{"product_id":"1902-french-bill-exchange-bietrix-aine-lyon","title":"1902 French Bill of Exchange – Biétrix Aîné \u0026 Cie, Lyon","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal French bill of exchange dated 5 November 1902, issued in Lyon by Biétrix Aîné \u0026amp; Cie, the historic firm operating under the trade sign “À la Licorne”.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis striking early 20th-century commercial document features an elaborate illustrated letterhead depicting a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eunicorn above an ornamental column\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, surrounded by botanical, industrial and commercial motifs.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe historic Lyon firm Biétrix \u0026amp; Cie was associated with the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eÀ la Licorne\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e trade sign, a house whose origins date back to the 17th century.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCompleted by hand, the bill was addressed to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSalvat Fils\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a hardware merchant in Seyne-les-Alpes, Basses-Alpes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNumerous period banking and commercial markings remain visible across the front, including \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eComptoir National d’Escompte de Paris\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e stamps, collection marks, handwritten entries and endorsements.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe reverse preserves further signatures and banking stamps together with an original \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e5-centime French fiscal stamp\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, documenting the successive circulation and processing of the bill.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe combination of the unusual unicorn illustration, elegant typography, manuscript writing and layered banking marks gives this document exceptional decorative and historical character.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA fascinating piece of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrench banking ephemera and Lyon commercial history\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, ideal for collectors of antique paper, historic financial documents, illustrated letterheads and French trade ephemera.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDetails\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOrigin: Lyon, France\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDate: 5 November 1902\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCompany: Biétrix Aîné \u0026amp; Cie\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTrade sign: À la Licorne\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDocument: Original bill of exchange \/ commercial draft\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRecipient: Salvat Fils, Seyne-les-Alpes, Basses-Alpes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeatures: Illustrated unicorn letterhead, handwritten entries, banking stamps, endorsements and fiscal stamp\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLanguage: French\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeriod: Early 20th century\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e27.5 × 10.5 cm (10.8 × 4.1 in)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVery good antique condition with normal signs of age and commercial use, including light toning, handling marks and period annotations. Handwritten entries, bank stamps, endorsements and fiscal markings form part of the document’s original history. Please refer closely to the photographs for condition and details.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlease note: the frame and decorative accessories shown in styled photographs are for display purposes only and are not included in the sale.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Escritorie","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54245683757403,"sku":"BEX-0006","price":24.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1035\/7935\/3435\/files\/001-img998-bordure.jpg?v=1791115415","url":"https:\/\/escritorie.com\/products\/1902-french-bill-exchange-bietrix-aine-lyon","provider":"Escritorie","version":"1.0","type":"link"}