Offered is an exceptional and historically significant handwritten and signed note by Édith Piaf (1915–1963), the most influential French singer of the 20th century, professionally authenticated and encapsulated by PSA/DNA. Unlike standard autograph signatures, this piece contains a personal handwritten message connected to a pivotal moment in Piaf’s American career and one of the defining periods of her international rise.
The note, written entirely in Piaf’s hand and signed “Édith Piaf,” reads:
“Je serais très heureuse de vous rencontrer à une soirée au Versailles le 22 septembre. Bien à vous, Édith Piaf.”
The translation is:
“I would be very happy to meet you at an evening at the Versailles on September 22. Yours sincerely, Édith Piaf.”
The message references the famous Versailles nightclub at 151 East 50th Street in Manhattan, the prestigious French cabaret that served as Piaf’s New York residence and performance base during her historic 1948 American breakthrough. Music historians widely recognize Piaf’s Versailles engagement as the turning point that transformed her from a European star into an international icon, introducing American audiences to her intimate chanson style and launching her enduring success in the United States.
The September 22 reference corresponds to the period of the Versailles reopening festivities and early engagement events of 1948, a defining moment in postwar New York cultural life. This period is also closely associated with world middleweight champion Marcel Cerdan, Piaf’s legendary partner, who captured the world title in nearby Jersey City the night before on September 21, 1948 and attended this Versailles event immediately afterward. During this time the Versailles nightclub functioned as the center of New York’s French artistic and social circle, making material from Piaf’s New York residency especially desirable due to its connection to her American breakthrough, the height of her international fame, the Paris–New York cultural exchange of the postwar era, and the celebrated Piaf–Cerdan relationship.
This item is an original handwritten invitation personally signed by Édith Piaf, referencing the September 22, 1948 Versailles reopening event during her New York residency period. It is fully authenticated and encapsulated by PSA/DNA, with certification number visible on the holder, and presents with excellent legibility and display quality. Handwritten correspondence from Piaf’s New York breakthrough era is scarce and significantly rarer than standard autograph signatures or photographs, particularly pieces directly referencing Versailles, the epicenter of her American success. The two black and white photos in the listing are not included but are provided here for reference. They were taken at the September 22 reopening of the Versailles.
Encapsulated by PSA/DNA; please review all images for condition. This is a museum-quality artifact representing a defining moment in the international career of one of the most important voices in music history.