ROUSSEAU (Jacques-Rodolphe). - Lot 281

ROUSSEAU (Jacques-Rodolphe). Born in Paris, 1893—date of death unknown. Publisher, former president of the Cercle de la Librairie. Set of 2 pieces, 1937 Autograph letter from Jacques-Rodolphe Rousseau to “My dear colleague” [Bernard Grasset], Paris, March 8, 1937, 1 page, in-8 format, on letterhead of the Syndicat des Éditeurs / Hôtel du Cercle de la Librairie, in beautiful blue ink. Typed duplicate of Bernard Grasset’s reply, March 12, 1937, 1½ pages, in-4 format. A very interesting exchange concerning the publication of an article that appeared in *La Revue de Paris*, and especially the professional debates regarding the duration of literary copyright and the consequences of a possible legislative reduction. The duplicate of Grasset’s reply contains this particularly significant passage: “The reduction in the term of literary copyright expropriates us” as well as a reference to a possible: “class-action lawsuit for damages” This collection is of great interest for the history of French publishing, copyright law, and the positions taken by Bernard Grasset regarding the reform proposals put forward under Jean Zay.