VICTOR HUGO.

Lot 36
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Estimation :
6000 - 8000 EUR
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Result : 22 000EUR
VICTOR HUGO.
Hernani ou l'Honneur castillan, drama, performed at the Théâtre-Français on 25 February 1830. Paris, Mame et Delaunay-Vallée, 1830. In-8: red jansenist morocco, four-ribbed spine, red morocco lining framed with gilt fillet, gilt brocaded silk endpapers, gilt edges on witnesses, cover preserved (Marius Michel). First edition. Second state copy: page 80 is incorrectly numbered 78 but page 154 is correctly numbered. Also, on page 71, it is printed "You are my lord, valiant and generous" and not: "You are my superb and generous lion." (See Bertin, Chronologie des livres de Victor Hugo, No. 48.- Bibliothèque nationale, En français dans le texte, No. 244.) The performance of Hernani on February 25, 1830 marked the first victory of Romantic literature. The "Battle" it triggered pitted the defenders of classicism against "these young bands who fought for the ideal, poetry and the freedom of art", in the words of Théophile Gautier. This copy is enriched with important autographs, including an original ink drawing by Victor Hugo. The drawing is a caricature of Claude-Alphonse Delangle, the magistrate who called for the prosecution of Victor Hugo at the Hernani trial. The magistrate is shown in action. Caption by Victor Hugo: "Delangle pleading against me. (aff. Du Th. Français). Scribbled at the hearing. He pronounced Viquetor Hugaau." The four signed autograph letters all relate to the "Battle of Hernani" or its preparation. In the first, addressed to Mme. Amable Tastu on September 29, 1829 (Hernani premiered on February 25, 1830), Victor Hugo invites her to a reading of the play at his home. (Autograph letter signed, 3 pp. in-8, address with postmark on the fourth page.) The second letter, dated February 6, 1830, addressed to M. Richard, whom he had met at Devéria's, is a small inquiry by the poet about clandestine readings of Hernani. (Autograph letter signed, 2 pp. in-8, address with postmark on the fourth page. The ink has faded.) The third letter, dated March 10, 1830, is addressed to Baron Taylor, who was then the director of the Théâtre-Français where Hernani was being performed . As the editor of the Barthou catalogue humorously writes, "this letter is a communiqué from the general-in-chief to his minister of war." "Tonight's performance was strongly defended and applauded, my dear Taylor, and this thanks to the decision I had to make not to reduce the number of my tickets. [...] The actors are all unanimously of the opinion that it would be a grave imprudence to restrict me in the tickets I give. Note that it is always my same friends who come, and that this therefore cannot harm the receipts, which are always maintained above 4000 fr. in spite of winds and tides, which is admirable [...]." (Autograph letter signed, 3 pp. in-8, address with postmark on the fourth page.) The fourth letter is addressed to three journalists, directors of the Journal des Salons, MM. Carvillier, Desnoyers and Vaillant: Victor Hugo asks them to defend him against "the threats of the little classical league". The letter is dated June 9, 1830, i.e. when the literary battle was won, but when the political battle was being prepared, which was to overthrow the king Charles X a few days later... (Autograph letter signed, 1 p. in-8, address with postmark on the fourth page. Small restoration to sticky paper, no loss of paper.) Also bound at the head is an autograph admission card for the twelfth performance of Hernani. This ticket in the name of M. Bonnard for an orchestra seat bears at the foot the words, "Hierro." It is known that the Spanish word, which means "iron," was inscribed by Victor Hugo on the tickets which Gerard de Nerval brought to Theophile Gautier. Finally, a manuscript of nine unpublished autograph verses, is inserted in the volume. These nine verses were to be said by Don Ruy Gomez to Don Carlos before the tirade of the portraits (act III, scene VII). These verses are written on a sheet of paper with the letterhead of the Comédie française. A superb copy, untrimmed, in a lined binding by Marius Michel, from the library of Louis Barthou, one of the most ardent Hugol supporters (I, 1935, no. 182).
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