Manuscripts from Simon Beattie and Justin Croft

Item 7 is an odd musical work which combines a traditional folk dance with modern technology. The title is Âllo Âllo? Mazurka des Telefonistes. This can be translated to “Hello Hello? Mazurka of the Telephones.” The mazurka is a Polish folk dance, and the telephone, at the time this score was written (circa 1900), a modern technological wonder. It inspired A. Caro to write this piece of music for piano. Apparently, the song was never published, though a number of other pieces for piano by Caro were. Perhaps this song should be played on one of those phones with a keyboard that can play notes. £200 (US $315).

Item 1 offers a collection of somewhat more serious songs from mid-18^th century France. These are “airs à boire,” or drinking songs. There are 18 of them, including 17 duets, 13 of which are for female voices. The cataloguer notes that these odes to wine “should not be confused with the bawdy drinking songs popular among tavern-goers across the English channel.” While “playful,” and “sometimes even suggestive,” it is pointed out that “they were happily performed with decorum by both sexes.” That's why the French aren't the English. £2,000 (US $3,153).

Item 6 is a collection of notes and drawings that will be of interest to collectors of the American military. They come from France. In 1881, a French mission came to America as part of the 100^th anniversary of the Battle of Yorktown, when American revolutionaries, aided by French allies, defeated the British and essentially won the war for independence for America. The mission was headed by French General Georges Boulanger. Among those who accompanied him was Lieutenant Colonel Blondel of the artillery. Boulanger returned to France after the celebrations, but Blondel stayed on, where he was given a tour of various facilities and other locations of military interest, including West Point, arsenals at Springfield and Frankfort, firearms manufacturers at Bridgeport and New Haven. Blondel kept copious notes, as well as adding drawings of items such as firearms. The openness of the Americans with their French counterpart is somewhat surprising, but this was a period of excellent relations (the Statue of Liberty was gifted just five years later). The manuscripts were evidently given to Gen. Boulanger on Blondel's return as it was part of his personal collection. Gen. Boulanger went on to be the major political figure in late 1880s France, a monarchist many feared would seize control of the republic. He developed a large following, but his opponents would have him accused of treason. Boulanger fled to Brussels where he committed suicide in 1891. £8,000 (US $12,622).

Item 41 concerns a lady who could be described as either a very pious woman or a crazy woman. It is a plea from an anonymous gentleman for veneration, perhaps even canonization, for Anne Chereau Parance, made in 1678. It contains a biography of Mme Parance and a few quotations from her, as the writer could best recall. Apparently, she was pushed, though gently, into marriage, and though she loved and respected her husband, and bore him two children, this was not the spiritual life she envisioned. So, Mme Parance decided to become... well, not a virgin, but chaste. We are unsure how M. Parance reacted to this. She also engaged in mortification, a process of inflicting pain on oneself that somehow slays our sins and makes us more holy. She possessed a cilice, a barbed chain to be worn against the skin, and had various other metal devices. She was into early heavy metal, so to speak. When these were not available, she employed thistles. Though these may make you a better person, we still do not recommend trying them at home. Despite these pleas made to a local religious group, it does not appear that Anne ever received much recognition for her efforts as she appears to be otherwise forgotten. £2000 (US $3,153).

Simon Beattie may be reached at +44 (0) 1494 784954 or simon@simonbeattie.co.uk. The website is www.simonbeattie.co.uk.