218 - Alfred de VIGNY (1797–1863). Five autograph manuscripts, of various sizes, bound under the title “Reliquiae” into a single in-4 volume (approximately 33 x 24 cm). Full brown Jansenist morocco leather, spine with five raised bands, interior gilt fillets, bands and spandrels inlaid with green and red morocco leather, lining and endpapers of patterned gilt silk, slipcase (Marius Michel).

Alfred de VIGNY (1797–1863). Five autograph manuscripts, of various sizes, bound under the title “Reliquiae” into a single in-4 volume (approximately 33 x 24 cm). Full brown Jansenist morocco leather, spine with five raised bands, interior gilt fillets, bands and spandrels inlaid with green and red morocco leather, lining and endpapers of patterned gilt silk, slipcase (Marius Michel). AN EXCEPTIONAL COLLECTION OF AUTOGRAPH DRAFTS BY ALFRED DE VIGNY, FROM THE BARTHOU COLLECTION -“Elévations. Les Amans de Montmorency. Les Trois derniers jours.” Superb complete poem in draft form: I, II, III. 7 pp. Two handwritten notes: “written at Montmorency, April 27, 1830.” Gosselin, 1831. -“La Fille de Jephté.” 5 pp. (Page 3 is missing.) Published under the title “Poëmes” by Pélicier in 1822. -“Symetha.” 4 pp. Complete drafts. Published under the title “Poëmes” by Pélicier in 1822. -[The Flood]. This poem was written in Oloron in 1823. Approx. 23 pp. (I, II: page 5 is missing—“The Earth, however, revealed its dark contours [ ] a testament to innocence and love”; “Found in the debris of the flooded earth [ ] it was reduced to dust,” III). Additional unnumbered leaf, consisting of 13 lines: “And despite his contempt [ ] alas, did I listen to him!” Published by Urbain Canel in 1826. Thierry Bodin comments: “The manuscript is very beautiful, bearing corrections as cruel as scars; it offers interesting variants.” -“The Shepherd’s House. To Eva.” 13 pp. Crossed-out autograph note: “March 30, 1842.” This long poem first appeared in the July 15, 1844, issue of the *Revue des deux mondes*. Thierry Bodin notes: “It is one of Alfred de Vigny’s most beautiful poems. It is part of the posthumous collection *Les Destinées*. A magnificent manuscript; several gaps totaling 20 stanzas; one of these gaps is, moreover, marked in the poet’s own hand, which suggests that, at least for this one, it is an early draft of this long poem.” On the back of the last page is this beautiful handwritten note: “Pascal said something to the effect: ‘I am greater than the Universe because I know that it crushes me, and it crushes me without knowing it.’ ” Provenance: Louis Barthou (1935 auction, I, no. 421, bookplate) Bibliography: Charon, Annie, and Elisabeth Parinet, eds. Book Auctions and Their Catalogs, 17th–20th Centuries. Publications of the École nationale des chartes, 2000: Thierry Bodin, “The Major Collections of Literary Manuscripts.” “Louis Barthou’s library was to be sold off in four auctions in 1935 and 1936 [ ]; the four catalogs, compiled by Georges Blaizot, list a total of 2,143 manuscripts and books. This collection of Vigny’s manuscripts is cited as one of the most important and valuable manuscripts in this collection.”