GOUNOD Charles [Paris, 1818 - id., 1893], French composer. Autograph letter signed, addressed to M. Le Bailly. 1 1/2 page in-8°, envelope enclosed. "I sold to M. Lebeau without any restriction or reserve the property of my music on the Serenade of M V. Hugo's Serenade. I have therefore absolutely no choice over him in this respect and I can neither deal in this respect with any publisher nor question myself between this publisher and Mr. Lebeau. It is from you alone to him that this matter seems to me to have to be negotiated. What I can do, and what I am doing, is to communicate to Mr. Lebeau the letter you sent me.

Composed of several subsidiaries, the Drouot Group is a major player in the art market. Hôtel Drouot, located in the heart of Paris, has been the world's largest public auction center since 1852. 15 salerooms are available to more than 70 auction houses. The emulation generated by an annual offer of 230,000 artworks from 21 major specialities - from Antiquity to street art - attracts some 3,000 visitors every day. The Group's digital platform, Drouot.com, offers digital sales - Live auctions (live broadcasting and participation in auctions), Online-only auctions (dematerialised auctions) and Buy Now sales (sales of lots at fixed prices). Nearly 2 million items are offered annually by 600 auction houses. Auction news is reported every week in La Gazette Drouot, the leading weekly magazine for the art market and culture published by Auctionspress.