Chansons de P.J. Béranger Anciennes, Nouvelles et Inédites,
Paris: Baudouin Frères, Éditeurs, 1828. Item #04866
Pierre-Jean de Béranger "The Most Popular French Songwriter of All Time"
"The First Superstar of French Popular Music"
A presentation copy inscribed by Béranger to Rangot, accompanied by a one-page autograph letter from Rangot and an original pencil sketch of Béranger by Monnier
MONNIER, Henri, illustrator. Chansons de P[ierre] J[ean de] Béranger Anciennes, Nouvelles et Inédites, avec des vignettes de Devéria et des dessins coloriées d'Henri Monnier. Suivies des Procès Intentés a l'Auteur. Paris: Baudouin Frères, Éditeurs, 1828.
First edition. A presentation copy inscribed by Béranger to Rangot, accompanied by a one-page autograph letter from Rangot (dated 21 August 1831) and an original pencil sketch of Béranger by Henri Monnier, dated 16 August 1831, pasted on the verso of the title-page.
Extra-illustrated by the insertion of eighty-six engraved plates on India paper, mounted throughout, by or after such artists as Bellangé, Boilly, Boulanger, Charlet, Devéria, Fragonard, Grandville, Grenier, Isabey, Johannot, Monnier, Scheffer, Vernet, and Delacroix.
Two octavo volumes (8 13/16 x 5 1/2 inches; 225 x 140 mm.). [iv], [1]-192, iv, preface, 193-439, 1, blank, [2], 2-7, Biographie du Citoyen Béranger; [iv], [1]-433, [1, blank], [435]-438 pp. With an original pencil sketch by Monnier pasted onto the verso of the first title-page.
Illustrated with thirty-three (of forty) superb hand-colored lithographs by Henri Monnier and numerous vignette wood-engravings by Achille Devéria. Seven plates not included: nos. 21, 26, 28, 31, 35, 37, and 39 (as noted by Carteret III, p.272, these particular plates are very often missing). These seven missing plates are highlighted below within the listing of all 40 plates.
Bound ca. 1828 by R. Hering & Muller (volume 2 stamp-signed in gilt at foot of spine) in half dark blue scored calf, spines elaborately tooled and lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, edges uncut. A wonderful and important copy.
Provenance: With two bookplates of M.A. Tessier, Architecte: his engraved ex-libris with oak wreath (vol. I, verso of front free endpaper), and the Tessier family armorial bookplate (Semper Progrediens Ever Forward) on the front pastedowns of both volumes.
**"The forty drawings by Henri Monnier, lithographed with a pen on stone and colored with a brush, are very rare complete. Seven of these lithographs are often missing, they are: The Court Dress, The Exile, The Good Old Man, The Marquise of Pretintaille, The Flight of Love, The Voyager, The two Grenadiers." (Carteret III, p. 72).
The signed presentation (translated) reads: Nothing more ridiculous for an author than to write something at the head of his works; but an admirable obstinacy obliges me here to obey. Béranger. An ironic comment on the absurdity of authors inscribing their own books.
The Autograph Letter Signed Rangot 21 Aug. 1831 (translated) reads: Dear and precious friend
the amiable, good Béranger will do all you wish, and has promised to honor me with a visit or two
I hope that the bonds of friendship will soon bring me the happiness of seeing you. Your poor, very devoted, but true friend, Rangot. Paris, 21 August 1831, Grande rue No. 81. With a postscript in Italian: A thousand thousand respects to your amiable, kind and good wife, to whom I wish a child, who in all things will resemble the father.
The signatory to the Als. Rangot, leaves open the possibility of Ragot. No individual of that exact name is recorded among Bérangers principal circle of publishers, chansonniers, or correspondents. It is therefore probable that Rangot was a minor literary or personal acquaintance acting as an intermediary, arranging introductions to the poet at a time (1831, just after the July Revolution) when Bérangers fame and political sensitivity made such mediation necessary. While one could tentatively connect the name with Louis-François Ragot (17821857), a Parisian man of letters active in minor journals of the period, this identification remains unverified in standard bibliographies (Vicaire, Escoffier, Carteret) or collections of Bérangers correspondence.
The original Pencil Sketch of Béranger, signed and captioned, dated 16 August 1831, by Henri Monnier. Reads:
Béranger, the poet, looking at the statue of Guillaume le Conquérant, by the sculptor Archereau, at the Champs-Élysées. With annotation: I made this sketch of Béranger with all the possible politeness and convenience; it was impossible for me to take his face, but from the back he gave me a good profile. I placed myself in a corner where I could see him well hidden, for a poet who deserves to be observed must be carefully preserved.
