Beschreibung:

STAËL-HOLSTEIN, Anne-Louise-Germaine, Baronne de (1766-1817). Autograph manuscript of Considérations sur la Révolution franaise , dated on the first leaf 'Clichy 24 7bre', n.y. [1814], the manuscript corresponding to Parts I and II, chapters xvi-xxv of Part III, chapters i-v of Part V and all of Part VI of the published work, (lacking chapters i-xv of Part III, all of Part IV and chapters vi-xvi of Part VI); including Madame de Staël's original chapter numberings and headings, and numerous cancellations, corrections and variants of the published text; written in ink on recto and verso in 18 gatherings ( cahiers ), on ivory laid and watermarked paper, altogether approximately 1400 pages , written on half-sheet 4to ( sizes 220 x 170mm - 280 x 225mm ), blank leaves (a few leaves cut or torn away). A list of the contents of each cahier is given below. The lot also includes: 1. A scribal copy of the manuscript of Considérations sur la Révolution franaise including numerous and substantial autograph corrections and variants, the copy corresponding to Parts I-IV and chapters vi-xvi of Part V of the published work (lacking chapters i-v of Part V and all of Part VI); written in a neat hand in the right hand portion of each leaf on recto and verso, with Madame de Staël's revisions in the left hand portion of the leaf or inserted between lines of writing; in ink on ivory paper in 13 gatherings or cahiers (including 12 in blue wrappers inscribed with chapter headings and numberings); the first 5 cahiers (corresponding to Parts I and II) sewn together, paper wrapper inscribed on upper cover '1er volume brouillon commence par Considérations sur l'histoire de France. La copie commence par Refléxions generales Mad. de St. l'emporte'; 6 cahiers (corresponding to Parts III and IV) with traces of stitching, in a folded wrapper inscribed 'Brouillon du 2nd volume dont Mad. de St. emporte la copie'; 2 cahiers (corresponding to chapters vi-xvi of Part V) inscribed 'Troisième volume, 1er cahier' and '2d cahier'; altogether approximately 1200 pages, mostly 260 x 210mm , blank leaves (some leaves worn and discoloured, stitching weak, wrappers torn). 2. Autograph notes and fragments of drafts; secretarial copies of chapters including extensive corrections in autograph, some annotated 'Pages coupées apres avoir été copiées et replaceées dans un cahier'; copies of chapters annotated by Schlegel; and notes in unidentified hands, mostly relating to Parts V and VI of the work, altogether approximately 550 pages, sizes 250 x 220mm - 280 x 220mm (some leaves torn and discoloured). 3. A collection of notes and transcripts mostly on historical subjects, including 20 pages in autograph (one dated 'le 26 8bre 1810'), the remainder copies in unidentified hands of excerpts of documents and published works cited in the text of Considérations , written in 6 cahiers , 5 on ivory and one on light blue paper, the contents listed on the upper and lower covers, altogether approximately 20 pages in autograph and 350 pages in unidentified hands, sizes 225 x 185mm - 240 x 185mm , stitched or sewn with tape in centre folds; and 20 pages in the hand of Albertine de Staël. Provenance . By descent to the present owner. Madame de Staël's Considérations sur la Révolution franaise was the culmination of a lifetime of observations on individuals and society throughout Europe. Begun while she was also engaged in writing Dix années d'exil , it remained unfinished following the stroke, in February 1817, that led to her death in July that year. In particular she had not completed her revision of the final part. Considérations was published posthumously from the latest manuscript of the work, a secretarial copy including autograph corrections which Albertine de Broglie gave to the painter Gérard, and which is now in the Bibiothèque Nationale. The autograph draft and the corrected copy offered here represent the earliest version and an interim stage of the work, which is known at pr