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Jules Verne Autograph Letter Signed ALS in French, one page, 5 x 8, January 4, 1889. Addressed from his residence in Amiens, France, a handwritten letter from Jules Verne, in full (translated): “I ask Madame Poritzer to please supply Mr. Debry with his tickets for Around the World. Sending compliments from her devoted.” In fine condition. The ‘Around the World’ event for which Verne was reserving tickets remains uncertain, however, 10 months after writing this letter, the plot of Verne’s classic 1872 novel came to life when American journalist Nellie Bly boarded the steamer Augusta Victoria and began her own 40,070-kilometer ‘Phileas Fogg’ journey on November 14, 1889. She managed to do the journey within 72 days and even had enough time to meet and interview Verne in Amiens.

amherst, United States