Ristori, Adelaide
Italian actress (1822-1906). 4 autograph letters signed, 2 autograph quotations signed, one autograph correspondence card signed, and 3 autograph visiting cards. Florence, Turin, Rome, Paris, Frankfurt and Utrecht. (Oblong) 8vo, (oblong) 12mo and calling card format. Together 17 pp. on 5 bifolia and 5 single sheets. One letter with autograph address on verso. With 2 autograph envelopes.
$ 1,323 / 1.250 €
(82672/BN53961)
Interesting correspondence with friends in French and Italian, outlining remarkable points of her career. - To the financier and journalist Émile Pereire (1800-75), hoping he might be able to attend one of her last performances before her depature for New York aboard a ship operated by his "Compagnie Générale Transatlantique": "Avant de partir pour l'Amerique je jouerai encore deux fois à Paris [...] Il me serait du meilleur augure si vous assistiez à une de ces représentations. J'espère que vous le pourrez [...] Je partirai pour New-York le 1er Septembre sur la ligne crée par vous, et sur le bateau qui porte votre nom.
Je ne pourrais quitter l'Europe sous des meilleurs orpices [...]" (Paris, 20 June 1866). On mourning paper with embossed monogram. - Two letters in Italian, one to the librettist Jacopo Ferretti (1784-1852) about an illness from which she hopes to recover through a change of air, the other to a friend asking her to translate some articles about her performance as Maria Stuart, mentioning that she feels like a fish out of water when removed from Paris, complaining about the German ways, and concluding with a description of her encounter with the queen of Holland in Stuttgart, who complimented her on her performance: "A Stuttgart fui colmato di attenzioni dalla Corte. La regina d'Olanda, figlia del rè del Wurttemberg si trovava a la invisita e dopo il largo alto di Stuarda mi mandò il suo ciambellano per manifestar mi tutta la sue ammirazione [...]" (Frankfurt, 23 Sept. 1856). On mourning paper. - To the writer Paul de Saint-Victor (1827-81) with best wishes for the New Year: "Or permettez que j'en suive l'impultion en vous offrant les voeux de bonne année que je forme pour vous, et vous priant de croire qu'ils sont sinceres [...]" (Turin, 23 Dec. 1855). On decorative stationery with embossed border and initials. - The quotations consist of reflections on art, as well as a poem: "Dio, e Patria son uno son tutto [...]" (Utrecht, 25 June 1859). On stationery with embossed monogram. - Correspondence card written to a friend, about her poor knowledge of German; visiting cards expressing thanks and esteem, also including an invitation. - A few small marginal flaws; occasional traces of former mounting..