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an old book with a drawing of a group of people standing in front of ita handwritten letter written in black ink on a piece of papera handwritten letter written in black ink on a piece of paperan old handwritten letter on a piece of paper with writing on itan old book with a picture of a group of people standing next to each otheran open book with a picture of a man and a woman on itan open book sitting on top of a table next to a white wallan open book sitting on top of a table next to a white wallan open book sitting on top of a white table next to a white wall
MARAMBAT - de MALAFOSSE

159 - [AUTOGRAPH]. COTTIN (Sophie, née Risteau).
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Estimate €100 - €150
Sale commission
Description
[AUTOGRAPH]. COTTIN (Sophie, née Risteau). AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED ‘Sophie’, TO CITIZEN VICTOR DE LAMOTHE. [Champlan], 11 Messidor [Year II – 29 June 1794]. Two handwritten pages in brown ink on a single sheet (235 × 195 mm), with an old identifying annotation at the top. Creases, browning at the margins, a few foxing spots, small tears at the right-hand margin with no loss of text. A MOVING LETTER WRITTEN DURING THE REIGN OF TERROR, BLENDING FAMILY CONCERNS AND CONFIDENCES OF MOURNING. Sophie Cottin informs her correspondent of the imprisonment in Versailles of her cousin Julie Verdier’s husband, who has been denounced for anti-social behaviour. Julie has travelled there to expedite the hearing of his case, whilst Sophie looks after the children. Added to this news is a painful confession: ‘I shall tell you nothing of myself. The night—the blackest night, when it envelops me in thick darkness—is still less dark than my soul. ’ She explains that she no longer feels capable of loving, speaks of her broken heart and turns her thoughts to her departed husband: ‘I lift all my thoughts towards heaven; the angel who dwells there draws me after him; I already feel detached from the earth. ’ A postscript gives reassuring news of the children and mentions Félicité, whose son is due to sit an exam to join the Corps of Engineers. PUBLISHED LETTER, reproduced in large part by Arnelle in *Une oubliée: Madame Cottin d’après sa correspondance*, Chapter II. A testament to the sensitivity of the future novelist and to the hardships endured by those around her during the Revolution. ENCLOSED: TAILHADE (Laurent). IN PRAISE OF SOPHIE COTTIN. Poem recited by the author at Bagnères-de-Bigorre on 28 August 1910. Paris, Albert Messein, 1911. Paperback booklet, colour-illustrated cover. Angular foxing and a brown streak on the title page; tears to the cover, but no pages missing. FIRST EDITION of this poetic tribute to Sophie Cottin, bearing witness to the enduring memory of the novelist in Bagnères-de-Bigorre. Illustrations by Louis CAZENAVE, comprising a medallion portrait on the title page, a chapter head, a footer and a composition covering both sides of the cover, coloured using a stencil. The latter depicts Pyrenean singers gathered beneath the banner ‘Halt there! The mountain folk are here!”. A full-margin copy, printed on laid paper.
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About the sale Sale of Antique and Modern Books
Auction location
Auction time 11/12/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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