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Steven Barclay Collection
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Adrienne Monnier (1892-1955) opened her bookshop, La Maison des Amis des Livres, at 7 rue de l'Odéon on the Left Bank, in 1915 at the age of 23. It soon became a meeting place for some of the most eminent French and foreign writers of the day and their admirers, a venue for readings and exhibitions, a lending library, and a center for avant-garde literature. In 1917, the American Sylvia Beach came to Paris and met Adrienne Monnier, who was to become her lifelong companion. She in turn opened Shakespeare and Company, a bookshop and lending-library specialising in Anglo-American literature, directly across the street. The two shops on the rue de l'Odéon thus became a central feature of the Parisian scene of the 1920s. It was Sylvia Beach who was responsible for what is arguably one of the great literary events of the 20th century, when she published the first edition of James Joyce's Ulysses under the imprint of Shakespeare and Company in 1922.
A collection containing original manuscripts, letters, documents, photographs, association copies of books, and other printed materials, chiefly by or pertaining to Adrienne Monnier (1892-1955) and Sylvia Beach (1887-1962), and their respective bookshops in Paris (La Maison des Amis des Livres and Shakespeare & Company). Included are Adrienne Monnier's schoolgirl poetry notebook (1904); a Colette (1873-1954) manuscript titled "Couleurs" (ca. 1925), with a note from Canadian author Mavis Gallant about it; several photographs of Monnier in her bookstore by Gisèle Freund; letters by Janet Flanner, Alphonse Lamartine, Robert de Montesquiou-Fezesac, and Jean Paulhan; and two small notebooks in Monnier's hand.
Among the printed material are a 1924 copy of James Joyce's "Ulysses" inscribed by original owner B. J. Kinne, with his receipt from Shakespeare & Company; a complete run (12 issues, 1925-1926) of Monnier's Paris journal "Le Navire d'Argent"; a complete run (10 issues, nos. 1-10 and "A Propos de "L'Antisémitisme," 1938-1940) of Monnier's "La Gazette des Amis des Livres" in original pink wrappers; a copy of Monnier's "Les Vertus" (1926), inscribed to French essayist and literary critic Albert Thibaudet; copies of Monnier's "La Figure" (1923), inscribed to Georges Ribière-Carey and French editor A. Gavy-Bélédin; a set of six lectures given at Monnier's shop and published as "Les Cahiers des Amis des Livres" (1920), in a specially-made enclosure; a copy of "Our Exagmination Round His Factification foro Incamination of Work in Progress" (1929) by Samuel Beckett, William Carlos Williams, and others, inscribed by Monnier (1946); and one of 70 copies of Monnier's essay about the founding of her bookstore, "La Maison des Amis des Livres" (1920), inscribed to "Madame Lion."
Organized into two series: original and printed, each alphabetically arranged by author name.
Gift of Steven Barclay in September 2014.
This collection was processed by John Delaney in September 2014. Finding aid written by John Delaney in September 2014.
No materials were separated during 2014 processing.
People
Organization
Subject
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- John Delaney
- Finding Aid Date
- Published on September 30, 2014.
- Access Restrictions
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Collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
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Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.
Collection Inventory
Miscellaneous original materials.
Arranged alphabetically by author.
Physical Description1 box
Typed letter signed, addressed to "Ma chere amie" (Adrienne Monnier)
Physical Description1 folder
"Couleurs": holographic manuscript by Colette, Paris, undated (circa 1925), 7 pp. An essay on topic of "colors," on which one can clearly see her working method of crossing out and revising. Included is a typed version in French and a reprinted English version from the essay having appeared in the Canadian literary journal Brick.
Physical Description1 folder
Autograph letter signed, reagarding Russian-American novelist Vladimir Nabokov.
Physical Description1 folder
Photographs by Freund (and one other) of Adrienne Monnier in her bookstore.
Physical Description1 folder
A two-postcard note (2008) from Canadian writer Gallant (1922-2014) to Steven Barclay in which she writes about Colette's essay, and another handwritten card (2000) to Barclay.
Physical Description1 folder
Autograph letter signed, addressed to "Ma cher Cecile," with typed transcription.
Physical Description1 folder
Two small photogaphic images of McAlmon taken by Sylvia Beach.
Physical Description1 folder
1 box
Created when Monnier was 12 years old. 46 pages filled with her tight script. Appears to be copied poems, some possibly original work and quotations. Also included is a translation of Walt Whitman (implying she favored him from a very young age). Laid in sheet, in Monnier's hand, completely filled with translations of Whitman. Blank calendar sheets laid in at rear. Half-bound, burgundy cloth spine and tips, marbled boards and end-pages.
Physical Description1 folder
Original paperbound notebook in Monnier's hand, with her notes and typed sheet with text "Essais sur Henri Micahux."
Physical Description1 folder
Original paperbound notebook in Monnier's hand, with her notes for essay on Leon-Paul Fargue.
Physical Description1 folder
Two unattributed photographs of Adrienne Monnier with others.
