DUMAS ALEXANDRE Pere: (1802-1870)

DUMAS ALEXANDRE Pere: (1802-1870) French Writer whose works include The Three Musketeers. A clean A.L.S., ` Al Dumas´, one page, 8vo, n.p. [Paris], n.d., to Paul Gavarni, in French. An excellent content letter on which Dumas refers to his work The Three Musketeers. On his personal stationery, bearing a blind embossed seal with his laureated capital initials to the upper left corner of the letter, Dumas refers to the option of negotiating with his correspondent for 200 illustrations he wishes Gavarni to do for his work The Count of Montecristo (1844), and states in part ` Cher Ami, Avez-vous un instant à nous donner, montez-vous à cheval, voulez-vous que mon domestique par le premierbeau temps aille vous chercher avec un cheval de main, voulez-vous venir tout seul, y a t-il un chemin qui vienne d´Auteuil à Saint Germain. Je vous fais toutes ces questions parce que je sais combien le temps est précieux à nous autres travailleurs.´ (Translation: " Dear Friend, Do you have a moment to give us, do you ride a horse, do you want my servant to go and pick you up with a hand horse in the first good weather, do you want to come alone, is there a path which comes from Auteuil to Saint Germain. I'm asking you all these questions because I know how precious time is to us workers.") Dumas further refers to the drawings he wishes his correspondent to do for his work The Count of Montecristo and asks him if he has read his work, stating ` Si j ´étais sûr que nous puissions terminer une grande affaire j´aurais moins de remords. Mais vous êtes le roi de l´illustration et vous avez le droit de dénigrer une liste civile que mes libraires ne sont peut-être pas assez riches pour vous donner. Avez-vous lu Montecristo?...´ (Translation: " If I were sure that we could complete a big affair I would have less remorse. But you are the King of illustration and you have the right to denigrate a civil list that my booksellers are perhaps not rich enough to pay you. Have you read Montecristo?...") With blank address leaf. VG to EX Paul Gavarni (1804-1866) French illustrator. Paul Gavarni was the pen name of Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier. Gavarni had a close and friendly relationship with Dumas, Balzac and other authors. He illustrated Dumas´ work The Count of Montecristo , as well as some Balzac´s novels, and made drawings for Vautrin one of the main characters of Balzac´s La Comédie Humaine . The drawings Dumas refers to are the ones of The Count of Montecristo , for the edition to be published after the publication by volumes in the Le Siecle journal. The 200 drawings were for portraits of the main roles. Dumas will be shortly after very pleased with the final drawings by Gavarni.