{"product_id":"1905-french-soldier-letter-fontainebleau","title":"1905 French Soldier Letter – Fontainebleau – Illustrated Military Stationery","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal French military correspondence dated 2 January 1905 in Fontainebleau, written on exceptionally decorative colour-illustrated military stationery.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis attractive early 20th-century letter was written by a French serviceman to his godfather and godmother to wish them a happy New Year.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe front of the sheet is richly illustrated with scenes of French military life, including a uniformed soldier, a military camp, field equipment, the French tricolour and a medal. The stationery was produced by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eE. Pandevant, Charenton-Paris\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, adding further period and graphic interest.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWritten in striking red ink, the personal message combines New Year wishes with details of the writer’s everyday military life. He refers to being on duty, winter weather and the practical realities of service, creating an intimate record of a French soldier’s life in the years before the First World War.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe combination of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ecolour military illustration, handwritten personal correspondence and an early 1905 date\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e makes this a particularly appealing piece for collectors of French militaria, historical letters and antique ephemera.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIncluded\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal handwritten military letter on illustrated stationery, writing on both sides.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• Folded: 21 × 14 cm\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal antique document showing normal age-related wear, including folds, light toning, foxing, small stains and marks consistent with more than a century of handling. Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the description.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDetails\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDate:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 2 January 1905\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Fontainebleau, France\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e French\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWriter:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e signature appears to read Joseph Pasquet\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e E. Pandevant, Charenton-Paris\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal document — not a reproduction.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollector’s note\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA highly decorative example of French military correspondence combining colourful patriotic imagery with a personal New Year message from a serviceman at the beginning of the 20th century.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Escritorie","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54209710883163,"sku":"MIL-0004","price":29.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1035\/7935\/3435\/files\/001-img949-bordure.jpg?v=1790599044","url":"https:\/\/escritorie.com\/products\/1905-french-soldier-letter-fontainebleau","provider":"Escritorie","version":"1.0","type":"link"}