MISTRAL, Frédéric. Autograph letter signed “F. Mistral”, to Valère, 4 June 1898; with printed letterhead of the Romanesque primatial basilica of Arles Saint-Trophime. Together with an undated C.V.A.S., in-16 oblong, signed with initials.

Letter: 1 page in-12 (140 × 120 mm).
Card: in-16 oblong (95 × 58 mm).

Fine set of two pieces in Provençal, offering a vivid glimpse into both Mistral’s daily literary exchanges and his militant defence of the langue d’oc.

In the first letter, Mistral sends his correspondent 50 francs, asking him to prepare copies of Provençal pieces with suitable illustrations, which he wants to be “worthy of a Provençal pencil.” He mentions never having written about Aigues-Mortes and evokes its walls of Esperache and its Egyptian-like horizon, before signing warmly.

In the accompanying card, addressed to Madame Roumaniha, Mistral discusses orthography, praises a poem she has sent, and pays homage to the true masters of the eighteenth century such as Gros and Germain, who wrote Provençal “naturally”, without affectation. He notes humorously that others may write in a fashionable “gavouznado” style, adding “As for us, we keep to our Latin.”

"bon valèr, voici lere biher de 50 fr. que me demander pèr  lou pehoun allié, fairé donc coupie li cousterne prouvencau en question e que li dessin fuson digne dou crayeon prouvencau.
J'as jamais crit aigu-morto, emmé li barri d'esperache e sil ourizon egician, vène à-ci-a questo Sto-Eitello, dou 26 de jour que se ié fare qu'entre [?], li [?] fidèn e ten-te bèn gasard,
F. Mistral
4 de juin 1898".

"ai menda vortu [?] à madame Roumaniha près l'armana. Aqui la trouvarés, ve la pouësie, i' agrado.
I'ai leissa voitis ouar, d'abord que ie' terrès. Engardo pas qu'à [?], dupièi tres quart de siècle, faièr tout ça que pondèr jeu gasta voste diclèite aquéli que lou [?] naturalemen, li veritabli mètre marihés, [?] Gros, Germain (de la Bourridu de Dieu) etc. E que vivien au siècle XVIII, ecrivien ouer ouen, oues, etc. Envahi près la qavontaiu de pertout, [?] escriéure à la gavovato, es votre afaire... Nantri gardau li son latin. Courdelement
F. M.
-Cela éu [?] bouen, noueste, conelo, etc."

Right margin of the letter with small fraying; card perfectly legible.