"Monnier also illustrated Béranger's Chansons, creating numerous series over time that reflect his admiration for Béranger's work. His lithographs and early watercolors, despite their small size, demonstrate his extreme finesse and simplicity. Monnier's bright, flat colors, encircled by precise pen or pencil strokes, bring his subjects to life, with values and shadows indicated by more or less dense hatching. Some watercolors from this period appear almost as pen drawings enhanced with color due to the prominence of the pen work." (Marie).
Pierre-Jean de Béranger (1780-1857) was a prolific French poet and chansonnier (songwriter), who enjoyed great popularity and influence in France during his lifetime, but faded into obscurity in the decades following his death. He has been described as "the most popular French songwriter of all time" and "the first superstar of French popular music". The Chansons were composed with fastidious care and are most notable for their clarity, wit and incisiveness, however the socialist and revolutionary content of his songs resulted in several brushes with the authorities, resulting in his nine month incarceration in La Force Prison.
The plates:
1. Le Roi d'Yvetot
2. La Bacchante
3. Le Sénateur
4. La Gaudriole
5. Roger Bontemps
6. Ma Grand'Mère
7. Ma Mère Aveugle
8. Le Petit Homme Gris
9. La Bonne Fille
10. L'Éducation des Demoiselles
11. Madame Grégoire
12. Les Gueux
13. Le Vieux Célibataire
14. Le Commencement du Voyage
15. Requête des Chiens de Qualité
16. Vieux Habits! Vieux Galons!
17. Le Nouveau Diogène
18. Le Maitre d'École
19. La Chatte
20. Bon Vin et Fillette
**21. L'Habit de Cour
22. Ce n'est plus Lisette
23. L'Hiver
24. La Bonne Vieille
25. La Vivandière
**26. L'Exilé
27. La Bouquetière et le Croque-Mort
**28. Le Bon Vieillard
29. L'Aveugle de Bagnolet
30. Les Cartes ou l'Horoscope
**31. La Marquise de Pretintaille
32. Le Tailleur et la Fée
33. Le Violon Brisé
34. Les Hirondelles
**35. La Fuite de l'Amour
36. Le Vieux Sergent
**37. Le Voyageur
38. Le Grenier
**39. Les Deux Grenadiers
40. Les Souvenirs du Peuple
Extra B&W Illustrations on India Paper, mounted (86 Total):
Opposite Pages:
