Diverse Books and Autographs from Librairie Michel Bouvier

Librairie Michel Bouvier has issued their Catalogue 82, Livres en divers genres, quelques autographes (books in diverse subject, some autographs). Naturally, this catalogue will require an understanding of French to read. The books also will require some fluency. With that understanding, and an interest in antiquarian books as these are mostly a few centuries old, you are set to enjoy this catalogue. Here are a few selections.

This manuscript is a birthday tribute by one of France's great writers to another major figure in the world of printing, though they never met. They lived almost five centuries apart. The tribute was written by Anatole France, one of most notable writers in the land he used as his name, though his writing was universally recognized and won a Nobel Prize for literature. His fiction often expressed his own political and religious sentiments. The birthday tribute was to Johannes Gutenberg, who needs no introduction to anyone who knows the first thing about printing. It was written about 1900, as while Gutenberg's birth year is uncertain, it can be described as circa 1400. Item 64 consists of 17 leaves of a corrected proof for his 500^th birthday tribute to Gutenberg and a handwritten introductory page, along with four leaves from a separate book. Priced at 2,750 € (euros or approximately $2,984 in U.S. currency).

Next we take a look at the British colonies in America, at a time and by an author that make it particularly interesting. The author was Georges Marie Butel Dumont, a French political economist and writer who had served in French Louisiana as an officer. His book is titled Histoire et commerce des colonies anglaises, dans l’Amérique septentrionale (history and commerce of the English colonies in North America). It was published in 1755, at the beginning of the Seven Years War, or as it was known in America, the French and Indian War between Britain and France. Seven years later, the defeated French had to cede Canada to the English and Louisiana to ally Spain in return for their losing Florida. Of course, the French would get back at Britain by providing crucial aid to those English colonies in their successful war of independence against England. Pay back. Butel Dumont writes about the history, geography, government, trade and other information related to the colonies. Most notably, he argues that Britain's wealth and power were derived from its American colonies. That point would later be shared by the colonists who wanted their freedom, and by many in Britain who tried so hard to hold on to them. Item 23. 2,000 € (US $2,170).

Alexandre Auguste Ledru-Rollin was a radical politician, occasional office holder in France during the 1830-1840s (and again late in life in the 1870s). He represented working people and was a factor during the revolution of 1848. His at times softer stands gathered opposition from more radical figures and workers at the time, but he then ran into problems with Louis Napoleon, later known as Napoleon III. He led a demonstration against the government, which said he was violent. Ledru-Rollin concluded he best get out of there and went into exile in England. Later condemned to deportation in France if he returned, he spent the next 20 years in England before finally being allowed to return to France, where he stayed until he died four years later. If you think Ledru-Rollin thought kindly of English officials for allowing him to stay you are mistaken. His book is De la décadence de l’Angleterre (On the decadence of England). He writes about the proletariat in England and the misery of British workers in the factories and manufacturing plants. Item 55. 120 € (US $130).

In the midst of all the politics, battles and whatever else people engage in, occasionally you find a truly good person. Such was Claude-Humbert Piarron de Chamousett. He was a master at the French Court of Auditors which oversaw public expenditures in the 18^th century. He was also a physician and philanthropist and his good deeds were numerous. He was instrumental in the development of mutual aid societies, or in the case of medicine, the opening of public hospitals. Piarron de Chamousett ran his own hospital, and one of his reforms was to end the practice of having multiple patients sleeping in the same bed. This precedes our understanding of germs and how diseases spread. He also was placed in charge of army hospitals. Piarron de Chamousett contributed much of his own personal wealth to providing health care for the poor. As an aside, he was instrumental in developing Paris' postal system. His book is Vues d’un Citoyen (views of a citizen). Item 25. 2,300 € (US $2,494).

This is the story of a young lady who was hired as a domestic servant on August 7, 1781, but that employment didn't last long. Six days later, she was accused of poisoning eight people who lived there, one of whom died. In May 1782, she was convicted by the parliament in Rouen and condemned to be burned alive. She managed to get a delay by claiming to be pregnant. During that time, a lawyer examined the case and informed King Louis XVI of his doubts. The King gave her a reprieve and sent the trial to the parliament in Paris. It took almost five more years while she languished in prison, but the Parliament of Paris determined she was innocent and granted her freedom. She became a heroine to the public who believed in her innocence. She went on to marry and lived until 1827. The account of her story by Pierre-Noel le Cachois is entitled Mémoire pour Marie-Françoise-Victoire Salmon, fille domestique, née en 1760, originairement accusée des crimes de poison & de vol domestique ; condamnée à être brûlée vive, & à être préalablement appliquée à la question ; mais dont l’exécution à été sursise par Sa Majesté (Memoir for Marie-Françoise-Victoire Salmon, domestic daughter, born in 1760, originally accused of the crimes of poison and domestic theft; sentenced to be burned alive, and to be previously subjected to questioning; but whose execution was stayed by His Majesty...). There are also two other items related to the case, published in 1786. Item 35. 450 € (US $490)..

Michel Bouvier may be reached at +33 (0)1 46 34 64 53 or mbouvier@noos.fr. The website is www.librairiemichelbouvier.com.