Description:

Charles de Gaulle
n.p. [France], June 12, 1954
Charles de Gaulle 1954 TLS: "The union of the French people, above and beyond parties and factions, is, in effect, the first requisite of our rebuilding"
TLS

A 1p typed letter signed by Charles de Gaulle (1890-1970), former Leader of the Free French and future French President, as "C. de Gaulle" at center right. June 12, 1954. N.p. but likely Paris or his private estate in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises. Typed on watermarked paper with "Le Général de Gaulle" letterhead. Expected light wear including flattened transmittal folds and a few extra wrinkles; with negligible smudges and partial pencil erasures. Else near fine. 8.25" x 10.625." With partial English translation.

De Gaulle wrote this letter to retired French colonial military officer Henri Lanrezac (1874-1966), then a party leader in the right-leaning Parti Social Français.

Translated in part, with punctuation silently added to improve clarity:

"Your letter and the one accompanying it have reached me and I appreciated the intention behind which they were dictated.

The union of the French people, above and beyond parties and factions, is, in effect, the first requisite of our rebuilding. It is towards this that the efforts of the Rassemblement [referring to De Gaulle's political party, le Rassemblement du Peuple Français, established in 1947] and myself are directed…"

De Gaulle greatly shaped early 20th C. French politics; the World War I veteran led the parallel Free French government from exile during Nazi occupation. After the war, De Gaulle led France's provisional government and served as its president between 1959-1969. He was a strong leader with decisive domestic and foreign policies that set the stage for the so-called Trente Glorieuses of stability and growth.

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.

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  • Dimensions: 8.25" x 10.625"
  • Medium: TLS

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