ANDRÉ BRETON

Lot 50
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Estimation :
3000 - 4000 EUR
Result with fees
Result : 5 120EUR
ANDRÉ BRETON
15 autograph letters signed to Henri Parisot. 18 pp. in-4 and in-8. Paris, New York, Antibes and Saint-Cirq-La-Popie, 1936-1952 Very interesting correspondence about their publications and collaboration. "Naturally Minotaure would publish all the documents of which you speak to me [...]. I thank you, my dear friend, for having given me this surprise of all colors. It is one of the things that make me miss Mexico less and the marvelous quetzal bird that is adorned with feathers similar to the small volumes of your collection. I approve very warmly of the choice of texts and the presentation (only one objection, on the side of the title: who is there to entertain, really?) [...]. Would you tell Gisèle Prassinos how much I appreciate her attention and what elective pleasure I continue to take in what she says [...]. Unfortunately, Kiesler makes me wait for the definitive model of the "Ode to Charles Fourier": the reduced project that he showed me is sensational but will be, as I had already made you fear, of an expensive execution. It will be necessary, moreover, to send him two proofs in America. I believe, however, that you will not regret undertaking this edition, for nothing approaching it has ever been seen. The only thing is that you have the means... This afternoon I have to see Aimé Césaire who is passing through New York on his way to Paris as a delegate to the Constituent Assembly. You will see: he is a god [...]. I hope that you will reserve for me "Seuls demeurent" [by René Char] and what you can of Tzara, Arp, Bellmer, Bataille (once again you know well). I also completely agree with the summary of the Evidence surréaliste (and very good title) [...]". He gives him details about the luxury edition of Arcane 17, regrets having committed to an edition of Fata Morgana. "Is it even true, as he assured me, that Picasso did etchings for Fata Morgana and what happened to this enterprise? Godet had also obtained from me the authorization to publish 'Les Etats généraux' in facsimile or in some other way, for example illustrated by Victor Brauner, and I would much rather be able to count on you to bring the project to fruition [...]". He returns to his project of editing the Ode to Charles Fourier. "This text - which I did not want to be constantly lyrical - is of capital importance to me and I strongly hope that you will like it enough so that you will not shrink from the demands of its layout - and the perhaps rather great expense that it will entail. I have commissioned Frederick Kiesler (whose admirable typographical and other layouts of Duchamp's "The Bride" I do not know if you are familiar with) to provide for the architectural aspect I wish to give to the poem [...]". Two long letters are largely devoted to the edition of La Lampe dans l'horloge. "2° I ask that a separate edition be made, in a number of copies that we will determine (50 or 100) under a color cover by Toyen illustrating the title: "La Lampe dans l'Horloge" (it is a question of introducing light into time, even by force, but the two concrete objects that are the lamp and the clock need to be represented: Toyen will "grasp" them right away) Possibly two or three other line drawings by Toyen in the text, in close connection with such passages as she and you may deem important. It seems to me that substantial royalties could be granted to Toyen and me on this print [...]".
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