Émile ZOLA. 5 L.A.S. and 4 L.A. (minutes or drafts), Paris 1889-[1896]; 12pages in-8 or in-12 (one in pencil). Drafts of letters to academicians concerning his candidacies. [December 1889], to the perpetual secretary. "I have the honor of informing you and I ask you to inform the Académie française that I am applying for the seat left vacant by the death of Émile Augier"... January 29 1890, to Octave Feuillet: "Having had the honor of visiting you again, I have learned that the state of your health does not allow you to receive me. I will therefore not insist any further [...] it only remains for me to deeply regret the opportunity that presented itself to greet in your person one of the masters of the French novel"... January 31, 1890, to the Duc d'Aumale. "Monseigneur, Candidate for the Académie française, I would be very happy if Your Highness would be so kind as to let me know the day when I could allow myself to pay him the traditional visit, without fear of bothering him"... March 15, 1890, to Mgr Adolphe Perraud: "As a candidate for the Académie française, I would have greatly desired to have the great honor of paying you the traditional visit. But, although I still hope to fulfill this duty, should your absence from Paris prevent me from doing so, I wish to express to you here all my deference"... May 5, 1890, to Camille Doucet, secrétaire perpétuel (with envelope): "As the election of May 1st was inconclusive, please inform the Académie française that I am maintaining my candidacy for Émile Augier's seat"... May 10 1891, to the Duc d'Aumale: "As a candidate for Octave Feuillet's chair, I would have liked above all to pay you my respects. But the absence of Your Highness prevents me, to my deep regret, from fulfilling this duty, and I can only send him the expression of my profound deference"... [Early 1896], to Gaston Boissier, perpetual secretary (3 successive versions), asking him to inform the Académie "that I withdraw my candidacy for the fauteuil of M. Ferdinand de Lesseps and put it forward for the sole fauteuil of M. Alexandre Dumas. It would be a great honor for me to succeed an illustrious writer who has been kind enough to love me a little and to defend me, despite old literary battles"... We enclose 9 L.A.S. from academicians to Zola, about his visits and candidacies: Ferdinand Brunetière, François Coppée (5), Alexandre Dumas fils, Octave Feuillet, Ludovic Halévy. Plus an invitation to lunch at Chantilly from the Duc d'Aumale.