Distinguished French novelist (1802–1870) of such historical classics as The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers, and The Man in the Iron Mask. ALS in French, signed “A Dumas,” three pages on two adjoining sheets, 5 x 8.5, personal letterhead, no date. Letter to an unidentified gentleman. In part (translated): “Dear Sir, The Musketeer, as you know inherited or rather bought from ‘Les Nouvelles’ its (literary) estate. It therefore inherited editors along with subscribers. I have the right of imposing on the newspaper a certain number of lines written by me every day. But by no means do I have the right to impose anyone else’s prose on it. Mr. Delauney…is in charge of that…something I would have rejected if anyone had tried to impose that on me. Two-hundred lines aren’t a great deal but when you have to write them every day it’s like having to roll the Boulder of Sisyphus…As for any sort of collaboration, I’ve completely reversed myself on that. All my collaborations have caused me to lose a friend [Dumas had been accused of plagiarism by some of his collaborators] and I have so few of them left that I don’t want to risk losing them.” In fine condition, with central horizontal and vertical folds and a couple of light creases.
After a brief stay in Belgium, Dumas returned to Paris in 1853 with his newly completed memoirs and a handful of fictional works ready for publication. Releasing them with limited success—and watching a good portion of his profits go to the publishers—he founded his own newspaper, The Musketeer, in hopes of solving his ever-growing financial problems by building a steady readership and offering his work directly to his audience. Announcing that he was ‘tired of being attacked by his enemies and badly defended by his friends in the journals of other people,’ he vowed that The Musketeer would remain independent and interest itself in criticizing the critics. Despite initial success, the poorly run journal only lasted four years, disbanding in February of 1857 as Dumas left Paris yet again. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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