This is My Story.
New York, London: Harper & Brothers, 1937. Illustrated with several plates, including numerous photographic reproductions. First edition. With an autograph dedication by Eleanor Roosevelt, dated April 4, 1951: “To Madame Auriol with warm good wishes.”. Publisher’s original blue cloth binding, featuring the facsimile signature of the author on the front board. Spine with gilt title. 365 p. From the library of Vincent Auriol, the first President of the Fourth French Republic, with his ex-libris on the rear pastedown. Binding partially sunned but otherwise a well-preserved copy.
An association copy linking the American and French First Ladies and a testament to the diplomatic and cultural bonds between the United States and France during the mid-20th century.
This is an association copy of Eleanor Roosevelt’s autobiography, inscribed by the author to Madame Auriol during an important meeting at Hyde Park, New York, on April 4, 1951. This meeting took place during Vincent Auriol’s historic visit to the United States—the first formal visit by a French President to the country. The trip aimed to convince U.S. lawmakers and the public that France was steadily recovering from wartime destruction, thanks to Marshall Plan aid, and to reaffirm the Fourth Republic’s commitment to the transatlantic alliance.
On that day, the Auriols visited Eleanor Roosevelt at Hyde Park, where President Auriol presented her with the Order of Commander of the Legion of Honor, one of France’s highest distinctions. The award recognized Roosevelt’s significant contributions to international diplomacy, human rights, and Franco-American relations. Michelle Auriol (1896–1979), the wife of Vincent Auriol, was present at the ceremony and is the recipient of Roosevelt’s warm inscription.
Madame Auriol was a notable figure in her own right. During World War II, she served in the French Resistance, decoding encrypted Allied messages in Lyon. Later, as First Lady of France (1947–1954), she oversaw the restoration of the Élysée Palace and revived traditions disrupted during the German Occupation. She also managed the presidential social service, providing aid to those in need and cementing her reputation as a compassionate and proactive leader. This copy bears Vincent Auriol’s ex-libris on the rear pastedown, featuring the motto "Nulle dies sine linea."
Eleanor Roosevelt, a towering figure of 20th-century politics and activism, served as First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945 during the presidency of her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt. She redefined the role of First Lady by actively engaging in social and political causes, championing civil rights, and advocating for the rights of women and the underprivileged. In This is My Story, published in 1937, Roosevelt provides an intimate account of her early life, her marriage, and her evolving public role. The memoir reflects her commitment to progressive ideals and offers insights into the tumultuous interwar years.
This association copy stands as a testament to the close ties between Eleanor Roosevelt and the Auriols, as well as the broader diplomatic and cultural bonds between the United States and France during the mid-20th century. The inscription, paired with its connection to a historically significant meeting at Hyde Park, makes this a uniquely valuable artifact of transatlantic diplomacy and personal camaraderie.
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Price: €5,000.00