Provençal poet, editor, and founder of the Félibrige (1818-1891). Autograph letter signed. N. p. 30.12.1884. Small-12mo. 4 pp. on bifolium.
500 €
(45091/BN31163)
Charming letter to a journalist and friend, thanking him enthusiastically for a positive review of a collection of stories and adding New Year Wishes in Provençal: "Seigneur Jour de l'an, doré sur toutes ses tranches, ne me laisse pas le temps de vous remercier comme je le voudrais des lignes, si bienveillantes et si distinguées que vous avez écrit [...]. De telle que, grâce à vous, à votre bonne amitié, à votre indulgence, mon petit sabot de noël est tout rempli de perles [...]. Bono annado ! Dieu vous la donne ! à vous, couralamen".
- While there is no known publication of Roumanille entitled "Sabot de Noël", he could be referring to his 1884 anthology "Li conte prouvençau e li Cascareleto". - Well preserved..
Provençal poet, editor, and founder of the Félibrige (1818-1891). Autograph letter signed. Avignon. 11.09.1884. Small-8vo. 4 pp. on bifolium.
450 €
(45092/BN31164)
Interesting letter to the journalist and music critic Charles Vinces, addressed under his pseudonym Carl Cisvens, announcing a little package of books that he compares to a bouquet of flowers, although it misses "a dandelion". Of one of the books requested by Vincens, Roumanille only had a damaged copy that he didn't want to send, preferring to look for a better copy: "Il est essentiel que notre Zola en vers vous arrive, un tantinet expurgé, mais non mutilé". He then relates that he had just returned from the graduation of his son in Marseille but didn't have the time to visit Vincens as urgent work for his Almanach provençal was awaiting him.
The final page concerns the Académie de Marseille, following Vincens's reception in 1883. Apparently, Vincens had confided some reservations or criticism with respect to the Académie to Roumanille, of which he "won't speak" as "the Académie would lose too much for it". He confirms the arrival of Vincens's discourse of reception and inserts a Provençal term in his farewell: "Le petit oiseau vous piéuto ses saluts les plus affectueux". - With a tear to the fold..
Provençal poet, editor, and founder of the Félibrige (1818-1891). Autograph letter signed. Avignon. 05.11.1884. 8vo. 4 pp.
500 €
(45093/BN31165)
Charming and interesting letter to the journalist and music critic Charles Vincens, concerning various topics, including Vincens's reception at the Académie de Marseille. Roumanille announces a book that Vincens had ordered and lauds the 6th volume of Justin Cauvière's Caducée. Largely forgotten today, Cauvière (1810-87) was a historian and a colleague of Vincens at the Gazette du Midi. Roumanille complains that his native "Avignon is a poor and absurd city" because his customers complained about the price of the volume and its use of Provençal, quoting some alleged remarks: "Les uns m'ont répondu : '5F, c'est cher et ce n'est pas relié !' Les autres : 'Il y a trop de patois et je n'aime pas le patois'".
He then alludes to Vincens's reception at the Académie, prophesizing that he, Roumanille, will be elected once he is worthy of it, which will be "when the Greek Calends are approaching", meaning never: "Et maintenant, cher académicien d'une académie qui m'académisionnera [!] quand je me serai rendu tout à fait digne, C. à dire aux approches des calendes grecques, laissez-moi vous dire combien le vieux père du félibrige, puisqu'il faut m'appeler par son nom, a été touché de votre bienveillance pour lui […]". In closing, he scolds his "children" in the Félibrige for not respecting "the divin commandment" and cites a kind of prayer with the final invocation: "Ainsi soit-il". - On stationery with lithogr. letterhead of Roumanille's publishing house. - Minimal browning..