27 Letters Spanning 108 Years Related to the Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques

On offer is a terrific collection of correspondence with France's most prestigious literary societies, the Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques (SADC), which translates to the Society of Dramatic Authors and Composers (SDAC). These letters span more than a century, from 1880-1988, and offer both a sample of SDAC activities and a hint as to what was happening over the century within the world of the arts in France. 

The history of the SADC (SDAC) dates back to 1777, when a group of twenty-two authors, led by Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, got together to form the first “Society for dramatic legislation” and laid down the basis for the Society of Dramatic Authors and Composers: SDAC. Among de Beaumarchais’ many works was the play Marriage of Figaro upon which the great opera by Mozart is based. In addition to being very much a Renaissance man, Beaumarchais was an early supporter of the American Revolution.

Originally he called their group the “Bureau of Dramatic Legislation” and its goal was to have legislation passed that would protect the interests of authors and their works – in short – authors’ rights (as distinct from copyright). It is the founding act of the organization which in 1829 will merge with another group to form the SADC (SDAC).

From that time onward, SADC (SDAC) has been in the forefront internationally in advancing the rights of authors of all types of creative works to ensure that they are justly compensated for their efforts. Along with other organizations, it played a key role in the 1886 Berne Convention, the international agreement governing copyright which continues to this day as the World Intellectual Property Organization, an official organization within the United Nation. It participates in both national and international debates and activities to protect and promote the interests of those working in the creative arts.

The letters are varied in content and appearance, and are from many different authors. Some are on letterhead. One bears a monogram. Several are from ‘Agents’ which suggests that SDAC operated through a series of agencies located in major cities throughout France and in neighbouring countries.

This from their Agent in Brussels on his letterhead, written in 1880:

Cher Monsieur Roger Mr m'advise que les auteurs dedu Petit Due [ ] authorise M. Laurion arepresenter leurmeme. Ils retiramet aussi la piece [ ] de theatre Fantastic Parisienne...

[Translation: Dear Mr. Roger Mr. [ ] advises me that the authors of the Petit Due [ ] authorize Mr. Laurion to represent themselves. They also withdraw the play [ ] from the theatre Fantastic Parisienne...]

In a 1909 letter from SACD’s Mon Agency, under the direction of Jules Friart, the society’s Agent-General is advised that:

J'ai le honeur de vous faire connaitre comme suite a votre lettre des Janvier courant y'en effet une representation de la piece intitulie "Les Nuits Du Hampton Club" a ete donnee au theatre de cette ville le 5 decembre 1908...

[Translation: I have the honour to inform you that, following your recent letter of January, a performance of the play entitled "Les Nuits Du Hampton Club" was given at the theatre of this city on December 5, 1908]. 

Friart was active in the theatre world of Mons and in the 1830’s was the stage manager for a theatre in the City. 

During WWI, the Society continued to function, although it was certainly effected by it in many ways. There are two letters from a lawyer in Avignon. In one letter dated 1915,  he writes:

J'ai l'honneur de vous expose que j'avais organise le 10 juillet dernier une representation de charite au theatre municipal d'Avignon au profit de l'oeuvre des [ ] de la guerre...

[Translation: I have the honour to inform you that on July 10th I had organized a charity performance at the municipal theatre of Avignon for the benefit of the work of the [ ] of the war...].

Following WWII, the Society maintained its activities, as evidenced by a card sent from the Society’s Agent in Brussels in 1949:

Je recois a l'instant du visite de Monsieur Doumain, directoire de theatre de la Bourse a Bruselles. Il desire jouer tres prochainement une piece de Maurice Hennequin "On Ne Roule Pas Antoinette"...

[Translation: I have just received a visit from Mr. Doumain, director of the Theatre de la Bourse in Bruselles. He wants to stage a play by Maurice Hennequin "On Ne Roule Pas Antoinette" very soon…]

Maurice Hennequin was a very established author who, over his lifetime, wrote nearly 100 plays and some 3 dozen film screenplays.

For a literary historian, this is an outstanding collection of correspondence from France’s per-eminent creative arts society. Taken as a whole, they provide a very interesting look inside the workings of this society and make references to some of the great authors in France over the past century.

All letters in the collection are legible and in good condition, showing normal signs of aging. Letters range in size, with the smallest letter measuring 4”x6” and the largest measuring 10.75”x8.5”.