CURIOSITY
At the Drouot Hotel.

Yesterday, Me Lair-Dubreuil sold letters and manuscripts of famous people; these loose sheets, sometimes intimate, which are released to public curiosity, are highly sought after by collectors.

We noted in passing six letters from Sophie Arnould to Madame de la Grange, dated the year VIII, which were paid 1,200 francs;

a piece of music autographed by Léo Delibes (fragment of the 3rd act of Lakmé), purchased for 120 francs;

a piece of music also acquired, for 500 francs, an authorization from Daumier to publish his charge, of witty irony, in Le Grelot;

a fragment of a barcarolle, (two lines) by Gabriel Fauré, was sold for 120 francs, again to Mr. Sacha Guitry;

twenty-one letters from Flaubert, written to Troubat, 1867-1879, speaking of the health of Sainte-Beuve, 1,600 francs;

an autograph receipt from La Fontaine made 1,260 francs;

a letter from Lamartine to Victor Hugo, 1,000 francs;

a letter from Madame de Maintenon to Abbé Daubigné, 500 Trancs;

a letter from Rachel to her mother, 125 fr.

to a poem, autographed piece of verse, by Alfred de Vigny, 805 francs.

Mr. Desvouges obtained some good bids yesterday in room 6. Let us indicate the one placed on a panel from the Flemish School 15th century, which made 6,605 francs; another attributed to a secretary, Empire period, 9,600 francs and a third given for an 18th century Aubusson tapestry, representing a Hunting, paid 15,200 francs.

Me Henri Baudoin, also yesterday, auctioned off at high prices, notably, a sofa and six armchairs in Aubusson tapestry with animal designs, Louis XVI period, for which we gave 35,500 francs and an Aubusson tapestry from the period of Louis XV; the Game of Colin-Maillard, paid 14,100 francs. H.R.