Physical Description1 folder
Autograph letter signed, addressed to "Cher Amie."
Physical Description1 folder
Signed typed note, addressed to "Mon cher ami" (Monnier).
Physical Description1 folder
Miscellaneous printed or published items.
Arranged alphabetically by author or subject.
Physical Description5 boxes
Beckett, Samuel, [Joyce, James], and others. Our Examination Round His Factification for Incamination of Work In Progress: With letters of protest by G.V.L. Slingsby and Vladimir Dixon. Paris: Shakespeare and Company, 1929. First Edition/limited Edition/association copy. 8vo. 194 pp. In origianl wrapper. Numbered limited edition, this being 53 of 96. Contributors include Samuel Beckett, Marcel Brion, Frank Budgen, Stuart Gilbert, Eugene Jolas, Victor Llona, Robert McAlmon, Thomas McGreevy, Elliot Paul, John Rodker, Robert Sage, and William Carlos Williams. N. B. Beckett's contribution is his first appearance in print. This tribute to James Joyce contains various brief quotations from Work In Progress (including text which was ended up not being included in Finnegans Wake). The "Letters of Protest" are reputed to have been written by Joyce himself. This copy has been inscribed by Sylvia Beach to Richard Wright:"To Dick with love too from his friend Sylvia. Easter 1946. Paris". Richard Wright had moved to Paris early in the year and would live there as an ex-pat writer until his death in 1960. He spent much of his time hanging around Shakespeare and Company (he lived around the corner), and in the process became a very close literary friend of Sylvia Beach, who was often known to lend him books. To her sister, Holly, she wrote of him: "Of all the writers I have known he is the most unselfish and thoughtful. In fact, none of the others-the so-called white ones-were interested in anyone but themselves. Fellas like Hemingway appear uncouth beside Dick Wright." There is (at Princeton) a photograph of Richard Wright inscribed to Sylvia Beach from Wright ("with love from Dick") within days of the inscription of this book.
Physical Description1 folder
Paris: Editions du Sagittaire, 1936. 1st. edition, a review copy, with warm presentation inscription to Adrienne Monnier by author; publicity flyer laid in. In original printed wraps. Author's first book. Inserted sheets / publicity. Bookplate on inside cover of "Jean Vuaillat."
Physical Description1 folder
Offprint from Histoires littérairesno. 6.
Physical Description1 folder
A copy of the first edition (4th printing) of James Joyce's Ulysses inscribed by original owner B. J. Kinne, with his receipt from Shakespeare & Company. This edition was sold by Sylvia Beach at Shakespeare & Co. in 1924 with original receipt to Mr. B.I. Kimme. Receipt on S & Co. letterhead in Beach's handwriting, also with a S & Co. flier enclosed about the shop and its charges. Inside book an illustration of Joyce (by "Cesare"?) and note of owner of the book remarking that he met Joyce at George Antheil's first performance of "Ballet Mecanique" at the Theatre des Champs Elysees in Paris. Book in protective box especially made for it as this edition is in very fragile condition.
Physical Description1 box
Includes two copies of an invitation announcing Marie Monnier "Broderies" exhibit 1935 (1 with insert invite card; the admission card designated for André Gide for a April 11 Paul Valery event with Leon-Paul Fargue; two copies of the exhibit guide of 1926-27 Paul-Emile Becat Painting exhibit at LMDADL; exhibit guide and personal invitation ticket to the E-M Burgun exhibit at LMDADL; eExhibit guide to the C. F. Winzer exhibit at LMDADL; aAnnouncement card for the Camille Bryen exhibit at LMDADL 1953; LMDADL blank note letterhead; announcement for subscription to Le Navire d'Argent; 1926 LMDADL guide with Andre Gide essay of "Le Peintre Cornilleau"; and 1920 Membership appeal with S & Co ad on verso
Physical Description1 folder
4 boxes
Paris: La Maison des Amis des Livres. First Edition. Glassine dust jacket on original wrappers. 8vo. 247 pp. Illus. B/w plate. Laid in related ephemera.
Physical Description1 folder
Paris: La Maison des Amis des Livres. First edition. Glassine dust jacket, cream paper wraps, black ink lettering. 8vo. np. Limited numbered edition, this being 254 of 357. Inscribed by Monnier at the half-title, "A Georges Ribièere Carey sincere hommage Adrienne Monnier Avirl 1923."
Physical Description1 folder
Paris: La Maison des Amis des Livres. First edition. Glassine dust jacket, cream paper wraps, black ink lettering. 8vo. np. Limited numbered edition, this being 187 of a total of 357. Inscribed by Monnier to Albert Gavy-Bélédin, editor of the Phare de la Loire, in 1927.