13. Le Roi dYvetot Grenier (del.); Fry (sc.)
16. La Bacchante A. Deveria (del.); Cousin (sc.)
18. Le Sénateur Tony Johannot (del. & sc.)
24. La Gaudriole E. Deveria (del.); T.M. Fontaine (sc.)
27. Roger Bontemps Charlet (del.); Frilley (sc.)
40. Ma Mère Aveugle Grenier (del.); Jaquemot (sc.)
43. Le Petit Homme Gris Tony Johannot (del.); Lecomte (sc.)
45. La Bonne Fille Bellangé (del.); Dulompré (sc.)
55. Charles Sept Th. Fragonard (del.); C. Cousin (sc.)
59. Les Gueux E. Isabey (del.); Fry (sc.)
68. Le Vieux Célibataire Grenier (del.); Wedgewood (sc.)
73. Les Gaulois et Les Francs Adam (del.); Ashby (sc.)
77. Frétillon H. Bellanger (del.); T.M. Fontaine (sc.)
106. La Grande Orgie Tony Johannot (del.); Revel (sc.)
123. Le Troisième Mari E. Deveria (del.); Wedgewood (sc.)
126. Vieux Habits! Vieux Galons! Charlet (del.); Ashby (sc.)
134. Le Maitre d'École Grandville (del.); Lefèver Jne. (sc.)
136. Le Célibataire Warren (del. & sc.)
145. La Chatte Tony Johannot (del. & sc.)
150. Les Parques Tony Johannot (del.); Deshauxents (sc.)
158. Bon Vin et Fillette Alf. Johannot (del.); Blanchard (sc.)
177. Le Prisonnière et Le Chevalier Alf. Johannot (del.); Cousin (sc.)
189. Le Bedeau Alf. Johannot (del.); Pelée (sc.)
220. Le Vieux Ménétrier Charlet (del.); Frilley (sc.)
225. Le Deux Soeurs de Charité Boulanger (del.); Jaquemot (sc.)
231. Ce n'est plus Lisette Tony Johannot (del.); Blanchard (sc.)
234. Le Marquis de Carabas Charlet (del.); Blanchard (sc.)
237. L'Hiver Alf. Johannot (del. & sc.)
245. Paillasse Henri Monnier (del.); Lefèver Jne. (sc.)
248. Mon Ame A. Scheffer (del.); Touzé (sc.)
260. Mon Habit A. Scheffer (del.); Ashby (sc.)
277. La Bonne Vieille Alf. Johannot (del.); Blanchard (sc.)
279. La Vivandière E. Isabey (del.); Ashby (sc.)
285. L'Exilé Grenier (del.); Pelée (sc.)
294. Ma Nacelle Gudin (del.); Fry (sc.)
300. Le Dieu des Bonnes Gens H. Vernet (del.); Touzé (sc.)
309. Les Clefs du Paradis Decamps (del.); Mauduit (sc.)
315. Le Bon Vieillard Alf. Johannot (del.); C. Cousin (sc.)
318. Quelle est Jolie! Grenier (del.); A. Lefèver (sc.)
320. L'Aveugle de Bagnolet Alf. Johannot (del.); Cousin (sc.)
334. Le Retour dons La Patrie Vigneron (del.); Frilley (sc.)
338. Le Ventru E. Lami (del.); Lefèver Jne. (sc.)
348. Le Champ dAsile A. Johannot (del.); Dutillon (sc.)
359. Les Cartes ou l'Horoscope Boulanger (del.); Wedgewood (sc.)
366. Le Révérends Pères Tony Johannot (del.); Bein (sc.)
369. Les Enfans de La France Dupré (del.); Levasseur (sc.)
385. Les Étoiles qui Filent - Bellangé (del.); Lefèver Jne. (sc.)
391. Le Temps Boilly (del.); Fry (sc.)
*** Light water staining affecting lower margin of text and plates from pp.359-end.
415. Louis XI Delacroix (del.); Pouvoyeur (sc.)
428. LOrage Charlet (del.); Bein (sc.)
432. Le Cinq Mai Alf. Johannot (del.); Lefèver Jne. (sc.)
(51 plates)
14. La Liberté Roqueplan (del.); Frilley (sc.)
26. LOmbre dAnacréon Champion (del.); Fry (sc.)
31. La Sylphide Devéria (del.); Pelée (sc.)
37. Pigeon Messager - Devéria (del.); Lefèver Jne. (sc.)
45. Le Censeur Scheffer (del.); Frilley (sc.)
50. La Cantharide ou Le Philtre Tony Johannot (del.); Cousin (sc.)
55. Le Tailleur et la Fée Roqueplan (del.); Corbould (sc.)
62. Le Malade Tony Johannot (del.); Marckl (sc.)
66. LÉpée de Damoclès Eug. Deveria (del.); Plée (sc.)
72. Le Violon Brisé - Bellangé (del.); Girard (sc.)
75. Le Contrat de Marige Charlet (del.); Frilley (sc.)
77. Le Chant du Cosaque Tony Johannot (del.); Konig (sc.)
79. Les Hirondelles Bonnington (del.); Corbould (sc.)
91. Le Vieux Sergent Bellangé (del.); Ashby (sc.)
97. LAnge Exilé Eug. Deveria (del.); Durand (sc.)
101. Le Voyageur Tony Johannot (del.); Revel (sc.)
104. Mon Enterrement Devéria (del.); Fry (sc.)
118. Treize a Table Eug. Devéria (del.); Migneret (sc.)
120. Lafayette en Amérique Tony Johannot (del.); Frilley (sc.)
124. Psara Delacroix (del.); Pouvoyeur (sc.)
133. Le Grenier Grenier (del.); T.M. Fontaine (sc.)
135. LÉchelle de Jacob Tony Johannot (del.); Lefèver (sc.)
138. Le Chapeau de La Mariée Alf. Johannot (del.); Leroux (sc.)
151. Le Chasseur et La Laitière Alf. Johannot (del. & sc.)
161. Couplets Lemaitre (del. & sc.)
169. Les Deux Grenadiers Charlet (del.); Lefèver Jne. (sc.)
179. La Mort du Diable Decamp (del.); Durand (sc.)
185. Le Petit Homme Rouge Saint-Evre (del.); Tavernier (sc.)
188. Les Bohémienes n/a
192. Les Souvenirs du Peuple Charlet (del.); Lefèver Jne. (sc.)
197. LAnge Gardien D.C. (del.); Lefèver Jne. (del. & sc.)
206. Le Tombeau de Manuel Warren (del. & sc.)
359. Le Missionnaires n/a
361. Le Bon Dieu Charlet (del.); Fry (sc.)
366. Le Vieux Drapeau Bellangé (del.); Fry (sc.)
(35 plates).
Price: $8,500.00