45 - Alexandre Dumas, Sr. (1802–1870).

Alexandre Dumas, Sr. (1802–1870). 3 letters “Alex Dumas,” [1857–1864] and undated, to Eugène GIRAUD; 4½ pages, in-8 format, with an address. To his friend, the painter Eugène GIRAUD (1806–1881). Note: [1857?], regarding the newspaper *Le Monte-Cristo* (first issue on April 23, 1857). He had the newspaper sent to him, and he would receive it regularly. “If you have a moment, draw me a woodcut in the style of the one you did for *The Musketeer*, depicting Monte Cristo in his shirt sleeves, prying at his rock with a lever cut from a nearby tree in the hope of finding his treasure there. Monte Cristo hasn’t found his treasure yet, but he’s found the spot. We’re selling ten thousand copies”… 7 [1860?], regarding his yacht Le Monte-Cristo [Dumas would leave the port of Marseille aboard the yacht Monte-Cristo on May 9, 1860]. Dumas is counting on Giraud to produce “within four or five days two panels—one of Haïdé, the other of Montecristo clinging to his rock. It’s for my boat; I’m leaving on the 20th.” He will have the measurements sent to him: “Paint these for me on canvas—we’ll mount the canvas onto the panels”… August 4 [1864], before the premiere of *The Mohicans of Paris* (August 20, 1864, at the Gaîté): “There’s a group in *The Mohicans of Paris* for which I need your help, since the costumes are the only picturesque aspect of the play. This group consists of Rose de Noël, a whimsical little Bohemian who loves bright, flashy colors and dyes her own costumes. De la Brocante, an old fortune-teller. A dark, Bohemian costume—a long coat, for example, that frames the head and falls to the ground. Finally, Babolin, a young clown performing antics in the streets; the role will be played by a woman, as the young Bousquet is not up to the task”… Enclosed is the autograph manuscript of the subscription bulletin for the book *Le Véloce, or From Tangier to Tunis*, “a sequel to *Voyage en Espagne*. 4 volumes, large 8vo […] illustrated with four steel engravings. Drawings by Messrs. Boulanger and Giraud”… etc. (1 page, quarto, with a note on the back for the printer).