Henri PILLE (1844-1897). L.A.S. with drawings, to Jules Roques, director of the French Courier; 1 large page in-fol. (36 x 23 cm, traces of assembly on the back). Attached is a large signed pen-and-ink drawing of a historical scene: François I, Charles V and the jester Triboulet (34.3 x 22.5 cm, pasted); another signed pen-and-ink drawing: a dog walking along the road while its furry owner contemplates a calf's head (15 x 15 cm on in-4 paper with the letterhead and vignette of the Courrier français); 2 photographs of Pille; 3 illustrations, including a programme and a menu. Magnificent autobiographical letter illustrated with pencil drawings covering the entire page.... "I was born in Essômes near Château-Thierry on January 4, 1844. I am therefore a castrothéodoricien or if you prefer Champenois. As you know, Champenois is synonymous with another adjective in the French language. I thought that by sending you a few sketches, my pen as a draftsman would tell you more about my life than my pen as a writer. So you will find in these summary drawings the corner where I was born, the awning of a pharmacist in La Ferté-sous-Jouarre whose superb banana trees and dazzling birds of paradise decided my vocation. You will find in the rest a synthesis of my work, the memories of my travels, the costumes of the countries and times I loved the most. That's enough, isn't it? For my illustrious compatriot Jean de La Fontaine said quite rightly: "Let's not force our talent / We would do nothing with grace" " .