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a group of old letters and pictures on a white surfacea group of old letters sitting on top of each other
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97 - [GAMBETTA].– LÉON (Léonie)
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Estimate €600 - €800
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Description
[GAMBETTA].– LÉON (Léonie) 1877–1882. A collection of handwritten documents relating to Léon Gambetta and, more specifically, to his death. The collection consists of two items: – LÉON (Léonie). An autograph notebook, 134 pp., large 8vo (22.2 x 18.2 cm), soft scarlet shagreen binding, gilt fillet edging on the covers, plain unmarked spine, marbled edges. A most valuable document on the relationship between the two lovers. The notebook is entirely filled by Léonie Léon, Léon Gambetta’s mistress, with copies of the letters he sent her between 21 July 1877 and 25 November 1882. Strangely, they were not copied in chronological order. However, they are mostly dated. Gambetta addresses Léonie Léon sometimes as ‘my dear little golden woman’, ‘my beautiful sovereign’, sometimes as ‘my tender and timid Léonie’, but most often as ‘my dear, adored darling’. March 1874: ‘How can I express to you my gratitude and the unfathomable delight that your divine presence always brings me: I was sad, anxious, agitated, ?? against people, against things, against myself, almost unhinged [you ???} and little by little, through the touch of your hands, in the breath of your life-giving breath, I calm down, my nerves settle, my mind clears and finds peace.’ 14 July 1874 (?): “It is ten o’clock; I am exhausted by fatigue and emotion, but I want to prove to you once again just how completely you possess me, and I do not wish to go and rest without having said so.” The final page reproduces the last telegram sent by Gambetta to his mistress (25 November 1882): “I only received your two exquisite notes yesterday evening on my return from the hunt, which, thanks to your good wishes, was the finest, the most joyful, the most ???plant of the season’s hunts. […] Come back, my beloved; it is to your heart that I shall say the rest.” Two days after the last letter recorded in this notebook, Léon Gambetta injured his hand with a revolver. Some contemporary figures, however, suggest there was rather an argument between the two lovers. Gambetta died a month later, on 31 December 1882, presumably from stomach or bowel cancer. The notebook is accompanied by several documents: • a handwritten note stating that the notebook is in Léonie Léon’s hand and that it contains copies of letters sent by Gambetta and selected by her. • a signed autograph note from Léonie Léon entrusting the notebook to a ‘Monsieur’. • a visiting card belonging to the notary Jules Moisy. • a signed autograph note from Léonie Léon to Monsieur Pallain, with an envelope enclosed. • A photographic portrait of Gambetta by Carjat, bearing the (almost illegible) trace of a signed autograph letter from Gambetta to Léonie Léon. • A photographic portrait of Léonie Léon, with a handwritten date and signature on the reverse. – ROBLIN (Louis). Signed autograph manuscript. 12 pp. in-4 (31 x 20 cm). Paris, December 1906. A highly significant account by Léon Gambetta’s former coachman of his final days and hours. The account begins with the coachman’s first encounter with Léon Gambetta, whilst on a fare: ‘Mr Gambetta, who had learnt from his aunt that I had been seen on a few occasions and that I was the brother of his valet, asked me, saying, “So you drive the cab, my friend.” I replied that I felt obliged to do so, as middle-class households had become scarce after the war. ” This is followed by a series of anecdotes and events of varying significance: “When Madame had dinner, I would always drive her home to Rue Bonaparte between midnight and two in the morning. Sometimes he would accompany her in her nightgown; she would not get out of the carriage and would go straight home in her slippers. ” “In that year, 1777, when he was living on the Chemin des Ronces, Madame Léon spent the whole season with him. It was certainly the first time she had spent such a long time by his side. Their afternoons were spent on daily excursions. Around two or three o’clock, whatever the weather, they would set out in an open carriage, visiting all the surrounding countryside.” Then comes the account of the pistol accident (27 November 1882): ‘That Monday, surprised to hear the doorbell ring from so far away and see no one coming to open the door, I went over and opened it for General Thoumas, who asked for Mr Gambetta, to which I replied that he was not there. At that very moment, from his window he called out to me: ‘Please ask the General to come into the drawing room; I’ll be down straight away.’ The visitor stayed for at least an hour. When I saw him leaving, I took the opportunity to go back upstairs to ask for instructions. […] He called me back and said: ‘Go upstairs and fetch the pistols; we’re going to fire a few shots.’ I was walking up the stairs behind him when, upon reaching the landing, he met Madame Léon, who was coming down from her room […]. Five minutes later I went upstairs to fetch the pistols as he’d told me. As I entered via the dressing room, just as I was putting my hand on the bedroom door handle, a shot rang out; a bullet flew through the door 15 centimetres above my head. I opened the door to find Madame Léon crouching down, wrapping a blanket round her little dog, and Mr Gambetta holding his revolver in his left hand and looking at his right hand. I said to him, ‘You’re wounded.’ He replied, ‘Yes, as I was closing the revolver, the bullet went off and went through my arm.’ ” The account continues right up to the final hours: “The doctors arrived at that moment […]. They must have made their way from Paris, from some salons or cafés, for there were a number of people present who never usually came, especially at such a late hour. […] Seeing all this coming and going, I went back up to the room where, at 11.55 pm, Mr Fieusal [Fieruzal] said to me: ‘We must go and fetch Mr Geris [Gheusi]; it’s over.’ Barely twenty minutes had passed when Dr Fieusal, taking him by the arm, said: ‘He’s dead.’ Madame, who had been sitting at the foot of the bed, sprang to her feet with a terrible cry and threw herself upon me in a grief that is hard to describe.” A very fragile and damaged document, with some sections missing.
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About the sale Books, Manuscripts & Antique Engravings, including the José Luis Dotti Library
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Auction time 09/23/2026 at 2:30 PM
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