CORTOT ALFRED: (1877-1962) Franco-Swiss Pianist and Conductor. A.L.S., `Alf Cortot´, two pages, 8vo, Neuilly-sur-Seine, 22<sup>nd</sup> July 1946, on his personal printed stationery, with his printed name to the heading and his Boulevard Maillot address, to a lawyer `Mon cher Maitre´, in French. Cortot commences his letter referring to his eye surgery, stating in part `De retour a Neuilly apres un long séjour en Suisse où j´ai été tributaire d´une operation chirurgicale a l´oeil couronnée de succes..´ ("Back in Neuilly after a long stay in Switzerland where I had an eye surgery which was successful…") Cortot further refers to the money he advanced as guarantee and that he expects to have returned and complains referring to the new government and unfair laws, saying in part `.. la restitution des sommes avancées par moi pour la régularisation des actions de l´Ecole Normale, en vertu des dispositions légales imposes par l ´occupant et auxquelles il me fallait bien me soumettre pour éviter la fermeture de l´établissement don't j´ai la charge et la mise a pied de cinquante trois professeurs. Il serait vraiment légitime que l´Etat qui exige tant de nous… en dépit du changement de régimen. Ou alors, qu´on veuille bien en prevenir ceux qui ont été obligés de se soumettre a des lois draconiennes!´ ("… the restitution of the sums advanced by me for the regularization of the shares of the Ecole Normale, based on the legal provisions imposed by the occupier and to which I had to submit myself to avoid the closure of the establishment of which I am in charge and the responsibility of the dismissal of fifty three professors. It would be truly legitimate for the State which demands so much from us…despite the change of government. If not, they could at least warn those who have been forced to submit to draconian laws!") Small overall minor age wear with a fold at the base of the letter, otherwise G to VG