Offered here is an original folded French letter dated 1817, addressed to:
“Monsieur le Baron Manuel, Conseiller d’État, à Fougères.”
This is almost certainly addressed to Jacques-Antoine Manuel (1775–1827), the prominent liberal deputy and statesman of the Bourbon Restoration, known for his opposition speeches and eventual expulsion from the Chamber of Deputies in 1823.
📜 Content & Historical Context
The letter is political in nature and defensive in tone. The writer:
Thanks Manuel for a printed piece
Defends himself against criticism and accusations
References “le Conseil”
Mentions “Ministres des Finances”
Refers to matters concerning Germany
Denies involvement in “l’esprit d’intrigue”
Affirms loyalty as a “serviteur de la Couronne et de la religion”
This places the letter squarely in the volatile political climate of Restoration France (post-Napoleonic period), when tensions between royalists and liberals ran high and financial/diplomatic issues involving German states were sensitive topics.
Though unsigned, the tone suggests the author was an educated administrative or political figure writing at a peer level.
🧾 Paper & Authenticity
Dated 1817
Original folded letter sheet
Address panel intact
Red wax seal remnants present
Laid paper with “P.P.” (Pro Patria) watermark, consistent with high-quality early 19th-century Dutch paper widely used in official French correspondence
No later marks or modern alterations
The watermark strongly supports period authenticity.
📏 Condition
Typical fold lines from mailing
Minor edge wear and small loss at upper fold
Ink remains strong and legible
No restoration
Overall very good condition for an 1817 political letter.
📚 Why This Is Collectible
Directly addressed to a significant Restoration-era political figure
References to Germany and Finance ministries in the immediate post-Napoleonic period
Clear political content rather than routine personal correspondence
Intact address panel with title “Baron” underlined
Period Pro Patria watermark
Unsigned Restoration political correspondence to identifiable statesmen is increasingly difficult to find in clean, complete form.
📦 Included
Please review all images carefully. Feel free to ask any questions.
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