrez (1787-1863), French singer, violinist and composer
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£56.00

One page, 12mo. Very good. 'I shall sing il "Soave e bel contento" [aria by Pacini] and will be happy to take a part in the quintetto[,] you must procure the parts of my song'. May possibly refer to the J. N. Hummel Benefit Concert in London on 29 April 1830, where Pacini's aria was played.

Arrest de la Cour des Aydes . . . la vente exclusive de Tabac . . .

Author: 
[TOBACCO; TABAC; PRINTED]
Publication details: 
23 Sept. 1723.
£90.00

Two bifoliate leaves, three pages, disbound, some damage to edges and soiling but text clear and complete. [Title continued] "portant qu'en attendant l'Enregistrement des Lettres Patentes sur les Arrests du Conseil des 22. Mars dernier & premier du present mois de Septembre, Pierre le Sueur sera mis en possession de la vente exclusive du Tabac pour la Compagnie des Indes." Wroth and Annan 1028; colophon "A Paris, De l'Imprimerie royale, 1723". Scarce.

Document Signed by Rouland and de Berty, Administration des Cultes. Decret.

Author: 
Rouland, Ministre Secretaire . . . [and] Nigon de Berty, [Pour] Le Conseiller d'EtatDirecteur general de l'Administration des Cultes
Publication details: 
Vichy [in ms.], 10 July 1861.
£56.00

Part printed, a decree in the name of Napoleon, one page, folio, slightly chipped, faintly foxed but clear and complete, decree in manuscript as follows: La nomination faite par L'Archeveque de Paris de l'abbe [Bour?](Michel), aumonier de Ste Perine a Chaillot, au canonicat vacant dans son eglise metropolitaine par la promotion de M. L'abbe Ravinet a l'Eveche de Troyes, est agree." WITH: an official copy of the confidential letter from the Archbishop of Paris describing the circumstances of the promotion and recommending Bour.

Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed correspondent.

Author: 
Edouard Servan de Sugny.
Publication details: 
Cessy, pres Gex, 15 Juillet 1850
£150.00

Author/translator of "La Muse ottomane ou chefs-d'oeuvre de la poésie turque" (Paris, 1853). Three pages, 8vo, good condition. He thanks his correspondent for a copy of "l'Anthologie arabe de M. Grangeret de Lagrange" [first published 1828]. He explains his great interest in the book and the excellent job done by the compiler. He praises his correspondent for enriching the book with Latin and notes which derive from their discussions.

Autograph Letter Signed "N. Roqueplan" to an unnamed correspondent. In French.

Author: 
N. Roqueplan, Theatre manager, editor "Le Figaro", author inc. "La Vie Parisienne" (1852).
Publication details: 
Opera, Theatre de La Nation, Paris, 14 Sept 184 [printed year not completed]
£76.00

Two pages, 8vo, minor defedcts, text clear and complete, if somewhat illegible. He begins: "J'ignorais personellement monsieur, la Combinaison [locative?] dont vous avex ete vistime et je comprends fort bien que vous la trouvez mediocrement ingenieuse, vous nous avez habituee aux plus galant precedes, mais . . . " He goes on to say that they won't offer compensation, understanding that they are changing their "loge" and will collect what belongs to them, etc.

[ In French ] Document Signed "Linant Bey", to "Son Excellence Cherif-Sacha Mininter de l'Interieur et President du Conseil des Ministres

Author: 
Linant Bey [ Louis Linant de Bellefonds ] [Linant Pasha ]
Publication details: 
[Printed heading] Ministere des Travaux Publics, [manuscript address] Cairo, 20 May 1869
£450.00

Minister of Public Works, with a key role in the building of the Suez Canal. The document, numbered No.39 top left corner, is three pages, folio, sl. damaged but text clear and complete. He reminds his correspondent that "Son Altesse le Khedive" has appointed him "ministere des travaux publics" four months previously. He discusses "le reglement" by which decisions were to be made and the situation he finds himself in, "ne sachant au juste sur quoi appuyer mes actes officielle, je ne puis plus longtemps rester dans la vague, qui empeche toute administration.

Manuscript. Funeral oration unsigned.

Author: 
B.J. Marsollier de Vivetieres.
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£450.00

French dramatist. One page, 4to, some damage in corner with loss of serval letters and words, with corrections. Note on reverse in different hand make the ascription to Marsollier: "Oraison funebre de Monsieur Marsollier [prononcee?] le 13 Avril 1815 / autographe". Oration to a "femme jeune brillante de joye et de sante pour l'unir a l'epouse qu'elle aimait et qui la rebdue si heureuse que cing ans apres j'erouverai la douleur de lui survivre et de la conduire a la derniere demeure . . . [he wants to do justice to her character which he defines] . . .

Autograph Letter Signed "Dugas-Montbel" to "mon cher Confrere", not named.

Author: 
Jean-Baptiste Dugas-Montbel.
Publication details: 
No place, [?] february 1833.
£150.00

French Hellenist. In French. Two pages, 8vo, good condition. He returnsd a letter his correspondent had sent to their colleague, Viennet "pour l'Academie" to which he adds something of Labitte "pur la Collectio Pizarrensis [Pisaurensis?]. He benefits from the offer of ""votre nouveau substitut" Jacqumets [?]. He has seen Beuchot. He has corrected the first proof of "The Odyssey" ("j'ai corrige la premiere epreuve de L'Odyssee"). He has hopes of finishing "le grand oeuvre des poesies homeriques". He wonders what he will devote himself to afterwrds.

Autograph Note Signed to an unnamed correspondent. En Francais.

Author: 
Michel Chevalier.
Publication details: 
6 Juin [18]46.
£56.00

Political Economist. One page, 12mo, good condition. Difficult to read but he talsk of submitting a "tirage" [printing; proof?] to his correspondet's attention (or vetting), mentioning sending [?] a title and "''indication que [?] extrait du journal d'agriculture".

Autograph Letter Signed, in French, to Monsieur Bailly President of the Institut.

Author: 
Emile Bastien-Lepage
Publication details: 
7 April 1887; 6 Rue de Phalsbourg, Paris.
£35.00

French architect (1845-1938), brother of the painter Jules Bastien-Lepage. One page, 12mo. Very good, on discoloured paper. Rodin (the sculptor) has informed him that the sketch requested by the committee will be ready the next Saturday. Points out that it will be difficult to convene a meeting during the Easter holidays. Signed 'Emile Bastien-Lepage'.

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