ROUGET de L'ISLE (Joseph). Essays in verse and prose. Paris, - Lot 317

ROUGET de L'ISLE (Joseph). Essays in verse and prose. Paris, de l'Imprimerie de P. Didot l'aîné, an V de la République, 1796. In-8° of 157 pp. followed by 5 pp. of music engraved by Richomme: Chant de l'Hymne à l'Espérance and Adélaïde. Engraved frontispiece and an engraved plate after Le Barbier avant la lettre, hors-texte. Green half-chagrin with corners, spine with 5 faux-nerfs, gilt title, gilt year at foot (20th c. binding). One of the very few copies of this original edition, featuring La Marseillaise in its original state: it includes six verses, as written by Captain ROUGET de L'ISLE for the Army of the Rhine in April 1792. The copy is enriched with two letters: An autograph letter signed by ROUGET de L'ISLE, Paris, February 28, 1807 to auctioneers. 1 p. in-8°. Concerning the sale of a chandelier "which is on deposit for the sum of eight thousand francs but which is worth much more; I would ask you to have it withdrawn by advancing me in addition the sum of twelve thousand francs: I will be obliged to you to recommend the friend who will take charge of it, to look after the sale in my best interests; finding good everything that will be done in this respect. Assuming there is a difference, I will hold you to account at your first requisition." An autograph letter signed by the poet Pierre-Jean de BERANGER (1780-1857), Tours, November 10, 1838, to M. PIARD, museum curator in Lons-le-Saunier. 2 pp. in-8°. About the subscription launched for the erection of the statue of ROUGET de L'ISLE. After his compliments on the work of the Société d'Emulation du Jura, in particular on the notice devoted to the author of the Marseillaise, he "wishes, Sir, that the project conceived by the authorities of your dep[artement] for the erection of a monument to Rouget de Lisle be carried out. It would be a pleasure for me to be able to take part [...] I don't think that the people of the Jura want to exclude the French of other départements from the honors to be paid to the man whose voice led our heroes to the conquest of freedom; in this case, I might have some right to obtain a preferential admission, and I will ask for it". On February 12, 1839, BERANGER sent 20 francs. The copy is also enriched with facsimiles and portrait card of the author, excerpts from sales catalogs, etc. Staining to upper corner, but no damage to text.