Description:

Léon Blum
Château de Bourassol, France, June 9, [n.y.] but probably 1941/42
Léon Blum ALS Written From Vichy Prison: "My health… conscience and nerves… [are] good" - Ex-Forbes
ALS
A 2pp autograph letter in French signed by former Prime Minister of France André Léon Blum (1872-1950), as "leonB" at the center of the second page. June 9, [n.y.] but probably 1941/42. Château de Bourassol, in Ménétrol, central France. Inscribed in violet ink on bifold paper. The third page and the outer leaf are blank. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds, a few extra wrinkles, and isolated pin holes not affecting the text. Else near fine. 5.25" x 8.25." Accompanied by a black and white book plate photograph of Blum captioned "Léon Blum at Bourassol, March 1943," minor foxing. Ex-Collection of Steve Forbes; Ex-Herman Darvick, no. 241, (Rockville Center, New York), 1989.

Léon Blum was a prominent French Socialist politician who had twice served as Prime Minister of France between June 1936 and April 1938. (Indeed, he would return as premier yet again in 1946-1947.) Blum's anti-German and anti-Vichy political stance made him vulnerable after the Fall of France. In September 1940, he was arrested by French police, and formally charged with high treason the following month. Blum was incarcerated as a high-profile political prisoner at Bourassol on and off between November 1940 and March 1943. A medieval castle mostly rebuilt in the 17th century, Bourassol was unequipped with heat, electricity, or running water. Yet, as we know from Blum's letter, he was not greatly disturbed by such discomforts, as his health, as well as his "conscience and nerves" were good. Blum would be transferred to several other prisons and concentration camps in France and Germany before he was freed in April 1945.

Blum wrote this letter to an unidentified correspondent named Margueritte who was a close female friend of long standing. In the beginning, Blum questions why his correspondent hasn't written him. Certainly a normal question to ask during conventional times, it takes on a more serious imputation when one considers its historical context: Vichy France, where accounts of informants, collaborators, and turncoats were rampant. Fortunately in Blum's case, he does not harbor such suspicions about Margueritte.

Translated in full:

"Bourassol
by Riom

9 June

Dear Margueritte,

Your silence was surprising to me. I don't understand its cause. I even tried, on two or three occasions, to make enquiries about it at Argenton, where I believed you still to be. But I never suspected forgetfulness or doubt on your part. I know you, we have known each other for too many years.

Six weeks or two months ago, my visiting policy was liberal, and you would have been able to obtain authorization to come to Bourassol without any difficulty. Today, all is changed and I believe that it would be better to wait for yet a new change, if one must happen. But you can write me. The letters that I write or that are addressed to me are read by a magistrate, but they get to me without difficulty or delay.

My health is good. The state of my conscience and nerves is good. You know that confinement doesn't frighten me, and that I always had need of only a very small number of beings near me. Robert's captivity is naturally for me, as it is also for Renée, a large source of sorrow and worry.

Write me. I embrace you. My amicable regards to Mademoiselle Mollet.

leonB."

In the letter, Blum refers to his only son Robert Blum (1902-1975), a French engineer, who joined the French military service at the beginning of the war. Like his father, Robert Blum was imprisoned for much of the war, mostly in Germany. Robert's wife Renée Blum née Weigle is also mentioned.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 5.25" x 8.25"
  • Medium: ALS

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