Stories and drawings

n.p. . n.d. [1937].

A collection of typescripts of thirteen short stories by Lise Deharme with five signed drawings by Jean Cocteau. Some of the stories are drafts with manuscript or typed amendments and some in fair copy. Each story, with its illustration, is loosely inserted into a card folder. Also present is the original pink file which contained the stories and drawings. On the cover of this is inscribed, in De harme’s hand: “Lise Deharme, 146 rue de Grenelle, Paris VII. Quleque dessins de Cocteau”. All housed in a custom made box with paper label to spine. Given their brevity and simplicity, their subject matter and the nature of the drawings, these stories were clearly intended for young children - she had two of her own, Tristan and Hyacinthe. We have found no evidence of these stories and drawings being published. None of them is dated but we would tentatively suggest a date in the late 1930s or early 1940s. Deharme and Cocteau were corresponding regularly at this time and Deharme was working on a book of children’s poems with photographs by Claude Cahun - published in 1937 as Le Coeur de Pic. Clearly Deharme was planning another book for children, this time of stories and with drawings by another leading figure of the surrealist movement, Jean Cocteau. 

1. Muscade. La Petite Fille aux dix doigts. Single leaf with title in manuscript, three typed leaves (recto only) and then a further two leaves with the story retyped (leaves 270x210mm). Two drawings by Cocteau, one in pencil on tracing paper (signed “Jean”) and the other, in purple crayon on heavier drawing paper (420x280mm, folded). On the verso of the larger drawing is written “Pour Lise, Jean”.
2.  La véritable histoire du Petit Chaperon Rouge. Single leaf with title in manuscript. Two leaves with the story typed and the title in manuscript and one amendment in blue biro. Two further copies of the story typed. Drawing by Cocteau, signed “Jean”. Fraying to left edge of the drawing. 
3. Le Nouveau Narcisse. Single leaf with title in manuscript. Two leaves with the story in typescript and two amendments in pencil.  Drawing by Cocteau, signed “Jean”.
4. Le Vent. Single leaf with title in manuscript. Two leaves with the story in typescript and two amendments. Fair copy of the typescript on a single leaf. Drawing by Cocteau, signed “Jean”.
5. Couleur de rose. Single leaf with title in manuscript. Four leaves with the story in typescript and two amendments in blue ink. Fair copy of the typescript on four leaves.
6. La Chemise. Two leaves with the story in typescript.
7. La Belle Vie. Seven leaves with the story in typescript and numerous amendments in pencil. 
8. Il etait une fois.... Two leaves with the story in typescript and three amendments in pencil. Fair copy of the typescript on a single leaf. 
9. Le Prince Feroce. Two leaves with the story in typescript. 
10. Chansons du Soir. Two leaves with the story in typescript.
11. Histoire de Jules. Two leaves with the story in typescript and numerous amendments in blue ink.
12. La Porte Ouverte. Two leaves with the story in typescript.
13. Histoire de la petite Laurence. Two leaves with the story in typescript and five amendments in ink and type.