MARTEDÌ 27 MAGGIO 2025 
The Quiet Brilliance of Paul-Jean Toulet
A s the Paul-Jean Toulet Prize is revived under the patronage of Frédéric Beigbeder and Frédéric Schiffter — with the award ceremony set for 17 May in Guéthary — the auction house Tessier-Sarrou and expert Éric Fosse will unveil an exceptional collection devoted entirely to the Béarn-born poet on 27 May.
Assembled with passion by Jean de Buzelet, this remarkable collection offers a unique insight into Toulet’s work and the literary world of the early 20th century. The result of a meticulous thirty-year pursuit, the collection gathers rare editions, precious copies and unpublished manuscripts by the man who invented a new poetic form: the contrerime
A Literary Journey in 170 Lots
Through 170 lots, the collection retraces the poet’s literary journey, his friendships and his influences. Among the notable names are Willy, to whom Toulet lent his pen, and Curnonsky, with whom he wrote collaboratively. The collection also reflects the devotion of his admirers, foremost among them Henri Martineau — a physician and literary enthusiast who became Toulet’s most ardent champion, overseeing the publication of many of his works, including Les Contrerimes.
The sale features the largest ensemble ever to appear on the market of rare editions exquisitely bound by renowned bookbinders Semet and Plumelle in the 1950s, comprising no fewer than 47 items.
The sale features the largest ensemble ever to appear on the market of rare editions exquisitely bound by renowned bookbinders Semet and Plumelle in the 1950s, comprising no fewer than 47 items.
Exceptional Manuscripts
Among the standout pieces is the manuscript of Les Contrerimes, written by Toulet in a school notebook of 87 pages and dated 1913. It is likely one of the poet’s earliest attempts to gather verses previously published in various literary journals (Estimate: €8,000–10,000). With the invention of the contrerime, Toulet gave new life to the quatrain, infusing it with a rhythm and musicality that regular stanzas could not achieve. For the young talents of the École fantaisiste — Carco, Derème, Pellerin and Jean-Marc Bernard — Toulet was an incomparable source of inspiration.
Another highlight of the sale is the manuscript of La Jeune Fille verte, Toulet’s final novel, published just months before his death. Part Balzacian chronicle of life in a small Béarn town, part intricate tale of the sentimental education of a nonchalant young bon vivant — a character not unlike Toulet himself — this work is widely regarded as his masterpiece (Estimate: €6,000–8,000).
Another highlight of the sale is the manuscript of La Jeune Fille verte, Toulet’s final novel, published just months before his death. Part Balzacian chronicle of life in a small Béarn town, part intricate tale of the sentimental education of a nonchalant young bon vivant — a character not unlike Toulet himself — this work is widely regarded as his masterpiece (Estimate: €6,000–8,000).
Paul-Jean Toulet (1867–1920)
Born in 1867 in Pau and deceased in 1920 in Guéthary, Paul-Jean Toulet remains a key figure in French poetry, especially as the inventor of the contrerime, a poetic form of his own creation. He was also a founding figure of the École fantaisiste, led by Carco and Derème. During his lifetime, Toulet’s work remained confined to a small circle of readers. “I am unknown, except to a few,” he wrote with unflinching clarity. Yet thanks to the unwavering admiration of Henri Martineau — who dedicated a 1914 summer issue of Le Divan to him — his influence grew over time.
He was soon embraced by the group behind La Gazette du Bon Ton, including Henriot, Jean-Louis Vaudoyer and Jacques Boulenger, who hailed him as a leading voice of the fantaisiste school. His mark can be seen in the work of Jean Giraudoux, while Paul Valéry praised the offbeat musicality of his verse. More recently, Georges Pompidou, in his famous Anthology, saluted Toulet’s unique ability to “reconcile scepticism with poetry”.
He was soon embraced by the group behind La Gazette du Bon Ton, including Henriot, Jean-Louis Vaudoyer and Jacques Boulenger, who hailed him as a leading voice of the fantaisiste school. His mark can be seen in the work of Jean Giraudoux, while Paul Valéry praised the offbeat musicality of his verse. More recently, Georges Pompidou, in his famous Anthology, saluted Toulet’s unique ability to “reconcile scepticism with poetry”.
Jean de Buzelet (1904–1972)
Born in Paris in 1904, Jean de Buzelet studied at the Lycée Janson-de-Sailly. From an early age, sport played a central role in his life, following in the footsteps of his brother René, who would go on to play alongside French tennis legends Brugnon, Cochet, Lacoste and Borotra — the famous "Four Musketeers". Surrounded by sports and photography enthusiasts, de Buzelet soon discovered and embraced photography himself, just like his father.
During the Second World War, he once again suffered from bone tuberculosis and spent the war years in the Osséja sanatorium, near the Spanish border. He likely discovered Toulet before the war, and over the years, his collecting brought him into contact with booksellers, members of Toulet’s family, and fellow collectors across France. He delved deeply into the study of the poet’s various drafts and editions — for Toulet was a perfectionist who constantly reworked his texts throughout his life.
During the Second World War, he once again suffered from bone tuberculosis and spent the war years in the Osséja sanatorium, near the Spanish border. He likely discovered Toulet before the war, and over the years, his collecting brought him into contact with booksellers, members of Toulet’s family, and fellow collectors across France. He delved deeply into the study of the poet’s various drafts and editions — for Toulet was a perfectionist who constantly reworked his texts throughout his life.
