LANDRU HENRI DÉSIRÉ: (1869-1922) French Serial Killer and real-life Bluebeard. An extremely rare vintage signed ...

LANDRU HENRI DÉSIRÉ: (1869-1922) French Serial Killer and real-life Bluebeard. An extremely rare vintage signed sepia 5 x 7 photograph with lengthy annotation in his hand, the image depicting Landru seated in the dock in a half length pose during his trial on eleven counts of murder in November 1921. Signed ('Landru') in fountain pen ink with his name alone to the upper left side, partially to the white border. Landru adds in his hand an enigmatic inscription, stating `Dreaming on a plausible explanation to his lawyer Navières du Treuil, related to the starving cat, the only inhabitant of the villa of mystery. 18th November 1915 1921.´ Landru writes, may be intentionally, the year 1915 first, when he started his murders, crossing it before writing 1921. Some very light creasing to the bottom left corner and small age wear. Together with Alfred Capus (1857-1922) Writer and Journalist. Autograph manuscript of three pages, 4to, entitled `Landru´s Monologue´. Capus reports on some disappeared persons, added to Landru´s list of victims, explaining that this way it is much easier for the police and authorities avoiding investigations and further explanations. G £2500-3500 Provenance: The present signed photograph originates from the archives of the assistant trial lawyer to Landru, Auguste Navières du Treuil and Philippe Zoumerroff´s collection. At his trial, Landru was convicted on all counts, sentenced to death, and guillotined three months later in Versailles. His life inspired Charlie Chaplin's 1947 film Monsieur Verdoux.