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Letter from Alfred Jarry, [Le Grands-Lemps], to Alfred Vallette, February 29, 1904 : autograph manuscript signed.

Accession number
PML 198742.3
Creator
Jarry, Alfred, 1873-1907.
Published
Le Grands-Lemps, Isère, France, 1904 February 29.
Credit line
Purchased on the Gordon N. Ray Fund, 2021.
Notes
Written on blue paper, addressed to Vallette at the Mercure de France, postmarked 29 February 1904 in La Côte-Saint-André, Isère.
Transcribed in Oeuvres Complètes (Gallimard), vol. III, pp. 581-582.
Description
1 item (1 page) ; 18 x 11 cm
Provenance
Tipped into a copy of Ubu roi (Paris: Mercure de France, 1897), formerly owned by Paul Eluard, later in the Collection Geneviève & Jean-Paul Kahn, acquired at their sale at Pierre Bergé, 18.vi.21, lot 9.
Summary
Addressing Vallette as "Monsieuye," Jarry refers to the old clock in the Saint-Jean cathedral in Lyon (depicted on a postcard accompanying the item). He explains it is bitterly cold, and that he bought an expensive fur cap in Grenoble, fitted with canine ears. Referring to Pantagruel, he writes that he finished the last scene and that Claude Terrasse is very busy with the music. He has sent some money to Hilaire, though that was long ago. Soon, loaded with new "phynances," he will begin to acquire pain de chènevis (used as bait) and hopes to find a place to fish. The notable locals ("grand-lempsiquois") are speaking with Mr. Ubu's pure accent, embellished with the heroic cry of Mr. Dunou. Writing that he has founded two enemy schools with these peaceful billiard players, called Conflabo and Riflacul, asking Vallette to send him the latest issue of the Mercure and mentioning a seminar Terrasse has organized in La Côte-Saint-André.
Classification
Department