1896 French Marble Trade Letter – Fourcade, Ablard & Cie, Paris

Original French ephemera: a commercial letter dated 29 June 1896, issued by E. Fourcade, Ablard & Cie, a Paris firm specialising in marble, mosaics, architectural fittings and decorative building materials.

The document features an exceptionally elaborate illustrated letterhead with detailed engravings of the company’s hydraulic works at Saint-Martin, steam-powered factory at Saint-Estève, and its offices and sales premises at Quai Vauban.

The printed advertising section promotes the firm’s “Mosaïque des Pyrénées” and lists a wide range of architectural and decorative products, including tiles, slabs, staircases, columns, balustrades, tables, guéridons, sinks, fountains, baths, plinths and monuments, together with marble inlay work.

The company also gives its Paris addresses at 187 Rue de Bercy and 71 Rue Lafayette, with Félix Gauthier named as general agent, and advertises its role as a distributor of ceramic tiles from Paray-le-Monial.

The handwritten correspondence concerns an interior furnishing project and discusses a fireplace, its proportions, construction and pricing. The continuation on the reverse includes further measurements and prices for fireplace components and accessories, together with references to faience interiors, metal fittings and coloured marble samples.

The letter also mentions sending an album of available models and marble colour samples, offering a fascinating glimpse into the way late nineteenth-century architectural and decorative materials were presented and sold to customers.

Written on both sides of the sheet, this is a particularly attractive example of French commercial correspondence connected with marble work, fireplace design, architecture and interior decoration.

Details

• Origin: France
• Date: 29 June 1896
• Business: F. Fourcade, Ablard & Cie
• Location: Paris, France
• Type: Business / commercial correspondence
• Industry: Marble, mosaics, architectural materials and interior decoration
• Language: French
• Double-sided handwritten letter
• Highly decorative illustrated commercial letterhead
• Hydraulic and steam-powered factory illustrations
• Paris sales and depot addresses
• Mosaïque des Pyrénées advertising
• Paray-le-Monial ceramic tiles advertised
• Fireplace design and pricing discussed
• Marble colours and samples mentioned
• Architectural fittings and decorative materials
• Original antique document, not a reproduction or digital download

Dimensions

• Approx. 27.5 × 21.5 cm
  (height × width)

Condition

Authentic late nineteenth-century paper with age-related toning, scattered marks, light staining and handling wear consistent with its age and use.

The sheet shows visible original fold lines, light creasing and minor edge and corner wear. Some small marks and areas of discoloration are present.

Because the paper is relatively thin, portions of the handwriting and printed letterhead from the opposite side show through naturally.

Despite these signs of age, the elaborate illustrated letterhead and handwritten correspondence remain clearly visible overall.

Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.

You will receive the exact original double-sided letter shown in the photographs.

Frame and decorative accessories are not included.