Letters, Manuscripts, and Autographs

Four to six cataloged auctions each year

Through personal correspondence, drafts, diplomas, and official documents, auctions of letters and autograph manuscripts pay tribute to the great figures of both ancient and recent history. While bibliophiles are drawn to autograph manuscripts, many enthusiasts of theater, music, or other specific fields may covet the writings of figures they admire. Collectors may also be drawn to completely anonymous documents that shed light on a historical event or fact—such as letters from soldiers of the Empire recounting one of the great Napoleonic battles or an expedition to Egypt, or even a letter from a Revolutionary detailing the storming of the Bastille in 1789. French and foreign libraries and institutions regularly acquire lots offered at these auctions, such as the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF) or foreign museums like the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn, Germany, which acquired a Beethoven score.

A Word from the Expert

“I dream of discovering an unpublished manuscript of a major work, such as the ‘120 Days of Sodom’ by the Marquis de Sade, which was acquired by the Bibliothèque nationale de France for 4.55 million euros. Sade wrote it in prison in 1785, on a scroll over 12 meters long... There are still many other writings of this significance waiting to be discovered. Collections centered on a particular figure—and comprising a diverse array of documents such as autographs, photographs, or even sketches—prove to be particularly fascinating. These mementos shed multiple lights on these figures and offer diverse perspectives; by bringing them together, this collection breathes new life into each of these archives, far more so than if they were presented individually. For example, the auction of a vast collection dedicated to Sacha Guitry—comprising manuscripts, autographs, and his love letters—totaled more than one million euros in sales, including numerous acquisitions by institutions.”