The Height of the Dreyfus Affair - Le Petit Journal - Three Issues

The Height of the Dreyfus Affair - Le Petit Journal - Three Issues

Three issues of Le Petit Journal from the height of the Dreyfus affair, 1895-1899. The issue was an illustrated supplement to the Parisian daily Le Petit Journal, among the sharp opponents of Alfred Dreyfus. The first and last page of each issue contained color illustrations depicting the affair's events.

* Issue from January 13, 1895 with a front page depicting the most famous historic scene from the Dreyfus Affair - the public disgrace ritual - The breaking of the sword and stripping of Dreyfus's rank after being convicted of treason - color illustration by illustrator Henri Meyer [1844-1899]. [Before the breaking of the sword, they marched him around the Ecole Militaire parade ground past units of the Paris garrison. The crowds shouted: "Death to the traitor! Kill him! Filthy Jew! Judas Iscariot!" Before the ceremony, the army broke Dreyfus' sword to prevent mishaps during the public ceremony. At the end of the ceremony, he was taken to prison by the police where he sat until he was sent to Devil's Island.

* Issue from January 20, 1895 with a front page illustration by Lionel Royer [1852-1926] depicting Dreyfus's first day in prison after he was sentenced and convicted.

* Issue from August 20, 1899 with a front page color illustration depicting Dreyfus's retrial leading up to his release, pardon and total exoneration.

Identical size: 30x44 cm. Except for a number of stains, overall fine-very fine condition.