Carbon copy of the publishing contract for Voyage au bout de la nuit, from the author’s archives.
[1932-1936]
2 typewritten documents in-folio (280 x 225 mm) on linen paper, 3 ff. and 2 ff.
A carbon copy of the publishing contract for Voyage au bout de la nuit (June 30, 1932) and its amendment (February 28, 1936), from the Céline archives.
The form of this contract differs from the definitive version signed by Céline and Denoël on June 30, 1932.
This carbon copy and the definitive version do not have the same font, having obviously not been typed on the same model of typewriter.
Their numbering is also different, indicating that this carbon copy predates the definitive contract: this copy is numbered CA27710 and the rider CN78846, against CA 27711 and CN78847 for the definitive.
The only textual discrepancy between the two versions of the contract is the address of Denoël and Steel, incorrectly given as 7, rue Amélie in the carbon copy instead of 19, rue Amélie in the definitive. A typo that needs to be corrected.
Concerning the dating of this carbon copy of the contract (1932) and its rider (1936), we note a difference in contrast in the ink of the two documents, indicating that they were not typed in a single draft, and were therefore probably typed in 1932 and 1936 respectively, then reunited at a later date.
An unpublished Celinian relic for one of the greatest novels of the 20th century.
“In 1931, Doctor Destouches, a temporary employee at the Clichy municipal dispensary, had Voyage au bout de la nuit typed out, choosing his mother's and grandmother's first names as his pseudonym. After having his manuscript rejected by the publishers Bossard and Figuière (who re-launched it in June 1933), and uncertain of a response from Editions Gallimard, Céline signed a contract with Editions Denoël et Steele on June 30, 1932.”
The contract gives full details of proof corrections, the first print run on large paper, royalties, press service, the right to publish a subsequent deluxe edition, reproduction and adaptation rights, reprint conditions, the case of poor sales, and so on.
Pierre-Edmond Robert. Céline & les Editions Denoël 1932-1948. IMEC éditions, 1991. p.23, final contract reproduced pp. 25-28, rider pp. 79-80.
3 500€
In stock
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