Physical Description1 folder
A set of six lectures given at Monnier's shop and published as "Les Cahiers des Amis des Livres," in a specially-made enclosure. It contains (1) Paul Claudel: "Introduction a Quelques Oeuvres"; (2)Georges Duhamel: "Guerre et Litterature"; (3) Francis Thompson: "Une Antienne de la Terre";(4) Luc Durtain: "Georges Duhamel" with reprinted portrait of Duhamel by Paul-Émile Bécat;(5) Paul Valery: "Albums de Vers Anciens 1890-1900";(6) Valery Larbaud:"Samuel Butler." All editions are numbered, as these were a limited edition printed by Darantiere in Dijon.
Physical Description1 folder
Paris: A. Monnier. A complete run (10 issues, nos. 1-10 and "A Propos de "L'Antisemitisme") of Monnier's bookstore's journal in original pink wrappers. Much by A. Monnier with numerous contributors. This work followed her renowned Le Navire d'Argent, Monnier's reflections, thoughts, and reactions to contemporary authors, [then] new publications, etc.
Physical Description1 folder
Paris: René Julliard,30, Rue de l'Université. Glassine dust jacket over wrappers, 318 pp. Signed copy by Monnier to "Jean Mauduit en sincere homage."
Physical Description1 folder
Dijon: L'Imprimerie Darantiere. Glassine dust jacket over paper wrappers. Limited edited of 70 copies, signed by Adrienne Monnier for "Madame Lion." A brief essay (23 pp.) on the founding and creation of the Monnier bookstore.
Physical Description1 folder
Numero 1109. Tribute edition of pieces by large number of writers, paying homage to Adrienne Monnie,published the year following Monnier's death.
Physical Description1 folder
A complete run (12 issues) of Monnier's journal "Le Navire d'Argent" Revue mensuelle de littérature et de culture générale, with the original prospectus laid in. Paris: La Maison des Amis des Livres. Glassine dust jackets over wrappers. bright and clean. 8vo. Various paginations. Limited numbered edition, these being 15 of 120. Ten years after opening her bookshop, Monnier launched this monthly review. The content was to reflect the universality of literary life in Paris ("Capitale du Continent" as Valéry Larbaud writes in the opening piece of the first number), and a large part of each number is given over to foreign literature, with an emphasis on English and American. Each number begins with a selection of unpublished material by contemporary writers. Among the foreign writers are the first appearances in France of work by Hemingway, William Carlos Williams, Cummings, Eliot, Gomez de la Serna, Groethuysen, D. H. Lawrence, Alfonso Reyes and Rilke. Joyce contributes an extract from From Work in Progress, and two special numbers are devoted to William Blake and Italo Svevo respectively. Among the French writers published here are pieces by Cendrars, Chamson, Claudel, Delteil, Giraudoux, Supervielle, and many others. Saint-Exupéry appears in print for the first time with his short story "L'Aviateur."
Physical Description1 box
Paris: Editions Albin Michel. Glassine dust jacket over wrappers. 286 pp.
Physical Description1 folder
Paris: Mercure de France. Wrappers, 107 pp. Subtitle: Petites Suite Anglaises avec une letter de Michel Leiris.
Physical Description1 folder
89 pp. Glassine dust jacket over wrappers. Published in limited edition five years after Monnier's death, and meant as a memorial keepsake for her friends, the volume gathers materials from her personal diaries from three distinct periods of her life. One copy bears the name of Roger Haour; the other is blank.
Physical Description2 folders
Paris, 1926. In glassine dust jacket. From a total issue of 75 copies, this is one of 60 numbered copies printed on Verge d' Arches. Author's presentation inscription on the half-title, "A Baladine Klossowska hommage bien amical Adrienne Monnier Juin 1926." The recipient was a painter of considerable renown, the mother of the artist Balthus and Rilke's last lover.
Physical Description1 folder
Paris, 1926. In glassine dust jacket. From a total issue of 75 copies, this is one of 60 numbered copies printed on Verge d' Arches. Signed and inscribed by Monnier to renowned French literary critic Albert Thibaudet. Laid in is postcard of Monnier in her shop with note on the back.
Physical Description1 folder
1 box
Includes price list of the items.
Physical Description1 folder
Group of miscellaneous promotional pieces printed by Shakespeare and Company, including an announcement of en exhibition of Walt Whitman, from 20 April through 20 June 1920; lending library announcement card; 1935 catalogue of sale items (Joyce, Whitman, Blake); and a Friends of Shakespeare & Co. booklet appealing for support, 1936-1937. .
Physical Description1 folder
1 box
Paris: La Maison des Amis des Livres. Glassine dust jacket over wrappers, 76 pp., with cover illustration by Marie Monnier. Limited edition, numbered 187. Inscribed/signed copy by Monnier to Marie Canavaggia (1896-1976), translator and collaborator of Celine for some 35 years. Inserted letterhead sheet of paper folded and unused. "J. M. Sollier" was the pen name that Monnier used to write these short pieces.
Physical Description1 folder
Paris: NRF. Glassine dust jacket over wrappers, 16 pp. Includes bookplate of Docteur Lucien Graux. Notation re: Monnier at inside of jaceket.
Physical Description1 folder