Jean TARDIEU (1903-1995). 13 L.A.S., 1945-1953, to Richard Heyd in Neuchatel; 28pages in-8 or in-4, envelopes. Interesting literary and friendly correspondence with the director of Ides et Calendes. Paris, January 5, 1946. New Year's greetings for the "first year of peace in the world? [...] Let's plug our ears and, obstinately, think of the 'best' possible, even if fashion attaches the bell of burlesque to optimism". He brought Éluard a manuscript for his collection "L'Honneur des poètes" and told him of his desire "to illustrate 'our' book with a drawing by Picasso. Éluard didn't have any at the moment, so he suggested he contact the painter directly, but Tardieu didn't know him... What conditions would he propose to the illustrator? Tardieu would also like to know what conditions Heyd would offer him for Le Démon de l'irréalité, "minus the advance of 500 Swiss francs", specifying "that your reproduction rights are limited to the present half-luxury edition, and that I am otherwise free to dispose of the text". He is looking for a publisher for a children's story that could make an album. He has promised another to Gallimard, "une Table de Multiplication en 10 petites histoires rimées"... - July 5. He expresses his heartfelt thanks for the shipment of "fresh copies of Le Démon: they had at the same time the impeccable sharpness of precision pieces as they emerge from their mold of sand and cast iron - and the brilliance, the velvety quality of living beings, the care and love expressed in them". He praises the precision of the architecture, the perfection and success of this work of composition... For the press service, he wants to limit himself to "the major literary organs", whose representatives are friends of his: Bertelé for Confluences, Amrouche for L'Arche, Max-Pol Fouchet for Fontaine, Louis Parrot for Les Lettres françaises. Seghers must already have received a copy, which he dedicates to him... - November 23. He thanks Heyd for his welcome during his visit to Neuchâtel and for his advance, which enabled him to replace his sad old clothes from the Occupation with more correct, gentlemanly attire. Above all, he is delighted that Uhler [founder of Ides et Calendes] and Heyd liked the texts he brought them: he is very happy to appear, "in this beautiful, perfect and noble typographic architecture". This taste for perfection characterizes Switzerland, and he recognized in their work "that air of grandeur, of fidelity, of moral and material cleanliness that makes the 'homo helveticus' a modern success story", etc. Éluard has no Picasso drawing to offer... April 27, 1952. He sends him "my little book 'Un mot pour un autre', the second part of my 'Humorous' diptych, the first of which was 'Monsieur Monsieur'. The theater demon having taken hold of me, I have just given Sylvain Dhomme a comedy, Les Amants du métro, which will begin this week with Les Chaises (an astonishing play by Ionesco)"... - June 3. "It is rare to combine to such an extent - as you so warmly do - friendship and understanding. He's glad he liked his "humorous little books", despite the nonsense that has been said about them!... He soon returns to his "old profession of 'serious poet'" with his collection Destination inconnue, to be published by NRF, and talks about his many projects... - October 7, about a project for poems illustrated by Picasso, with Guillevic, Paul Éluard and André Frénaud, who will send their agreement. But would Picasso also have to agree? Tardieu went to Vallauris to hand-deliver to the painter "as a tribute, my poems that I had carefully 'manuscripted'". He also modified his collection Destination inconnue, removing the "Picasso poems" and Les Dieux inutiles: "you will thus have the guarantee of exclusivity of these texts". He sends La Première personne "which has just come out and which closes - on a sombre note - my yellow-green-violet 'triptych'"... June 1st 1953. "I understand very well your scruples and hesitations, concerning our book project"; he begs to be given his freedom "in the search for a publisher likely to publish my poems with Picasso's drawings", and to return the three letters of withdrawal from the poets Éluard, Guillevic and Frénaud... Etc. Enclosed is an autograph visiting card in envelope, to the same address.