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80
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(Lot) – (Alexandre DUMAS the Elder).
See original version (French)
80
-
(Lot) – (Alexandre DUMAS the Elder).
See original version (French)
Estimate €200 - €250
Voluntary lot
Description
(Lot) – (Alexandre DUMAS the Elder). A collection of 14 signed autograph letters and various documents from colleagues and friends addressed to Alexandre Dumas or concerning him.
- Philibert AUDEBRAND. 2 letters to Théodore Boulé concerning *The Musketeer*. [1854]. 4 pp. in-8. – 11 November: ‘You are no doubt aware that a most regrettable misunderstanding has suddenly arisen between Mr Alexandre Dumas and myself… The interests you have in the newspaper lead me to believe that you would certainly be in a position to put an end to this rather trivial dispute… *Le Mousquetaire*, which has been very poorly managed up to now, seems to me to have an increasingly bright future, especially if it is run by intelligent hands such as yours… ’ – *Le Mousquetaire*, without Mr Alexandre Dumas, could only be revived with the help of a subsidy of 50 francs a day, earmarked for the editorial team… It is impossible to run a spirited, incisive and well-authored daily newspaper without a sacrifice of this kind. On the other hand, if Mr Alexandre Dumas insists on remaining, even if only in name, this arrangement becomes unfeasible… several of those I have in mind would not agree to serve under the great man’s banner… ’
– Théodore BOULÉ. To Alexandre Dumas. 11 November 1854. 1½ pages, quarto. ‘By taking charge of the commercial exploitation of *The Musketeer*, relieving you of all the hassle on that front, I was already bringing you money. Times money… I have no funds to make available to you. ’ To make money, ‘send as many lines in your own hand as you can, every day without fail, and I guarantee success – financial success… For *The Musketeer* is not merely a shield… it is even better than that. It is your platform… ”
- G. de CHERVILLE. 3 letters concerning Dumas. – Undated. 1 p. in-8. It is impossible for him to find the time to proofread his correspondent’s manuscript: “I cannot even finish the novel I began with Dumas… ” – Undated. 4 pp. in-8. Dumas is here; Cherville has not a moment to himself. “I have Dumas’s authorisation to do as I see fit. So if Mr Harmand so wishes, he will be named alone.” A lengthy discussion on how to make this play based on the novel *Monsieur Coumbes* interesting. – Undated. To the President of the Société des Gens de Lettres. 1½ pp., 8vo. He requests admission. Among the qualifications supporting this application are ‘my collaboration over several years with Mr Alexandre Dumas, which has produced fifty-two volumes… Mr Alexandre Dumas the Elder, whose consent I enclose with this letter, is kind enough to do me the honour of recommending me to my colleagues… ”
- Gabriel FERRY. Undated [1883], 1 p. ½ in-12. He recommends *Les dernières années d’Alexandre Dumas* to his correspondent. His family spent a great deal of time with him between 1864 and 1870.
- Valérie KLATZ. Undated. 1 p. in-12. She is staging a benefit performance at the Porte Saint-Martin. *Antony* is being performed on this occasion only, starring Mr Bocage and Mrs Dorval.
- Constant LAURENT. To Alexandre DUMAS. 16 September 1853. 2 pp. in-8. “Do you remember that famous dinner of bear fillet we had on the Boulevard du Temple, some ten years ago now? ... Tasked with tasting that dreadful bear meat, you said to me very solemnly: ‘It’s very good, but it might not be to the ladies’ taste’… ”
- Bernard LOPEZ. To Aurélien Scholl. 2 pp. in-8. He intends to sue Noël Parfait for libel, as the latter ‘accuses me of having obtained the manuscript of *La Veillée allemande* through some sort of fraud to the detriment of Mr Alex Dumas. I have a short letter from Dumas on this subject… which proves our collaboration… ”
- Joseph MÉRY. To Alexandre DUMAS. 1 p. in-8. He passed by Rue d’Amsterdam three times without success: “twice a woman at the porter’s told me you weren’t there; the third time, I gave my name to a fair-haired child… ”
- Victor PERCEVAL (pseudonym of Marie de Fernand). 2 pp. in-8, tear at the fold. “I have only held the rights to *Mémoires d’un Policeman* since 1 October. ’ She gives her consent for its publication in *La Semaine*. ‘It is understood that, to avoid any difficulty with Lévy, Dumas’s name will appear only in the preface… ”
- Committee for the erection of a statue to Alexandre Dumas. 28 February 1884. 1½ pp. in-4. A meeting is scheduled at Carrier-Belleuse fils’s premises to view the model by Carrier-Belleuse père.
- Maurice MAINDRON. Preparatory notes for a comparison between Alexandre Dumas and Victor Hugo. [8 ff.] in-12 (tear with a page missing from the first folio).
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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