Last Chance Gounod, Charles-françois. (1818–1893) [dumas, Alexandre. (1824–1895)] Autograph Musical Quotation, Signed To Alexandre Dumas Gadget [2DvoeRGq]

Autograph musical quotation of the aria Et moi, Si, Par Hasard from act 1 of the opera Mireille (1864), containing 30 bars written on a three-stave system (voice and piano), signed and dedicated to the famed French author (translated from the French): "to my illustrious friend, Alexandre Dumas."  Autograph manuscript, 1 page, no date [after 1864], framed with additional clipped signature of Gounod.  Sight 9.5 x 7 inches; framed to an overall size of 18 x 11 inches.

It is not positively known whether the manuscript is addressed to Dumas père or fils, though it seems more likely it would have been addressed to the son. The elder Dumas would have still been alive for 6 years following the 1864 composition of Mireille and while, as celebrated figures in Paris they might have crossed paths, we are not aware of any confirmed connections between the two. Meanwhile, author and playwright Alexandre Dumas, fils  - best known for the romantic novel La Dame aux Camélias published in 1848 and adapted into Verdi's 1853  La traviata - is known to have been friends with Gounod, living opposite each other in the Place Malherbes, and even supplying the lyrics for his songs Compliment and La Pâquerette.