1909 French Bill of Exchange – Tollet & Drevet, Lyon

Original French bill of exchange dated 16 November 1909, issued in Lyon by Tollet & Drevet, successors to Perrissol & Pidault, trading under the name “Aux Forges de France”.

This striking early 20th-century commercial document features a highly decorative industrial illustrated letterhead, depicting machinery and workshop equipment alongside the wording “Machines-Outils pour Ateliers de Construction – Forges & Fonderies.”

Completed by hand, the bill records an amount of 29.55 francs and was addressed to Monsieur Salvat, hardware merchant in Seyne, Basses-Alpes.

Numerous original commercial and banking markings remain visible across the document, including Crédit Lyonnais stamps, handwritten endorsements, collection marks and an original 5-centime French fiscal stamp bearing a company cancellation.

The reverse preserves further endorsements, payment instructions, signatures and banking stamps, documenting the successive circulation and processing of the bill through the French commercial banking system.

The combination of industrial engraving, ornate typography, manuscript entries and layered bank markings gives this document exceptional graphic and historical character.

A fascinating piece of French industrial ephemera and banking history, ideal for collectors of antique commercial paper, historic financial documents, industrial advertising and early 20th-century French ephemera.

Details

Origin: Lyon, France
Date: 16 November 1909
Company: Tollet & Drevet
Former company: Perrissol & Pidault
Trade name: Aux Forges de France
Document: Original bill of exchange / commercial draft
Amount: 29.55 francs
Recipient: Monsieur Salvat, hardware merchant, Seyne, Basses-Alpes
Features: Illustrated industrial letterhead, handwritten entries, bank stamps, endorsements and fiscal stamp
Language: French
Period: Early 20th century
Dimensions: 27.5 × 10.5 cm (10.8 × 4.1 in)

Condition

Very good antique condition with normal signs of age and commercial use, including light toning, manuscript annotations, banking marks and small traces of handling. These original features form part of the document’s commercial 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.