Pseudonym of Margaretha Gertrude Zelle, a Dutch-born dancer, courtesan and spy. The mistress of many French officials, she began to spy for Germany before and during WWI. In 1917 she was arrested by the French and executed by firing squad for espionage. ALS in French, four pages on two adjoining 6 x 7.75 sheets, no date. Great content as Mata Hari mentions the dancing for which she was so well known. In full: 'Please accept my heartfelt gratitude for being so appreciative and for the book which I have promptly read and which became alive through my imagination and partly though remembrance. Mrs. Brisson begged me not to give too much of myself at the dance recital for the young and chaste girls who constitute the public of the 'Annales' and I did what she asked me to do. I would much rather dance in front of a hundred men than in front of two women. I don't know why but I feel ill-at-ease, a feeling that I do not otherwise experience. M [?] makes them nervous but mostly the contact with the theatre gives them that attitude and that lack of respect that hurts me. Well, you know these people they have a mind of their own. They are moved by what leaves you cold and vice versa. I have taken to bed. I caught a slight cold last Saturday. Tonight I will be dancing after dinner at the Stella Club. My musicians will come at half past ten to the Palais d'Orsay. Respectfully yours Mata Hari. Whenever you give a soiree where I would be able to dance, be sure to always ask me. Did the Echo of Paris mention the affair?' In fine condition, with a rusty paperclip impression to the top edge of the signature page and a few edge tears which do not affect the writing. Letters signed by Mata Hari are extremely rare, over the past 23 years only a handful have appeared at auction. COA John Reznikoff/University Archives and RRAuction COA.
