Eugène LABICHE.

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Lot n° 54
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Eugène LABICHE.
Celimar the beloved. V[audeville] comedy in 3 acts. No place or date [Paris, 1862-1863]. Manuscript in-4 of (2) ff. for the dedication and the title, 57, 59 and 57 ff. for each of the three acts, all mounted on tabs: plum morocco, spine ribbed, title in gilt letters on the first board, gilt fillet on the edges, inner lace, entirely untrimmed (period binding). Important autograph manuscript, complete, of one of Labiche's most famous plays. Working manuscript with numerous erasures, corrections and additions. On the front of laid paper sheets folded in two, Labiche has written his play in the right-hand column, sometimes with additions and corrections in the left-hand margin. The play, composed in collaboration with Alfred Delacour, was first performed at the Palais-Royal on 27 February 1863. Delacour added, for the performance, sung parts that are not included here. Celimar le bien-aimé is one of Labiche's classic comedies that has been performed regularly since its premiere. It follows on from Voyage de Monsieur Perrichon (1860), describing with irony the setbacks of a future groom who would like to forget an eventful past. "Célimare le bien-aimé belongs to the great vein of Labiche. [...] This comedy is one of the masterpieces of Labiche, a satirist without illusion, but not without indulgence. Not without finesse and nuance too. The portrait of Célimare, Don Juan, liar and hypocrite, cynical and cold, is wrapped up, accompanied by words of an effective humour" (Gilbert Sigaux). Autograph letter signed on a sheet of paper mounted at the head: I offer to Mr. Moreau-Chaslon the original manuscript of: Célimare le bien-aimé Souvenir amical Eugène Labiche Paris ce 20 avril 1874 Son of the founder of the Compagnie générale des omnibus de Paris, Georges Moreau-Chaslon was the uncle of Raymond Roussel whose expensive life was to be fatal to the legacy of his grandfather Aristide Moreau-Chaslon. Attached is an autograph letter signed by Fernand Samuel, the director of the Théâtre des Variétés, to Professor Reclus. On the theatre's letterhead, F. Samuel announces that he is in a bad way and adds: "And will you accept for yourself this souvenir which will take its place in your personal library? It is the autograph manuscript of the play that my old friend Labiche considered his best. My friendship offers it wholeheartedly to yours." (Fernand Samuel had probably acquired the manuscript at the Moreau-Chaslon sale in 1892.) As for the identity of Professor Reclus, he is the youngest of the siblings, Paul Reclus (1847-1914), a surgeon, professor at the Faculty of Medicine and, like his brothers, of anarchist convictions. He was one of the pioneers of local anaesthesia based on cocaine. Provenance: Georges Moreau-Chaslon, with dispatch - Fernand Samuel - Paul Reclus.
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