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Description
[Boulangism]
*La Lanterne du Général Boulanger*, later *L’Étoile du Général Boulanger*
A collection of over 100 issues, approx. 16 pp. each, in-8 format, 1888–1889
*La Lanterne du Général Boulanger*, no. 2 (2 copies)
*L’Etoile du Général Boulanger*, nos. 2 to 51 (missing nos. 1, 5–11, 33, 42, 44, 52), multiple duplicates
Enclosed: *L’Œillet Rouge*, 7 pp., in-8, containing General Boulanger’s speech delivered on 27 April 1888 at the banquet at the Café Riche
These small propaganda booklets were published weekly in 1888 and 1889, bearing the slogan ‘Revision, Tocqueville, Work’, which was repeatedly emphasised to call for constitutional reform.
The managing director of this publication was Michel Morphy, an author and journalist who was very active in the Boulangist movement, specialising in popular literature and mass propaganda. It was he who transformed the ‘Lanterne’ (a reference to Henri Rochefort’s famous newspaper) into ‘L’Etoile’ to better align with the General’s mystical imagery. Each issue contained scathing criticism of the “opportunists” (the moderate Republicans in power) and of parliamentarianism, alongside heroic accounts of Boulanger’s life, his military exploits and his devotion to the people. Very cheap (often just a few centimes), it was affordable for workers and peasants. It was easy to carry and distribute by the “King’s street vendors” or activists from the League of Patriots in the streets or at markets. The serialisation encouraged supporters to buy each issue to build up a complete ‘story’ of the hero.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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