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French Revolution Ephemera. Autographed letter to P.-L. Ginguené

French Revolution Ephemera. Autographed letter to P.-L. Ginguené

MERCIER, Louis Sebastien An exciting document from the French Revolution era is a letter written by the French writer Louis-Sébastien Mercier (1740-1814), famous for being one of the first science-fiction authors and for his novel “L’An 2440”. The letter is addressed to Pierre-Louis Ginguené (1748-1816), also a writer and biographer of Robespierre and Rousseau. More importantly, Ginguené was a member of the "Institut National," an ideological institution established after the French Revolution, which united the French Academies and is now known as the Institut de France. The key figure in that institution was the philosopher Antoine Destutt de Tracy (1754-1836), an ideologist of republicanism, who was later dubbed by Karl Marx as a "fish-blooded bourgeois doctrinaire." In this letter, Mercier mentions De Tracy in an unpleasant way, referring to him as a “bad metaphysicist.” Additionally, the letter documents a deal between the Institut National and the author for the publication of his memoirs. The letter from the collection of Louis Deriard. The text is in French. Letter. One folio sheet, creased. 26x19,5cm. 4 pages. Blue paper, uncut. Brown ink. Brown sealing wax, removed. Few tears on the previously sealed corners. The sheet is slightly soiled. Otherwise in near fine condition regarding the age. Comes with a National Convention official folder, with a stamp from the private collection of Louis Deriard. Grey paper, handwritten in black and red ink, with private ownership blue stamp. Address: “Institut national; Mercier auteur du tableau de Paris Louis Sébastien Mercier(1740-1814) Au Citoyen Giunguené, membre de l'Institut national, Rue de Grenelle Faubourg St.Germain, No.27 près celle de Guillaume “ Letter: “Citoyen-Collègue, Je désire que cet extrait de mon mémoire intitulé. De l’acte du moi, soit imprimé purement et simplement tel que je vous l'envoye. Il y a deux ans que le malin l'évêque me fit une niche, il défigura ce que j'avais écrit; ou si en apperçut très bien en Allemagne, car c'est là que ma Muse est un peu connue. Le bon Dieu nous ménage à tout un petit coin de jouissance, soit dans un Empire, soit dans un journal; ma pauvre Muse! Elle a d'après beaux yeux pour les gens d'Allemagne, C'est pour la renommée, un Pays de Cocagne. Quant au premier mémoire, vous m'avez dit que vous seriez simplement rapporteur et c'est aussi ce que je ferai, si j'étais à votre place. Je vous certifie que je n'imagine par une plus mauvaise métaphysique que celle qui passe par la bouche de Tracy. Je suis confondu d'étonnement d'entendre de pareilles choses. L'Ecole transcendantale plane si au-dessus de l'École Empirique, que celle-ci ne me paraît plus qu’une logomachie Sorbonnique. Ne croyez pas pour cela que le nom de Kant me subjugue; j'apporte dans ces discussions l'amour sincère de la Vérité et je crois que mes adversaires la cherchent aussi de leur côté et de bonne foi. Un peu de temps mettera tout à la véritable place. Salut, fraternité. 7 Messidor [June] Mercier”
  • $1,650
  • $1,650
book (2)

Autographed letter

A shining example of the innocent colonialist perspective on ethnographic materials is found in a letter from the woman-traveler Ino A. Reynolds to an unknown English-speaking Japanese man, Mr. Takatsu from Himeji. Since I have been in this country I have seen many sacred relics which were kept with great care and in memory of Lord Buddha, whom they worship and revere. I have traveled almost from one end of this land to the other, and among the sacred things I have been shown, was a little image of Amida Buddha which is said to have been brought from India to this country many hundred years ago, and was kept secretly in some family for some hundred years. Whether it did really come from India I cannot vouch for, but it is a beautifully carved little image much superior to any thing of the kind that I have seen in this country, and if it is what it is said to be, I hope it will find a more fitting receptacle than holds it at present. To Mr. Takat[s]u Himeji Ino A. Reynolds, 11th March 1890. Himeji, an ancient city in the south of Honshu island, is renowned for its wood carving of Buddhist sculptures (butsudan). The letter was composed during a time when Buddhism waned in favor, and the government emphasized Shinto relics. In this context, the author of the letter, a foreign woman, discusses the need for a "more fitting receptacle" to captivate the addressee, possibly an aloof antiquarian dealing with religious artifacts in the area. The letter held special significance for the recipient, prompting him to bind it into a silk scroll. The text is in English. Single sheet. Letter is 27,x52,4 cm. Scroll is 32 cm when rolled. Ink on paper. Two water stains, with no damage to the text. Mount on a silver paper. Contemporary green brocade silk with golden title slip. Later handwritten title in black ink. Silk is worn. One wooden dowel is missing. Very good to near fine. May require extra shipping due to size and weight.