1920 Brussels Game Market Letter & Auction Invoice – Selys Longchamps Archive

Original 1920 Belgian commercial correspondence from America & Cie, a Brussels commission house and wholesale food merchant, addressed to Ed. de Selys at his Château d’Halloy.

This remarkable archival set brings together an original business letter, a detailed auction sales account and the original stamped envelope.

Dated 22 October 1920, the letter comes from America & Cie, a Maison de Commission founded in 1868 and established in Brussels near the Halles market.

The elaborate printed letterhead describes the company’s activities in the daily auction and wholesale trade of game, poultry, fruit, vegetables, butter, eggs, cheese, meat, fish and cured meats, as well as nuts, chestnuts, citrus fruit, cauliflower and potatoes.

The company writes to Ed. de Selys at the Château d’Halloy, enclosing a sales account amounting to 401.35 francs together with a postal money order for the balance.

The lower part of the letter acknowledges receipt of his previous correspondence and thanks him for a first consignment. America & Cie expresses the hope that the result of the sale will be satisfactory and states that two baskets would be returned the following morning.

Also included is the original narrow-format auction sales statement dated 22 October 1920, recording the sale of pheasants, hares and rabbits. The document lists quantities and sale proceeds, together with commission and related charges, and bears a “Mandat-Poste” marking.

The original envelope is printed with the America & Cie address at 13–17 Rue des Halles, Brussels and is addressed to Monsieur Edgar de Selys, Halloy, Braibant. It retains its Belgian postage stamp, Brussels cancellation dated 22 October 1920, and a contemporary postal slogan promoting postal transfers.

Together, these three documents provide an evocative glimpse into the Brussels food trade, game auctions and estate-related commercial correspondence in the immediate post–First World War period.

Included

• Original America & Cie commercial letter
• Original auction sales account for pheasants, hares and rabbits
• Original stamped and postmarked envelope

Dimensions

• Letter: 27.5 × 20.5 cm
• Auction invoice / sales account: 32 × 10.5 cm
• Envelope: 15.5 × 12.5 cm

Condition

Original antique documents showing normal age-related wear, including folds, toning, minor marks and edge wear. The envelope shows postal wear and small imperfections consistent with its age and use. Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the description.

Date: 1920
Origin: Brussels / Halloy, Belgium
Language: French
Original documents — not reproductions.

Provenance

From The Selys Longchamps Archive, a group of original early 20th-century letters, invoices, receipts and commercial papers connected with members of the Selys Longchamps family and Halloy.

Together, these documents offer a glimpse into the family’s private, commercial and estate-related correspondence.