19th and 20th Century Letters Written to French Magazine Publisher, Edouard Hubert

On offer are two notes to the publisher of one of France’s celebrated magazines, La Monde Illustre, one from the late 19th century and the other during WWI.

The first note, dated 1882, was written by a person who is only identified as ‘Francois’. It is addressed to Monsieur Hubert and was sent from London, England. Edouard Hubert was Director of Le Monde Illustre, a popular French weekly magazine. In the note Francois shares his plans to travel to Paris and provide Hubert with requested information.

The second note, dated 1916, is from one L. Menard to Hubert, expressing thanks for the sympathy shown by Hubert. 

The magazine Hubert published, Le Monde Illustre, was an illustrated magazine that in circulation from 1857 to 1940 and 1945 to 1956. It was one of the leading magazines in France. Many of the highly realistic prints published in the medium of wood-engraving were actually made from photographs (through intermediary drawings), at a time when photographic reproduction in print was not technically feasible until the late nineteenth century. Among its artists were Godefroy Durand and Hector Giacomelli. It attracted as well, leading writers such as Alexandre Dumas and George Sand and designers and engravers such as Gustave Dore and Edouard Riou.

For a collector of French memorabilia, these little notes are a direct connection to one of France’s major publications and to the vibrant times in which it played an important role.

The first note (1882) measures approximately 8.0 inches by 5.25 inches and is a single side of a sheet.The page is in good condition and the handwriting is legible.The second note (1916) measures 6.0 inches by 4.5 inches. It is a single sheet folded in half so that the outer side forms the envelope. The note card is in good condition and the handwriting is quite legible.