Description:

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
n.p., July 2, 1823
Marquis de Lafayette ALS With Great Political & Literary Content: "events of the Revolution" To Parisian Publisher
ALS

A 1p autograph letter in French signed by American Revolutionary War hero Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834) as "Lafayette" at the center of the page. July 2, 1823. N.p. Lafayette's letter and the accompanying original transmittal leaf, being two different pieces, are matted and framed behind glass above a handsome engraving of Lafayette as a young Patriot officer after Alonzo Chappel. Not examined out of the frame. The letter and transmittal leaf exhibit uneven toning, flattened transmittal folds, and a few wrinkles. Else very good. The sight size of the letter is 4.125" x 5.125" while the overall size of the frame is 13" x 21.5" x 1.25."

Lafayette addressed this letter to Alexandre Baudouin (1791-1859), the Parisian printer, publisher, and bookseller, and a founding partner in the firm Baudouin Frères. Alexandre, along with his twin brother Charles and his younger brother Hippolyte, operated Baudouin Frères at their headquarters at No. 36, rue de Vaugirard. The brothers had taken over their father's printing house by 1816 and the business remained active until declining and eventually closing in the late 1820s/early 1830s.

In the letter, Lafayette inquires about a recently published literary critique of one of his friend's works, and he also asks when and how another work will be published by Baudouin Frères. He closes the letter by mentioning that he is missing a volume from another multi-volume series. Lafayette's letter demonstrates the significant extent to which he was actively engaged in the early 19th C. French intellectual scene and political environment. His literary taste evidently leaned towards politics and philosophy, if this is a representative reading list. Extensive reading, stimulating conversation, and staying informed provided French intellectuals with powerful currency in social circles on both sides of the Atlantic.

Lafayette wrote in part, translated, with punctuation silently added to improve clarity:

"You would give me great pleasure, my dear Alexandre, to send me a copy of your 'Mercury' [a French magazine] which included a discussion of a worse work by Miss Wright 'Several Days In Athens.' … [what was] your impression of M. du Laure on the events of the Revolution?

The additions to M. du Laure's work on Paris, will they not be printed as part of the subscriptions from the first edition? When will they appear? Good day and a thousand good wishes.

Lafayette

I can no longer find the third volume in 40 de Toulonger [?]; the rest, I believe, are at the editors' of your memoirs on the Revolution…"

Lafayette's letter mentions a specific work written by one "Miss Wright." This was Frances Wright (1795-1852), the Scottish writer, feminist, and social reformer, who was also Lafayette's friend from 1821. Wright's philosophical dialogue "Several Days In Athens" was published the previous year in London. Wright's story, set in ancient Greece, focuses on the intellectual awakening of the protagonist Theon, who samples various ideas from both Stoics and Epicureans. Lafayette liked Wright and her work so much that he sent Thomas Jefferson two volumes of Wright's works for the latter's personal library in May 1823, one of which was "Several Days In Athens."

Lafayette also expresses interest in "M. du Laure." This referred to the French politician Jacques-Antoine Dulaure (1755-1835), whose multi-volume series "Esquisses historiques des principaux événemens de la Révolution française, depuis la convocation des États-Généraux jusqu'au réetablissement de la maison de Bourbon" (Paris: Baudouin Freres, 1823-1825) was in the process of being published and released. The translated title of Dulaure's work was "Historical Sketches of the Principal Events of the French Revolution, from the Convocation of the Estates-General until the Reestablishment of the House of Bourbon."

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: framed: 13" x 21.5" x 1.25"
  • Medium: ALS

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