Description:

Ferdinand de Lesseps LS Requesting Info From Austrian Geographer Re: Panama Canal

A 2pp letter in French signed by Ferdinand de Lesseps (1805-1894), the French business developer supervising the Panama Canal project, as "Ferd. de Lesseps" near the center of the second page. Paris, France. December 15, 1886. The letter was written in secretarial script on bifold business stationery with "Compagnie Universelle / du Canal Interocéanique" [trans: "Universal Company / of the Interoceanic Canal"] letterhead. The third and last pages are blank. Expected surface wear including transmittal folds and light toning. The last page is inscribed by a former collector along the bottom edge, and shows minor weathering. Else very good to near fine. 8.25" x 10.5." Comes with a card from the 14th International Stamp Exhibition, March 17-19, 1972.

Ferdinand de Lesseps was founder, president, and managing director of the Compagnie Universelle du Canal Interocéanique de Panama. De Lesseps addressed this letter to Dr. Karl Zehden (1843/8-1901), an Austrian geography professor who taught at the Academy of Commerce in Vienna. De Lesseps asked him for more information about a November 30th meeting of Austrian railroad employees in which De Lesseps' ongoing Panama Canal project had been discussed.

Translated in part, with punctuation silently corrected:

"Monsieur Doctor,

I have learned from articles in the 'Oesterreichische Eisenbahn Zeitung' [trans: "Austrian Railway Newspaper" and in the 'Centralblatt' [trans: "Central Sheet"] that, on November 30th, you hosted a conference at the Austrian Railroad employees' club on the subject of the Panama Canal. The summary provided in the newspapers gave me a deep desire to be able to read the conference in extenso [trans: "verbatim"]; but I have not been able to procure such a document.

I address myself directly to you, Monsieur Doctor, [trusting that you] have it and I hope that you will be able to send it to me. I will be infinitely obliged to you and, with all of my thanks, I present to you the expression of most distinguished consideration.

The President Director

[signed] Ferd. de Lesseps."

Ferdinand de Lesseps had had great success with the Suez Canal, which had connected the Mediterranean and Red Seas, by 1869. The Panama Canal, intended to link up the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Isthmus of Panama, proved an unmitigated disaster in contrast.

De Lesseps founded the Compagnie Universelle du Canal Interocéanique de Panama in 1880 and work began in 1882. The humid, tropical environment posed immediate challenges, such as landslides and yellow fever and malaria epidemics. Lack of funds and bribery scandals derailed the project; the company was bankrupted by 1888 and de Lesseps and others were charged with corruption in the early 1890s. After Americans purchased the rights to the Panama Canal, it was completed by 1914.

De Lesseps' correspondent Dr. Karl Zehden received his doctorate in philosophy from the University of Vienna. He specialized in transport geography (sometimes also called commercial geography), a sub-discipline of geography focusing on the movement of people and freight by means of mass transport. During this era, large-scale relocation was done by railroad or steamship.

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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