BALMAIN PIERRE: (1914-1982) French fashion Designer and leader of the fashion house Balmain. A good and lengthy A.L.S., `Pierre´, two pages, folio, Cairo, 25th September, n.y., to Anna, in French. On the attractive Hotel Mena House Oberoi of Cairo printed stationery, Balmain refers to their letters reaching each other of them late `Il semble en effet que nos correspondances soient frappées de quelque interdit…´ (Translation: ''Indeed, it seems that our correspondence is subject to some ban...'') Further Balmain makes a funny comment about women on camels close to the Grande Pyramid, and continues with artistic opinions about the hotel decoration, saying `Ici, je vous écris tout en face de la grande pyramide - Il y a peu, un grand cortège de dames touristes aux appats lourds, juchées sur autant de dromadaires, a commencé à faire la large avenue qui mène à sa base - dérisoire hommage aux souveraines de cette terre des anciens âges - L´Hôtel où nous sommes est un vestige de l´occupation britannique - Certes redécoré mais encore cependant plein des fastes de ce temps là - C´est un peu ''L´Année Dernière à Marienbad'' à la mode Arabe - couloirs de marbre gris ponctués d´ogives arabes, cloisons en moucharabich et meubles incrustés d´ivoire.. rien n´y manque, - sauf le public nonchalant et follement élégant du temps des Anglais..´ (Translation: `Here I am, writing to you right in front of the great pyramid - Only short ago, a large procession of ladies, tourists, perched on as many dromedaries, began to make the way of the large avenue which leads to the base of the pyramid - a derisory homage to the sovereigns women of this land of ancient ages - The Hotel where we are is a vestige of the British occupation - Admittedly redecorated but still full of the splendour of that time - It is a bit like ''Last Year in Marienbad'' in the Arabian fashion way - grey marble hallways punctuated with Arabian warheads, moucharabich partitions and ivory-encrusted furniture. Nothing is missing - except the nonchalant and wildly elegant public of the English era…'') VG