Premium Artcurial
76
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MERMOZ, Jean
See original version (French)
76
-
MERMOZ, Jean
See original version (French)
Estimate €3,000 - €4,000
Voluntary lot
Description
MERMOZ, Jean
Signed autograph manuscript, *La Fatale Lumière*, Thionville, 8 February 1924; 7 folio-sized pages (creases, edges slightly frayed, slight tears at the folds).
Complete manuscript of an unpublished short story about an aviator.
The manuscript, written in black ink on lined sheets of paper, contains crossings-out and corrections, as well as marginal additions. The original title, *La Clarté dans la Nuit*, has been carefully crossed out and replaced with *La Fatale Lumière*.
It is the story of Jacques, who is losing his sight: ‘So, it was over: soon, his eyes would no longer see the beautiful light of day. It would be complete darkness, without respite… blind!… He was going to be blind… he, the pilot whose brilliant wartime exploits people never tired of recounting, the ‘ace’ whose marvellous precision and unrivalled virtuosity were praised by his fellow pilots? The Man of the Moment… at last… Was he not soon to attempt the world altitude record – his own record, in fact – for which everyone had every confidence in his success?”… As his chauffeur drove him towards the Issy-les-Moulineaux airfield, he caught sight of the woman he loved in the arms of one of his friends… He climbed into his aeroplane, to die and break his record: ‘Five thousand… six thousand… seven thousand metres… […] All around him, above him, a profound calm… He would have liked to melt into the limpid, transparent air, draped and iridescent with a thousand hues, and he felt an unfamiliar sense of well-being as he sank into it with delight… […] 11,000 metres! At that moment, he felt an indescribable numbness overtake him. Then, with all the strength he had left, he tore off his mask… His head snapped back in one swift movement… With his hands, clenched by death, still on the controls, his face turned towards the vast expanse, Jacques continued his ascent towards the Light’…
The account ends with this newspaper report: ‘Death of the aviator Jacques Lassalle. The aviator Jacques Lassalle was killed yesterday morning after reaching an altitude of 12,500 metres, as evidenced by the reading on his barograph, which was found at the site of his crash. The body of the unfortunate aviator could not be recovered, as the aircraft was completely burnt to a crisp. It was nothing short of a miracle that the barograph was not reduced to ashes. In this way, the record could be officially recognised. Yet another record that will not be taken from France any time soon! ”
Source: - Jean Mermoz (1901–1936);
- Gabrielle Gillet-Mermoz (1880–1955);
- Passed down through the family
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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