Description:

Bartholdi Frederic 1834 - 1904
Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi 4pp about Statue of Liberty souvenirs: "You have the copyright papers of my statue, it would perhaps be useful for me to have them"

Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi 4pp about Statue of Liberty souvenirs: "You have the copyright papers of my statue, it would perhaps be useful for me to have them"

4pp bifold ALS inscribed in French and signed Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi as "Your most devoted friend, F. Bartholdi" on bottom of fourth page. Cream stationery with stylized red monogram on top of first page. June 16, 1883 letter addressed from Paris to unknown correspondent, but most likely to one of the sculptor's legal or business advisors. In fine to very fine condition, with expected paper folds and diagonal creases at gutter of bifold. Minor browning along some page bottoms, each page measuring 5.125" x 8.125".

After first dispensing with civilities like thanking his correspondent for forwarding him newspapers, and inquiring after his father-in-law and "your family of babies, etc.", Bartholdi gets down to business. "You have the copyright papers of my statue, [and] it would perhaps be useful for me to have them, or at least to have the title and the date of the registration", Bartholdi wrote. "There is a Mr. Follmer who had a mold fabricated from one of Avoiron's zincs, and the said mold is on its way to New York at this moment. Avoiron writes me to ask for instructions about what we should do. You could give me an idea concerning this or in any case send me necessary information in two lines ... As always I must thank Avoiron for agitating my pen ... I would have to start with another sheet if I were to tell you all the gossip ... "

Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi (1834-1904) studied painting, sculpture, and architecture under well-known instructors like Viollet-le-Duc in Paris. Following his service in the Franco-Prussian War, Bartholdi became increasingly interested in sculpting monumental works celebrating resistance against oppression, and Enlightenment ideals like Freedom. Bartholdi later conceived of the design of the "Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World". The fundraising phase of this process would take years, and indeed long surpass the actual 100 th anniversary of the United States. Yet once it was installed in 1886, the massive copper-clad sculpture of a standing woman would fundamentally change the cityscape.

Bartholdi experimented with the design of the Liberty statue before formally registering it as U.S. copyright 9939-G on August 31, 1876. This copyright status did not stop the "Mr. Follmer" mentioned in his letter from pirating Bartholdi's designs. According to Carol A. Grissom, author of Zinc Sculpture in America, 1850-1950, Hermann Follmer was an opportunistic church furniture maker operating out of Jersey City. Follmer had copied copies from Bartholdi's partner Avoiron & Cie. (also mentioned in Bartholdi's letter) and sold them as souvenirs.

The Statue of Liberty Club website tells us that Avoiron & Cie. was a Parisian metal foundry established in 1844 who employed between 50-75 workmen to produce metalworks like candlesticks from molds. Bartholdi had a contract with Avoiron & Cie. permitting him to make copies in bronze or terra cotta, whereas the company could only make copies in zinc, copper plate, or in a less desirable imitation bronze substitute. Follmer's unauthorized copies produced in bulk threatened both Bartholdi's and Avoiron & Cie.'s monopoly of the reproduction market. Entrepreneurs like Follmer had begun cashing in before the Statue of Liberty was even completed!

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