BARTHOLDI FREDERIC AUGUSTE: (1834-1904) French sculptor, best known for designing the Statue of ...

BARTHOLDI FREDERIC AUGUSTE: (1834-1904) French sculptor, best known for designing the Statue of Liberty (‘Liberty Enlightening the World’). A wonderful illustrated A.L.S., Bartholdi, two pages, 8vo, Paris, 6th January 1885, to [Edouard Millaud] (´Cher et excellent ami´), on Bartholdi´s red monogrammed stationery, in French. Bartholdi states ´Je vous remercie bien de tout l´interet que vous avez pris a l´affaire de Gayet; necessairement la lecture du journal n´a pas pu arreter la longueur des nez; mais M. Gayet a appris de cotes et d´autres combien vous vous etes interesse a lui et il y a ete tres sensible, je dois meme dire que cela lui a adouci considerablement ses impressions. Il viendra probablement vous en remercier car cela lui a fait grand plaisir´ (Translation: ´I thank you very much for all the interest you have taken in Gayet's case; necessarily reading the newspaper has not been able to stop the length of noses; but M. Gayet has learned from one side or another how much you are interested in him and he has been very sensitive to this, I must even say that it has softened his impressions considerably. He will probably come to thank you for it, as it gave him great pleasure´) and further remarks ´Je pense du reste que la situation n´est pas mauvaise pour lui, peut-etre au moment du depart de la statue a la fin d´avril le comite pourrait faire une nouvelle lettre. J´ai deja vu de ces nominations faites dans le courant de l´annee et les minstres sont alors moins traques qu´aux echeances fatales de juillet ou jabvier. Vous me direz votre avis quand il y aura lieu, n´est pas?´ (Translation: ´I think that the situation is not bad for him, perhaps when the statue leaves at the end of April the committee could write another letter. I have already seen these appointments made in the course of the year and the ministers are then less hounded than at the fatal expiries of July or January. You'll let me know what you think when the time comes, won't you?´). To the centre left of the first page Bartholdi has added an amusing pen and ink sketch, possibly a self-caricature, depicting a gentleman reading a newspaper, and with a long, thin nose that is so sharp it pierces the centre of the newspaper. With blank integral leaf. A letter of good association and content, not least due to its references to Gayet and the Statue of Liberty. VG

Edouard Millaud (1834-1912) French politician and lawyer who served as Minister of Public Works 1886-87.

The Statue of Liberty had been completed in 1884, however it was to remain in Paris, at the Gayet foundry, until sufficient work had been carried out in America on its pedestal. By January 1885 this had occurred and the statue was disassembled and crated for its ocean voyage. On 17th June 1885 the French steamer Isere arrived in New York with its precious cargo, although it was not until October 1886 that the Statue of Liberty was finally unveiled.