On offer is a charming, original manuscript diary dated 1949 handwritten by a University of Mississippi coed enjoying Campus life and academics. Beginning, in the largish 8 x 5 inch page a day book, February 1st and while a little sporadic at times she does a good job detailing her life through to August. Being this was her senior year and she was a popular student with many friends and activities we note her sorority and social life were a whirlwind all while she studied Russian history. Of some small note she was an extra in the filming of the INTRUDER IN THE DUST movie, written by William F... View More...
On offer is a charming brace of poems circa late 18th or early 19th century ephemera. On a folio sheet folded is an antique handwritten poem in an unknown hand credited to Captain Thompson [Edward, b. 1738? - 1786] titled: 'The Choice of a Wife By Cheese' about a man in York named Pimlico who put to Nancy, Betsey and Sally the task of making cheese and thereupon he chose his wife. This poem in neat hand takes up three-quarters of the page. A shorter poem described as an inscription above a doctor's door in Sussex fills the page. The names Mr. Longden and Wm. Mitchell are on the reverse. Lovely... View More...
On offer is a sensational, original relic of late 18th Century religious manifestation being a five [5] page manuscript account of a young girl's religious visions and experiences as detailed and handwritten by an unknown eyewitness. Hannah Coy the 9 year old girl is recorded as having been in a trance and while under its influence having religious revelations of Heaven and Hell and seeing Jesus, God and the Devil. The narrator, it appears, witnessed the child in trance while she saw this vision, the writer basically records what Hannah said and saw using Hannah's own words. It begins thusly: ... View More...
On offer is a simply outstanding historical document dating back over 510 years and peering into the history of a storied military order of knights in the middle ages. Dated 1508, the manuscript belonged to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. The Order was one of the three great military orders of medieval Europe, along with the Knights Templar and the Teutonic Knights. This manuscript was found within a packet of old letters and documents and is a true treasure. The authenticity of this document is established by a clear reference to the Order and an imprint of the Order's coat of arms. The d... View More...
On offer is a superb two-page on four leaves ancient gothic document. Cursory research finds that this 1606 document written during the reign of Henri IV specifically refers to the Armenian population of Europe and makes mention of the famed Seyne [sometimes Seine] family of Armenians and the town named after them. Very rare as such. A photocopy of notes regarding the document in French accompany the original. View More...
On offer is a document fragment that dates from early 17th century France. The earliest date in the document is 1626. The document consists of five very well-identified paragraphs. It may well be a contract or agreement as it does not bear the customary salutations or a complimentary close. The early 1600?s were a time of major turmoil within France. In 1600, France was essentially a Catholic country. However, there was a sizable minority of the population, known as Huguenots, who followed the religious teachings of John Calvin. Under Henri IV, they had been granted a number of protections and... View More...
On offer is very detailed manuscript dating from 17th century France. The manuscript is dated 1696. Although very difficult read, there are some references within that are worth noting. There is a reference to the Seigneur de Valon. Valon is located in the Occitane region of south central France. The site has been occupied by a castle fortress since the mid-1100?s. Although unnamed, records indicate that the castle was in the hands of Estienne De Chaumeil de Dienne. Our informal research has not found any additional biographical information about the castle's owner. The castle passed through s... View More...
On offer is a financial document dating from the early 18th century in France. The document was drafted in Normandy. There are references to the city of Caen. Although not expressly stated (possibly due to missing text) , the context seems to suggest a marriage agreement between several parties. There are a number of names mentioned in the document with light underlining added some time later. Those names appear on a separate included list. The document refers to some amounts of money, as evidenced by the quote from the document below: ?avec la somme de l'aise livres en argent les quelles meub... View More...
On offer is a fascinating example of both a legal document and the handwriting script of 18th century France involving an Admiral of the French Navy. This legal note appears to have been folded and perhaps served as a cover note to a file. It references a legal action between Jean-Baptiste Barthélémy Thomas, Comte d?Orves and one Francis Balthayard Balalard Bourg. The specifics of the case are not detailed. Jean-Baptiste Barthélémy Thomas, Comte d?Orves was born to the d?Estienne family, a noble house of Provence. He served in the French Navy, rising to the rank of Captain. D?Estienne d'Orves ... View More...
On offer: ORIGINAL CONTRACT TO BORROW MONEY FROM A JEWISH MONEYLENDER IN 1734 as such VERY RARE loan agreement (debt-letter) for money provided by a Jew, "David von Büdesheim" in 1734. Very Fine Judaica, manuscript in ink on thick paper from Germany. Folio double leaf, all 4 pages written: Page 1: loan contract between Christoph Schröder (and wife) and "Schutz Juden David von Büdesheim", Page 2: condition and terms for repayment, Page 3: court confirmation with witnesses-repayment has to be made until 1735, page 4: hebrew notes probably made by the lender. Manuscript is dated o... View More...
