24 issues of Le Petit Journal concerning the Dreyfus Affair and the Zola Affair. December 1894 – September 1899. French.
Issues of the illustrated supplement to the Parisian daily newspaper, Le Petit Journal. On the first and last page of each issue appear illustrations in color, most of them depicting the Dreyfus Affair events: Dreyfus in a court martial; the military ceremony of tearing off his army ranks (the illustration features a French officer breaking Dreyfus's sword – sign of expelling him from the army); Dreyfus in prison, a guard serving him food; Dreyfus in Devils' Island; General Pellieux and Esterhazy; Esterhazy in court – reading the verdict; arrest of Colonel Picquart; "scandal in the French House of Commons"; Major Henry accuses Picquart of lying in court; duel between Henry and Picquart; Zola Affair – Court; Departure of Emil Zola; Military prison in Rennes; Dreyfus and his lawyers; attempt to assassin Dreyfus's lawyer; etc.
Most of the illustrations are by the French illustrator and caricaturist Henri Meyer (1844-1899). Other illustrations are by the illustrator and etching artist Fortuné Méaulle (1844-1901), painter Lionel Royer (1852-1926) and Eugène Damblanc (1865-1945).
During the Dreyfus Affair the power of journalism increased, and caricatures were published to transmit messages to the masses who grabbed the papers as soon as they appeared. In issue no. 217 of January 13, 1895 appears an illustration most identified with the Dreyfus Affair, (by the illustrator Meyer) – "The Traitor: Removal of Dreyfus's ranks". This humiliating ceremony was planned ahead of time (the sword was broken in advance to avoid mishaps during the ceremony). The illustration features the moment of breaking the sword, after Dreyfus was forced to march around the formations arena while the masses cried “Death to the traitor! Kill Him! Dirty Jew! Judas Iscariot!” The caption next to the illustration “Dreyfus in Devils’ Island” protests that Dreyfus was not forced to shave his moustache. The moustache (according to the caption) is a national symbol of France and it
is appropriate that whoever stole bread should be forced to shave it, not to mention whoever sold his homeland.
“Le Petit Journal” was one of the extreme opponents to Alfred Dreyfus and expressed its attitudes harshly. Presented here are issues Nos. 214, 217, 218, 306, 370, 372, 375, 376, 377, 380, 381, 383, 387, 400, 402, 403, 430, 431, 451, 452, 457, 458, 460, 462. 43 cm. 4 leaves per issue (issue 372: only first and last leaves). Most of the issues in good codition. Spots. Minor tears to borders of leaves. Several loose or detached leaves.