DERAIN ANDRE: (1880-1954) French artist, painter and sculptor, a co-founder of Fauvism with Henri Matisse. A.L.S., A Derain, one page, 8vo, Rue d´Assas, Paris, 2nd January 1943, to Henry Poulaille, in French. Derain states that he had spent New Year´s Eve in the company of Poulaille´s beautiful Christmas Bible and thanks him for their great kindness in having sent it, further remarking ´J´aimerais en parler avec vous. Si vous voulez venir à l´atelier j´y suis tous les jours de la semaine de 11 heures du matin à 7 heures du soir. Prévenez-moi et je vous attendrai´ (Translation: ´I’d like to discuss it with you. If you’d like to come to the workshop, I’m there every day of the week from 11.00 am to 7.00 pm. Just let me know and I’ll be waiting for you´). With blank integral leaf. VG

Henry Poulaille (1896-1980) French writer, a pioneer of proletarian literature. Poulaille was also a passionate collector of traditional French folklore, popular music, and cultural history, and published his highly regarded three-volume series on historical Christmas songs and literature, titled La grande et belle Bible des Noëls anciens, between 1942 and 1951.