Description

Amusing signed autograph correspondence to Juliette and François-Léopold Marcou, close friends of the architect during their studies at the École Normale Supérieure.

The set consists of 8 autograph letters signed Ch. Garnier, Charles or Carlos, and was written in the 1870s during the construction of the Nouvel Opéra. The very free and humorous tone shows great complicity with the Marcou couple and a more particular intimacy, bordering on seduction, with Juliette, to whom 4 letters are directly addressed.

7 letters are written on the letterhead of the Ministère des Travaux Publics - Agence des Travaux du Nouvel OPÉRA - Office of the architect : lne of them is an amusing visit to the New Opera House:

2 pages in-8, 135 x 200 mm, headed paper of the Ministère des Travaux Publics - Agence des Travaux du Nouvel OPÉRA - Architect's Officeblack ink.

[print:]
Ministerial order
The public is warned that in the interests of the urgent work currently being carried out at the new Opera House, all visits to the site are and will remain strictly forbidden.
Under no circumstances may exceptions be made to this measure, which is essential to the rapid progress of operations, and any request for a visit must therefore be considered null and void.
[autograph:]
just don't tell your friends that you have a permit.
You can see, my dear friend, that what you are asking for in the attached circular is impossible. That is why I am granting it to you. Here is
your Charles
Kisses to Juliette, who I'd like to see before she leaves, maybe tomorrow Tuesday or Wednesday.

2 pages in-8135 x 200 mm, Ministère des Travaux Publics - Agence des Travaux du Nouvel OPÉRA - Office of the architectblack ink.

My dear Juliette
-I wanted to write you a long letter of thanks, but I was writing a poem about my sweet tooth.
-I wanted to write you an epistle in verse, but I was afraid they would make some awful puns about the sending and the kind of thanks.
-I wanted to go and see you, but you're always out and all I meet is your doorman.
-I wanted to do nothing at all, but I was afraid that you would find me quite indifferent.
-I wanted to sell you the price of your shipment by the weight of gold, but I'm afraid that you'll find this too scurrilous a method.
-I had so many things in mind, but lunch is served and I'm going to go and think about you for dessert.
-So I'm leaving you without doing anything I wanted to do, and I'll just say thank you and give you a big hug. Long live Juliette
Carlos.

One page in-8135 x 200 mm, headed by Ministère des Travaux Publics - Agence des Travaux du Nouvel OPÉRA - Architect's Officeblack ink :

My sweet Juliette,
We're counting on you both for this evening, Tuesday,
Opéra comique, 1st Loge n°31
(the dressing room from the other night)
1st performance, KoboltBallet in 1 act
le fille du Régiment, beginning of a tenoir
The Marseillaise, the Rhine and all the rest
it's agreed say yes or I'll never kiss you again
Charles.

One page in-8135 x 200 mm, headed by Ministère des Travaux Publics - Agence des Travaux du Nouvel OPÉRA - Architect's Officeblack ink

My dear Juliette
Can you, or rather would you like to come with us tonight to the opera concert. It will certainly be interesting. We have the box on the ground floor opposite Perrin. Try to say Yes (I'd be angry with you if you didn't) and come and pick us up between 8 and 8.10 am.
High dress and bare head.
Carlos.

One page in-12105 x 132 mm, black ink, [1870]

My sweet Juliette,
We're counting on you both for this evening, Tuesday,
Opéra comique, 1st Loge n°31
(the dressing room from the other night)
1st performance, Kobolt, Ballet in 1 act
le fille du Régiment, beginning of a tenoir
The Marseillaise, the Rhine and all the rest
it's agreed say yes or I'll never kiss you again
Charles.

3 pages in-8135 x 200 mm, headed by Ministère des Travaux Publics - Agence des Travaux du Nouvel OPÉRA - Architect's Officeblack ink :

Dear lady,
I'm the one who's come, all fishing and all happiness, to ask you for more than a favour, it's an indulgence on your part, a proof of friendship.
Here's the thing:
At the end of this week, we're due to have an intimate dinner, with Arthur and M Bary as the centrepiece and Madame and Monsieur Marcou as the pearl and jewel [...].
Everything was going well, we thought, the Marcou's are exact people. Four days before the feast will be enough to [...] prepare the pipe and comb the beautiful blond hair. But Patatras!!! Mr Bary is rushing off to Menton, and we've got to hurry up and put the leg of lamb on a spit and hurry up the guests. Hooray for the Marcous, hooray for the two husbands, the two charming guests.
The invitation came late, but to the last good ones:
Mr and Mrs Garnier have the honour to pray 
Mr and Mrs Marcou to do them the honour of coming to dine at their home
Mardi Gras tomorrow at 6.1/2am sharp.
We demand an appropriate and favourable response.
Time is short and you're in too much of a hurry to say no.
See you tomorrow, your devoted friend
Ch. Garnier.

4 pages in-8135 x 200 mm, headed by Ministère des Travaux Publics - Agence des Travaux du Nouvel OPÉRA - Architect's Officeblack ink.

My dear Léopold
there are tiles in the street, I get one and I'm forced to be polite to you, don't worry about the rest, I'll make it as small as possible. […]
Here's the menu:
The male and female Joanes are coming to dinner tomorrow evening.
Sunday 6 ½. […]
It's not that we enjoy having you here, but it'll be a distraction. […] and I'd rather have you all together than separately, it'll cost me less.  […]
So, tomorrow 6 1/2. Come in your shirt, there's only one dish, that's enough for you. […]
I'm kissing Juliette all the same, because it's not her fault that her husband is this elusive love. […] Ah, you make a bloody Romeo, but I like them like that.
Charles

4 pages in-8135 x 200 mm, headed by Ministère des Travaux Publics - Agence des Travaux du Nouvel OPÉRA - Architect's Officeblack ink.

Dear Isidor [Leopold's nickname]
Lucien wants me to write to you, I'd like to too but I'm so bored I don't have the courage.
[diagonally across the page to take up more space].
I'd prefer a little note to your wife to tell her that she's much nicer than you are and that between a kiss from her or a kiss from you. I won't hesitate. Having said that, and finding a way to fill some fairly common pages, I wish you good health.
Charles

BEAUTIFUL TOGETHER.