Zola, Emile. (1840-1902) French Novelist, who pushed literature towards naturalism with such masterful studies as Nana (1880) and La Bête Humaine (1890). In 1898 he espoused the cause of Dreyfus in his open letter J'accuse, and was sentenced to imprisonment (1898), but escaped to England, and was given a hero's welcome on his return after Dreyfus had been cleared. Inscribed Visiting Card Signed. 3½ x 2", on cream card stock. Written to Alfred Dreyfus, the Jewish army officer framed for a crime he didn't commit and vanquished to Devil's Island. His ire aroused, Zola wrote his celebrated "J'accuse", which eventually led to Dreyfus' re-trial and exoneration. Inscribed above and below his printed name: "My dear Dreyfous [sic], if you want me to sign your duplicate, it needs to be sent to me right away, because I will be in Paris only around the 15th Emile Zola."
With this extraordinary card, Zola makes arrangements to meet with Dreyfus in order to sign some document or manuscript binding the two together. Mounting traces on verso. Curiously, Zola misspells Dreyfus' name at the beginning of his inscription. This may suggest that the card was written early on in their relationship.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,500.
Acquired from Renato Saggiori, 6/60.
