PUCCINI Giacomo [Lucca, 1858 - Brussels, 1924], Italian composer. Set of 2 autograph letters signed, addressed to Maurice Vaucaire. August 29, 1906; 1 page in-8°, partly in French, stamped address on back. "accliudo postcard credo dell'italian au derriere développé! Attention! For the painting of the garden I am very concerned for the length of the opera - too many duetti! always two! To make a find? and which one? I will think about it. Tortured your brain too. Goodbye my dear All yours G. Puccini." February 15, 1915; 1 page in-8°, in Italian (translation enclosed), stamped address on back, tears and missing paper on side. "(Forgive me if I don't write you in French, but I can't explain myself well). I spoke to Tito, on your advice, about writing the letters to the French journalists, but he advised me not to do so because mentioning names could lead to controversy and then they might not be published by the newspapers. Moreover he said that with my letter, all the critics and all his colleagues would declare themselves in solidarity with Bruneau and Lalo, Leroux etc. and the matter would become more serious. I am very upset about what has happened. I assure you that I wrote those damned letters only out of concern for the truth, because it had been published in the German newspapers that I, as well as Shaw, Maeterlinck, [] had taken a stand against Germany, by signing protests, etc. This was not true. I simply wrote: no. That is all! You know me and you can tell whether I am grateful or not to the French public for the good reception it continues to have for my work in spite of the insults and the low criticism that the newspapers have always had for me! I thank you because your letters show me what a friend you are."