Military Heroes

Archive MacMahon document measures 8" × 12" 1709-1887

File Miscellaneous

Archive of documents signed by Patrice de MacMahon, Georges Boulanger, and other 18th and 19th C. French military and police

This archive is comprised of roughly six ALS, ANS, and D$ signed by important French military personages.

App ALS on "Second Army Corps, Commanding Marshall, General Headquarters" letterhead signed by Patrice de MacMahon (1808-1893) as "Mai d MacMahon" with elegant attenuated "n" at bottom of first and only inscribed page. The July 10, 1861 note, addressed to "my dear colonel", was penned from the camp at Chalons in northeastern France. In very fine condition with expected paper folds, each page measuring 5.25" x8". In the note, MacMahon "calls attention to his nephew Pierre de Souriet, who was scheduled to take placement exams for admission to military school in Paris. MacMahon admitted embarrassedly that his sister "really insisted" that he write the colonel, so emphatically that *it was impossible to refuse" her. Whatever his motive, it is unclear whether McMahon was asking for special treatment.

Single sheet ALS on "War Minister, Minister's Cabinet" letterhead and signed by Georges Ernest Boulanger

(1837-1891) as "Gal Boulanger" at bottom of second page. This April 23, 1887 letter subtitled "Personal" at top left was written to Alfred Duquesne from Paris. In very fine condition with isolated folds and toning, the page measuring 5.25" x 8.375". The Parisian publisher had asked General Boulanger to intercede on his behalf to secure him the Legion d'Honneur, and he enthusiastically replied: "Be persuaded that I will do personally all that will be possible to hasten the realization of your desire, very happy [sic if it permits me to give you satisfaction". Four years after writing this letter, Boulanger shot himself at the gravesite of his deceased mistress.

4pp ANS on "Interior Minister, Cabinet of the Minister" letterhead signed by Emmanuel Arago (1812-1896) as

"Emm. Arago" at center of first and only inscribed page. In very fine condition except for minor tear to the upper left comer, and isolated surface roughness in two places on the back of the last page suggesting the piece was once mounted on another support. Each page measures 5.125" × 8.25". This undated note, inscribed by at least three different hands, ordered that a soldier named Ange de St. Louis be granted an extension of immediate leave. The same soldier was also recommended to Capt. Zhory. Emmanuel Arago served as Minister of the Interior for the Government of National Defense instituted during the Franco-Prussian War for just thirteen days in early February 1871.

Single page document on "Interior Minister, Direction of the Police" letterhead signed by Francois Franchet d'Esperey (1778-1864) as "Franchet Desperey" at center. In very good condition, with loss to bottom right corner, water stains at top right corner, and scattered toning and wrinkles, 8" × 11.75. This rather awkward memo dated May 21, 1826 and addressed to "M. the Prefect of Ille and Vilaine, at Rennes" concerned a "liberated condemned" criminal named Moquet. Apparently, the Ministry was not aware of charges levied against Moquet or his subsequent sentence, and thus requested instruction from local authorities.

4pp ALS partly inscribed and signed by Antoine Gaston de Rocquelaure (1656-1738) as "le duc de Roquelaure" at bottom of last page. In fine condition, with minor loss to bottom pages near gutter fold, and scattered foxing. Each page measures 6.5" x 8.625". In this April 9, 1709 letter addressed to his nephew, Rocquelaure informed him that 400 lestiers of wheat had just arrived by boat delivered by one Roche de Marseille. Despite a "small difficulty with the execution of the sale",

Rocquelaure thought that the nephew could still purchase the wheat for just 100 ecus

over the estimated price less the transportation costs.

4pp DS on "Decoration of the Lily" letterhead signed by "The first manservant of the king, Le Mal de chamilh" to right of affixed red wax seal studded with three Bourbon fleur de lys. In fair to good condition, with some loss, discoloration, toning, and stains throughout, and tear along crease of fourth page, measuring 7.25" x 9.375".

Document No. 43515, partially dated March 13 and dating probably from the Restoration period, awarded one M.

Guillot the Fleur de Lys award.

A diverse archive documenting the history of the military and police in 18th C. and 19th C. France!