Description:

Antoine Lavoisier
Paris, France, July 13, 1791
Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier Handwritten Dinner Invitation to Viscount Palmerston, 1791
ALS

Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier (1743-1794). Autograph Letter, in French, 1p, on bifold stationery measuring 4" x 6.25", Paris, July 13, 1791, an invitation to the Viscount Palmerston to dine with him on July 18, 1791. Signed within the text as "M Lavoisier." With integral address leaf. Inner pages blank. Expected folds and creases. Minor handling wear and discoloration. Paper loss from breaking of red wax seal, not affecting any text. Adhesive residue along central vertical crease, likely from previous mounting. Untranslated. In very good condition.

Lavoisier was a prominent and influential French chemist noted for his discovery of the role oxygen plays in combustion. A leading figure in the 18th-century chemical revolution, he coauthored the modern system for naming chemical substances. Lavoisier also served as a leading financier and public administrator; he was executed by guillotine during the French Revolution due to his involvement with the deeply unpopular Ferme Générale, which collected duties on behalf of the King. Known as the "father of modern chemistry," Lavoisier's contributions are considered the most important in advancing chemistry to the level reached in physics and mathematics during the 18th century.

Henry Temple, 2nd Viscount Palmerston (1739-1802) was a British politician. He was member of the British House of Commons and appointed to the Board of Trade in 1765, served as Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty between 1766 and 1777, and as a Lord of the Treasury from 1777 to 1782. In 1791, when he was extended this invitation by Lavoisier, he spent two months in France, from July 6 to August 31, and his diary largely recounts political details from his observing of the National Assembly.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

  • Dimensions: 4" x 6.25"
  • Medium: ALS

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

August 27, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000