A.L.S. Maupassant to Henry Kistemaeckers

MAUPASSANT (de), Guy (1850-1893). A.L.S., Paris, 10 rue Montchanin, s.d. [circa 1884], to Henry Kistemaeckers.
3 pages In-8.

Very fine letter in which the author sets out the contractual terms with the Belgian publisher for the Dix nouvelles (Ten short stories) he has just finished; he mentions Mademoiselle Fifi, Les Sœurs Rondoli and Desprez's book Autour d'un clocher (Around a church tower).

Maupassant replies to his correspondent, who asks him for works to be published, and makes him an offer to publish his ‘Nouvelles’, adding all the contractual conditions he wants, the selling price, and many other details. Maupassant, considered to be the father of the modern short story, said in part:
"My dear friend, You have tacitly reproached me for not giving you anything. Here is what I propose. A volume of short stories, including Ten Short Stories, to be published in December or January. I am fixing this date so that you do not put it on sale at the same time as another volume of mine. It is therefore a slightly larger volume than M.elle Fifi. You would make a nice semi-luxury edition, but not quite the same as the ordinary exploitation volumes, because I don't want to flood Paris with volumes of short stories in this format. The selling price would be 3fr.50 or four francs. You will have sole ownership of this work for 5 years, and I can deliver half the manuscript to you straight away. You will pay me 60 centimes per copy, with a first print run of 3,000 - that is, 3,300 with the usual allowances.

You will pay me, in advance, on 1 August, half of this print run. The other half when [...] goes on sale."

He goes on to explain what advance payment he expects, and for what payment he will deliver half of the works, and sets out payment schedules, stating:

"We have drawn the Rondoli Sisters at 4400 - all paid in advance. I'll show you my treatise if you like. I have not yet been able to talk about Around a Bell Tower, but I shall endeavour to do so incessantly... if this business does not suit you I shall give it to Marpon."

Henry Kistemaeckers (1851-1934) was a Belgian publisher who fled to France and began publishing works by naturalist authors such as Maupassant.
Les Sœurs Rondoli is a short story by Maupassant, published by L'Echo de Paris in 1884.

Finally, Autour d'un Clocher is an 1884 novel by Louis Marie Desprez (1861-1885), published by Kistemaeckers. Desprez was the subject of a trial and legal proceedings following its publication; his trial gave rise to numerous protests and indignation on the part of naturalists, led by Zola, who wrote an article on the case.
It also crystallised part of the 19th century debate on freedom of expression and morality. It was also Desprez's death in prison that heightened the controversy, and Zola's unforgettable line: "Those who killed this child are wretches!

Tiny tear at edge of centrefold, otherwise very fine letter in good condition.