Hugo Victor



Victor Hugo ALS to a Possible Romantic Interest "day or night…to see a beautiful thing"  

1p ALS in French inscribed and signed by French novelist Victor Hugo (1802-1885) as "Victor H" at lower right. The letter, written on cream watermarked stationery paper, is displayed to the left of Hugo's portrait, after an original photograph by Etienne Carjat. Both letter and image are matted and framed behind glass in a gilt-finished frame. With expected light paper folds and overall toning. Minor bleed-through from the other side, possibly philatelic markings. Minor surface wear to frame. Sight size of letter: 4.5" x 7". Actual size of frame: 15.125" x 13" x .75". Not examined out of frame.  

In this note partially dated "14 February," Hugo conveys his regrets that he cannot meet a friend: "Milles regrets je ne pas vous rencontrer je viens à [illegible] lundi." [Trans: A thousand regrets I cannot meet you I go to [illegible] Monday.] Instead, Hugo proposes meeting in the friend's atelier "d'une nuit ou jour pour voir une belle chose" [Trans: day or night to see a beautiful thing.] Hugo was on very cordial terms with the unknown correspondent, signing the letter "Votre ami Victor H." [Trans: Your friend Victor H.]  

Victor Hugo's appreciation of beauty was consistent with his Romantic sensibilities. One of the movement's most famous practitioners, Hugo indelibly influenced the nineteenth-century French literary, artistic, and political scene. In addition to publishing major novels such as the Hunchback of Notre Dame (1831) and Les Misérables (1834), Hugo also produced poetry and drawings. The republican novelist retreated to the Channel island of Guernsey where he lived in exile for fifteen years to protest Napoleon III’s regime. Hugo was tremendously popular during his lifetime. His remains are interred in the Panthéon in Paris.  


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