Autograph Letter Signed, in French with Translation, to Gille (Gaspart-Félix Tournachon, 1820-1910, known as 'Nadar', French Photographer, Caricaturist, Journalist, Novelist and Balloonist)

saying he "could not ask for work to go better or faster - and one day I shall endeavour to return your kindness which I have done nothing to deserve. I am enclosing a note for Perdiguier [please could you put on the address], if he was responsible for the very kind words on the heading. Try and avoid colliding with Villemessant here on Monday...", 1 side 8vo., no place but with his red Monogram "N" with "Quand Meme" at the head, no date, circa Nadar was a proponent of heavier-than-air flight. In 1858, he became the first person to take aerial photographs. Photographic portraits by Nadar are held by many of the great national collections of photographs. His son, Paul Nadar (1856–1939), continued the studio after his death. The correspondent is possibly Philippe GILLE (1831-1901) who was a French dramatist and opera librettist, who was born and died in Paris. He was photographed by Nadar in the 1870s. He is probably referring to Hippolyte de VILLEMESSANT (1810-1879) who was a Conservative French Journalist and was also photographed by him. Transcription Il n'est réellement pas possible, mon Gille, de faire mieux et plus vite – et je tâcherai de te rendre quelque jour cette si bonne amitié que je n'ai rien fait pour mériter. Ci-joint un mot pour Perdiguier [tu mettras l'adresse], si c'est lui qui a fait la petite note d'entête, vraiment trop obligeante. Arrange-toi pour ne pas venir lundi avec Villemessant. Mardi, bon ! Ton Nadar Tanslation Dear Gille I could not ask for work to go better or faster - and one day I shall endeavour to return your kindness which I have done nothing to deserve. I am enclosing a note for Perdiguier [please could you put on the address], if he was responsible for the very kind words on the heading. Try and avoid colliding with Villemessant here on Monday. Perhaps Tuesday would be possible. Yours Nadar