A 2pp letter in French signed by French Minister of Foreign Affairs Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754-1838), as "ch mau talleyrand" at the bottom of the second page. The letter is inscribed in a neat secretarial script on either side of pale greenish gray paper, with a partly printed letterhead and "République Française" vignette at top. Issued from Paris, France on 22 vendémiaire an XII in the Republican calendar, or October 15, 1803 in the Gregorian calendar. Two manuscript dockets appear in the upper left corner. Expected wear including flattened folds and negligible paper flaws. The letter is partly hinged on one edge to a former collector's folder bearing a brief English language catalog description appended verso. Else near fine. 7.75" x 11.875." Provenance: The letter is contained within an archival folder from the American Art Association Anderson Galleries, Inc. and was acquired by Sotheby's in 1952. The folder measures 10" x 14." From a recently discovered collection that has not seen the light of day for over 70 years!

Talleyrand addressed this letter to Edouard Bignon (1771-1841), the French Minister Plenipotentiary of Kassel, in the newly minted Electorate of Hesse, now part of central modern-day Germany. Talleyrand's letter related to reciprocal civil rights granted to Hessian citizens in France, and to French citizens in Hesse.

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

"The Minister of Foreign Affairs
To Citizen Bignon, Minister Plenipotentiary of the French Republic at Kassel

Citizen Minister, the C[itiz]en Chrétien Weidenmuller, a shoemaker native to Bornig in the bailiwick of Langenschwalbach [modern day Bad Schwalbach, Germany] in the Country of Hesse-Kassel, being established in the Commune of Niederingelheim [part of Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany] near Mayence [Mainz, Germany] since 1793, and being married to a woman from that place having in consequence acquired the Qualities and Rights of French Citizens, desires to be able to dispose of the modest Estate that he possesses in his native Country and to transport its product to his current domicile.

After the declaration that I authorized Citizen Rivals, your Predecessor, to make to the Hessian Minister this past Thermidor an X [August 1802], to the effect of freeing propertied French Citizens in Hessian Territory from all rights of expatriation, detraction, or windfall relative to the disposition of their funds, in offering on our part reciprocity of treatment for the inhabitants of the Country of Hesse called to follow to France, I believe that the request of Chrétien Weidenmuller will not be difficult to grant, and I beg you in consequence to put it under the eyes of the Minister of S.A.E. [Son Altesse Excellence], whose decision about this request I'd like to know.

I have the honor of saluting you.

ch mau talleyrand."

The two dockets at upper left indicate that this request was forwarded on 6 Brumaire an XII or October 29, 1803; and that the request was granted on March 30, 1804.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord was a versatile French politician and diplomat. Over his 50-year career, Talleyrand served kings, revolutionary assemblies, self-appointed emperors, and constitutional monarchs with equal aplomb. His ability to survive through turbulent political periods, and seamlessly transition from serving administrations of completely opposite political values, made Talleyrand a legend during his lifetime. "Talleyrand" is now a byword meaning political astuteness.

Edouard Bignon began his diplomatic career in Berlin, the Swiss Confederation, and the Cisalpine Republic of northern Italy. He served as French Minister Plenipotentiary at Kassel from around 1804-1806. Bignon later worked towards creating the Confederation of the Rhine, a political alliance of lesser German states that served as satellites of the French Empire from 1806-1813.

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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