Description:

De Lesseps Ferdinand 1805 - 1894 Ferdinand de Lesseps CDV signed and inscribed with personal motto.

Ferdinand de Lesseps carte de visite mounted on cream stock card measuring 8.5" x 5.125" and signed "Ferd. de Lesseps". Below a 3.875" x 5.375" black and white albumen photographic print of the French career diplomat, de Lesseps wrote: "My motto: Aperire ferram gentibus", and the date "(1886)". The whole is in near fine condition. The French and Latin script is clear, elegant, and spidery. Pencil inscribed "de Lesseps" verso. The photographic print has some minor isolated areas of likely retouching only affecting the area of the double-breasted suit jacket. The card mount shows an even overall toning. A small area of water damage just barely touches the photo at top.

De Lessep's personal motto "Open the lands to nations" refers to his involvement in both the Suez and Panama Canal projects. Ferdinand Marie, Vicomte de Lesseps (1805-1894) had already garnered two decades of diplomatic experience in Algeria, Egypt, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands by the time he was invited by Egyptian leader Said Pasha to build the Suez Canal in 1854. This route would eventually connect the Mediterranean and Red Seas, creating enormous trading possibilities. De Lesseps employed all his diplomatic finesse to encourage subscriptions for the Suez project, which was finally completed in 1869. Some ten years later, de Lesseps attempted to fundraise for the construction of the Panama Canal, but landslides, epidemics, and bribery scandals derailed the project.

A beautiful carte de visite signed and inscribed by the French minister who connected North Africa with Western Europe via the Suez Canal!

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