1902 French Bill of Exchange – P. Arnaud & Cie, Lyon

Original French bill of exchange dated 10 June 1902, issued in Lyon by P. Arnaud & Cie, a metalworking business trading in “Métaux Ouvrés”.

Printed on distinctive pale green paper, the document features an elegant commercial letterhead with a heraldic lion and shield, together with the company addresses at Rue Sala and Quai Tilsitt in Lyon.

The bill was completed by hand and made payable at a later date. It was addressed to Salvat Fils, a hardware business in Seyne-les-Alpes.

Numerous period markings remain visible across the document, including Crédit Lyonnais bank stamps, handwritten endorsements, collection markings and an original French fiscal stamp. The reverse preserves additional signatures, banking marks and endorsements documenting the successive circulation of the bill.

The combination of pale green paper, ornate handwriting, fiscal stamp and layered banking marks gives this piece strong graphic appeal and makes it an evocative example of early 20th-century French commercial and banking history.

A fascinating piece for collectors of French banking ephemera, antique commercial paper, financial documents, industrial history and handwritten historical documents.

Details

Origin: Lyon, France
Date: 10 June 1902
Company: P. Arnaud & Cie
Trade: Metalworking / Métaux Ouvrés
Document: Original bill of exchange / commercial draft
Recipient: Salvat Fils, Seyne-les-Alpes
Features: Heraldic letterhead, handwritten entries, bank stamps, endorsements and fiscal stamp
Language: French
Period: Early 20th century
Dimensions: 26.5 × 10.5 cm (10.4 × 4.1 in)

Condition

Very good antique condition with normal signs of age, handling and commercial use. The handwritten annotations, banking stamps, endorsements and fiscal markings form part of the document's original history. Please refer closely to the photographs for condition and details.

Please note: the frame and decorative accessories shown in styled photographs are for display purposes only and are not included in the sale.