BRETON André (1896-1966)

Lot 23
Go to lot
Estimation :
50000 - 60000 EUR
BRETON André (1896-1966)
Autograph notebook of seventeen poems that belonged to Paul ÉLUARD. S.d., booklet in-16 of 22 sheets in blue and purple ink on paper. Book kept in its original black leatherette cover, gold edges. Navy blue morocco case, long spine (rubbed notebook covers, spine of case bleached). Autograph notebook of seventeen autograph poems by Breton that belonged to Paul Éluard, six of which were never reprinted in volume during his lifetime, with the text of an article in an unpublished state. This notebook is a remarkable summary of the young Breton's aesthetic journey and heralds the birth of the poet de Mont de Piété, Breton's first collection in which some of these poems appear. As Marguerite Bonnet states in her notice concerning these first poems by Breton: "These unpublished works [...] confirm their teachings and those of Mont de Piété on Breton's path. ...] To the ornate writing of the poems of youth, to their somewhat empty mannerism, to the research aimed at transforming the poem suddenly, gravely and brutally follows the question: "Why do you write?". (André Breton, OEuvres complètes, Pléiade, volume I, pp. 1108-1109). The stationery label of the notebook "Papeterie Pottin Georges Meynieu, Nantes" proves that the notebook was purchased and the text transcribed between July 1915 and November 1916, the date of Breton's stay in Nantes. In fact, the last text, added in a different ink, turns out to be the latest on the date of June 1916. With one exception (Marie Laurencin), this is the most complete transcription available for these early poems, it gives some details unknown to La Pléiade and is not listed among its sources. It is therefore a setting by Breton of a selection of his early poems, which have remained unknown to the publishers. It should be pointed out that, according to Marguerite Bonnet, no working manuscript of these texts is known. The notebook bears Paul Éluard's ex-libris drawn by Max Ernst. The notebook contains the
My orders
Sale information
Sales conditions
Return to catalogue