An early manuscript of Guitry's poem "Noël dans les ruines"

Guitry, Sacha, French actor, director, screenwriter, and playwright (1885-1957). Autograph manuscript signed.

€ 2,500.00

A charming Christmas poem for his charity-gala "Noël dans les ruines" that was held on 19 December 1922 at the Théâtre des Variétés to raise funds to buy children's toys for regions devastated by the recent war. The first stanza of the poem in 62 verses reads: "Dieu sait si le plaisir de recevoir est doux... / Mais à mon humble avis, / Je ne crois pas qu'on puisse atteindre un certain âge / Sans tout à coup / S'apercevoir que dans la vie, / Le plaisir de donner c'est encore davantage !".

The poem was published in the literary journal "Comœdia" on 21 December 1922; parts are reprinted in Jacques Lorcey's 2007 biography "Guitry de A à Z". In the manuscript at hand, two stanzas are repeated and revised, one in pencil underneath Guitry's signature. However, small discrepancies with respect to the published version remain, and the direct address "Mesdames", which is absent from the publication, indicates that this manuscript was used for the gala itself. A slightly later manuscript of the poem in its published version is known on the market.

Minor creases and very lightly stained.