On offer is an interesting French letter of introduction bearing the seal of the Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, one of the great military orders of Europe. The letter introduces a M. Nicolas Louis de Puithereau. Our informal research has confirmed the existence of this family and possibly this individual in the Seine-Maritime department of France. Throughout the letter there are references to several other individuals as well. The letter ends with three flourished signatures. The handwriting is a very neat but tight and fine copperplate. Of particular interest is ... View More...
On offer is an accounting report for l'Hopital des Incurables in Paris France covering the years 1754 to 1763. This folio of two 23" x 19" folded sheets is a complete and detailed accounting of expenses, receivables etc for a ten year period. Beautiful penned final audit of the hospital's accounting. Folded twice into a quarter size, the documents are in good+ shape with some framing to the facing pages and some minor splits to some of the folds. Interior pages are super. Provenance: The collection of SIR THOMAS PHILLIPPS (1792-1872). Born in 1792, Sir Thomas Phillipps from childhood ... View More...
On offer is a remarkable revolutionary-era legal document involving a man whose name became synonymous with treason and treachery in American history and culture. The lawsuit, brought by Benedict Arnold, bears direct connection to other revolutionaries including Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin. The document is a legal pleading in a lawsuit in the New York Supreme Court, filed in October 1765, which corresponds to the fifth and early sixth years of the reign of King George III. The lawsuit is between Benedict Arnold [see historical note below] and two men: John Mecom, the nephew of Fou... View More...
On offer are three small documents detailing financial transactions dating from 1773 in pre-Revolutionary France. The receipts are acknowledgements loans to one M. M. De Ligny. Our informal research has not been able to find any additional biographical information. Each loan is for 1,765 livres or about US$250.00 in 2020. An interesting feature is that his wife is referred to each of the receipts and on one, her signature is affixed. For a historian, these are fine examples of the types of personal financial transactions that people frequently engaged in. For someone interested in gender studi... View More...
On offer is an excellent example of a French legal document from the years immediately preceding the French Revolution. The document is an extract from the legal registry of Britanny. Drafted in 1777, it describes an agreement between Hyacinthe-Laurent du Pontavice and a woman named Olive Marie Malkerbe. The Pontavice family were French nobility dating back to the early middle ages. Hyacinthe-Laurent du Pontavice was a lieutenant of the Marshals of France and captain-commander of the king's hunts at Fougères in 1788. The reference to St. Ouen in the document refers to the Chateau St Ouen, a ca... View More...
On offer is an excellent example of a land plan and description dating from April, 1778. The document consists of a detailed eight page description and a one page sketch map of the land plot in question. The pages detail an agreement between Pierre Alexandre de Sorbiers and Louis Antoine Bourdin. The document comprises eight pages of notes and one page depicting a map of the land being referenced. They are sewn together with a light twine and the map drawing is attached to it with twine as well. The document is titled: Tableau de Descriptions, [ ] et Observations Necessaires a l'Intelligence d... View More...
On offer is fascinating document from the early days of the French Revolution with a mysterious connection to Benjamin Franklin, one of the great Founders of the United States. The document relates to the forfeiture of an estate and its subsequent auction. It describes the steps taken by the local Directoire du District (District Executive Council) of the Department of Cher in central France to auction off a particular property. The President of the District Council at the time was Pierre-Antoine-Jean Remond. He had an interesting connection with Benjamin Franklin, which is described below. Fo... View More...
On offer is a fascinating appeal from a German doctor living in revolutionary France to the Committee of General Security. The letter was written ? Year 2? of the new French Republic ? 1793 by the Gregorian calendar. The letter appears to be a reference for another person, a Doctor Suiffert who is identified simply as ?Saxon?. The writer?s name is not legible. The letter is addressed to the Committee of General Security. The Committee of General Security was a French parliamentary committee which acted as police agency during the French Revolution that, along with the Committee of Public Safet... View More...
On offer is an interesting letter written to the French Minister of War during the French Revolution. The letter was written in March, 1798, using the new Revolutionary calendar dating style. It was addressed to the Minister of War who was, at the time, Barthélemy Schérer. Schérer had a long military career. Born in France, he first served in the Austrian army before returning home to join the French army. Five years later he left again, this time to join the Dutch Army. Several years later, he returned to France and reentered the French army. This time he stayed and built a career, rising to ... View More...
On offer is an excellent example of a commercial contract dating to the earliest years in France following the Revolutionary War. The document is a commercial agreement involving several parties and dealing with a consignment of white wine. The agreement was struck in La Rochelle in 1801. La Rochelle was France?s major Atlantic seaport. Founded in the 10th century, it became a significant commercial and fishing port. It played a large role in the French slave trade. Home to Huguenots, the city figure in the French Wars of Religion of the 17th century. As the slave trade dwindled and the Revolu... View More...
