Important collection of 5 issues of the French Le Petit Journal – one of Dreyfus’s fierce opponents – important dates in the Dreyfus affair during the affair from beginning to end – the first trial, the ceremony of humiliation, Dreyfus is accused of treason, taken to Devil’s Island, and finally after being acquitted for the final pardon. The title pages of these issues were dedicated to the Dreyfus affair with large illustrations over an entire page.
Issue date December 23, 1894 – one of the first issues of the affair – on the front page Dreyfus stands before the judges in the military trial which was held behind closed doors, sentenced to expulsion from the ranks of the officers and life imprisonment on Devil’s Island.
The rare issue of January 13, 1895, in which the most famous historical scene from the Dreyfus affair appears on the front page – the public ceremony of humiliation – the breaking of the sword and the removal of Dreyfus’ ranks after he was convicted of treason against the homeland – a colorful illustration by Henri Meyer [1844-1899]. In the humiliating ceremony before the sword was broken, Dreyfus was marched around the parade ground of the Ecole Militaire court in front units of the Paris Guard. At the same time, the crowd cried out: ‘Death to a traitor! Kill him! Dirty Jew! Judas Iscariot!’. Before the ceremony began, the military broke Dreyfus’ sword to prevent mishaps during the public ceremony. At the end of the ceremony, Dreyfus was driven in a police car to the prison, where he sat until the time of his deportation to Devil’s Island. The scene of the breaking of the sword in a ceremony intended to humiliate Dreyfus publicly At the beginning of the affair is the most famous historical scene in the Dreyfus affair, this illustration has repeatedly appeared over the years over countless stages in the context of the affair, in fact at this point in time Dreyfus began the uncompromising journey that lasted five years, at the end of which he proved his innocence.
Issue date September 16, 1896: After being accused of treason against the homeland, Dreyfus is taken on a ship to Devil’s Island.
Issue date January 2, 1898: The Attorney of the Military Court at their hearing in light of the strengthening of the evidence in favor of Dreyfus’s acquittal.
Issue date July 16, 1899 on the title page is a colorful illustration by Lomblans depicting Dreyfus’ exit from prison ahead of the military retrial in Bern, in which Dreyfus was found guilty of treason but this time in extenuating circumstances and sentenced to ten years in prison. In fact, on September 19 of the same year, Dreyfus was granted the final pardon, two days later the Minister of War, Galliffet, issued an edict: “The affair is over.”
Le Petit Journal was one of Alfred Dreyfus’ most fierce opponents and regularly spoke out against him bluntly during the years it covered the affair from one-sided angles. On the first and last pages of each issue, colorful illustrations were printed, depicting, among other things, the events of the Dreyfus affair. The illustrations were made by various illustrators: the French illustrator and caricaturist Henri Meyer (1844-1899), Lionel Royer (1852-1926), Eugène Damblanc, (1865-1945), and others.
All Issues are complete. Same size Issues: 44×30 cm. Overall condition good – very good .
