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a close up of a piece of paper with writing on ita handwritten letter from the president of the united statesa black and white photo of a letter written in frencha close up of a piece of paper with writing on itan old document with a handwritten letter on it and a picture of a man in a suitsome old papers and papers are sitting on a white surfacesome old papers are stacked on top of each other on a white surfacean old document with writing on it sitting next to a piece of paperseveral old letters are stacked on top of each other on a white surfacean old book with a picture of a group of people on ita book with a handwritten title on it
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84 - André Citroën (1878–1935), pioneer of the French motor indus…
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Estimate €1,000 - €2,000
Sale commission
Description
André Citroën (1878–1935), pioneer of the French motor industry Lot comprising 1 signed letter, 2 letters, 1 publication, important handwritten notes and press cuttings, 1929–1933 FIND THE FULL AND DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THIS LOT IN OUR ONLINE AUCTION CATALOGUE Letter, Paris, 25 June 1929 ‘Dear Sir, you were kind enough to send me a signed copy of *Les Augures de Genève*. I thank you most sincerely and would like to assure you that I was particularly touched by your kind gesture. It was with keen interest that I read through your witty work, which I have no doubt will enjoy all the success it deserves.” L.A.S., Paris, 14 March 1930 Dear Sir, You think you are a soothsayer! As for the past, you claim—without realising it—that I have not read your books on Balzac and on the Countess of Noailles. Are you quite sure of that? As for the present, you claim that I shall not read *Clemenceau in Retirement*. If that is an order, I shall not obey you. As for the future, you are more tentative: will “Citroën in Action” ever see the light of day? If so, I shall learn it by heart – will it be a ‘yes’? That is the question. (...) I haven’t forgotten my promise to visit the factories with you. How about 1 April (this is no April Fool’s joke)? We’ll start at 10.00 am. At 11.00 am we’ll have lunch together during the tour French Scientific and Artistic Mission across Asia – 3rd Harrdt-Audouin-Dubreuil Mission Invitation to the exhibition and opening ceremony on 18 June 1932, 3 pp. in-4, bearing André Citroën’s stamped signature. On the reverse, a handwritten note by René Benjamin: Georges Le Fèvre Citroën Central Asia Expedition – The Yellow Cruise – 3rd Haardt-Audouin-Dubreuil Mission Paris, Librairie Plon, 1933 First edition Paperback, 20.5 x 14.5 cm (cover damaged) Signed autograph copy Handwritten notes on loose sheets, approx. 100 pp. in-8 and in-12, recounting the meetings and interviews between René Benjamin and André Citroën, with a view to writing a biography of the industrialist, 1929–1933: First meeting on 29 April 1929 at the home of the Marquise de Crussol Meeting in Deauville, August 1930 Handwritten notebook in 12mo format in pencil, over 40 pp., titled Barcelona, 21–26 May 1929 ; André Citroën played a leading role at the Barcelona International Exhibition, which ran from 20 May 1929 to 15 January 1930, as organiser of the French section. On the fringes of the exhibition, the Citroën brand demonstrated its strength with record production that year (over 100,000 vehicles), exporting nearly half of its cars, notably to Spain. René Benjamin also travelled to Barcelona at the invitation of André Citroën and benefited from a personal recommendation from the King of Spain, Alfonso XIII, which enabled him to gain access to the official circles surrounding the exhibition. Programme for the Barcelona Exhibition, in-12 format, printed by the A. Citroën factories, official opening (19 and 20 May) and French Week, 21 to 26 May 1929 Detailed tours of the Citroën factories, with André Citroën and Henriet, its managing director; an exceptional document of over 20 pp. in-8 format, portraying the ‘man-machine’, the impact of Americanism, and reflections on modernity Banquet for dealers and agents, 9 April 1930: invitation card, menu, two typewritten songs ‘C’est la Citroën’, handwritten notes on the proceedings *La Chaine Rouge*, the Citroën workers’ newspaper (Grenelle group) published by the Communist cell, 2 pp., in-4 FIND THE FULL AND DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THIS LOT IN OUR ONLINE AUCTION CATALOGUE
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About the sale René Benjamin, the 20th-century Balzac scholar
Auction location
Auction time 10/06/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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