Daudet to Claretie

Numa Roumestan. Mœurs Parisiennes.

Paris: G. Charpentier, 1881.

Price: $1,500.00


About the item

First edition. 8vo. Daudet to Claretie. Contemporary crimson half morocco and marbled boards, original wrappers bound in.

Item #250042

A fine association copy, inscribed to Daudet’s friend, the author and critic, Jules Claretie, and with a letter of presentation tipped to the flyleaf:

The inscription on the half-title reads simply:

“A Jules Claretie

“son ami

“Alphonse Daudet

“15 8bre - 81”

The presentation letter reads [in translation]:

“Mon camarade,

“Thank you for your cordial, loyal reception of Roumetan.

“It is a sign of power to be able to talk of one’s rivals with such eloquence, such sympathy.

“Few have shown as much of it as you have.

“How are you? Are you still in Viroflay?

“Give my respects to your wife --

“And to you — again and again, thank you.

“Alphonse Daudet”

Two years later, Claretie dedicated his novel, HIS EXCELLENCY THE MINISTER, to his friend Daudet, thus:

“I am delighted, my old fellow-traveller, to write your great

“and honored name on the first page of my book as a witness to the

“sincere affection and true comradeship of

“Your devoted,

“JULES CLARETIE” [translation by Henri Robert].