Descrizione

AN OUTSTANDING, UNIQUE LITERARY SOUVENIR WITH AN ORIGINAL DRAWING BY NOBEL LAUREATE ANATOLE FRANCE. This is the large (44.5 x 59.5 cm) folding map of Rouen that France used when preparing his biography of Joan of Arc. It is encased, as issued, in a folding board cover. On the inside of the front cover France has made an annotated pencil sketch of the dungeon where Joan of Arc was imprisoned. Above the title of the map, France has penned a note about the building. On the front cover we find a paper label inscribed by collector E. Richtenberger: "Ce plan est celui dont s'est servi Anatole France, lorsqu'il visita Rouen, pendant qu'il préparait son livre sur Jeanne d'Arc. Il est enrichi d'un dessin au crayon et d'une note à l'encre. Il me le donna le 10 mai 1913." This item is discussed in the May 16, 1936 issue of the "Miroir du Monde". 12mo. Traces of wear to backstrip, but map itself in excellent condition. Housed in a custom-made leather-backed marbled slipcase (lightly worn).