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Maître MIALLON
21
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PRASLIN]. Court of Peers. Murder of the Duchess of Praslin.
See original version (French)
21
-
PRASLIN]. Court of Peers. Murder of the Duchess of Praslin.
See original version (French)
Estimate
€100 - €150
Voluntary lot
Description
PRASLIN]. Court of Peers. Murder of the Duchess of Praslin. Proceedings. Various minutes, witness statements, examinations. P., Royal Press, August 1847. 244 pp., 3 plates. [Followed by:] Minutes of the hearings relating to this case. Paris, Crapelet, 1847. 58 pp. [Followed by:] Supplement to the documents produced before the Court. Paris, Royal Press, August 1847. 20 pp. [Followed by:] Extracts from the letters of the Duchess of Praslin and other handwritten documents found amongst her papers. 86 pp. [Followed by:] Report drawn up by the Chancellor of France, President of the Court of Peers. Paris, Royal Press, August 1847. 14 pp. Bound with: Court of Peers. Assassination attempt of 16 April 1846. Judgement of Wednesday 27 May 1846. Indictment. Maris, Royal Press, May 1846. 28 pp. Set of 6 documents in one quarto volume, fawn half-shagreen with corners, ribbed spine.
First editions of these documents from the trial relating to the murder of the Duchess of Choiseul-Praslin, who was murdered by her husband on 18 August 1847.
The first document is accompanied by three large fold-out plans, one of which depicts the scene of the crime with blood spatters and pools marked in red ink.
Victor Hugo, at the time a Peer of France and a member of the investigating committee, describes the crime scene in his *Choses vues*: “The investigating peers visited the Hôtel Praslin the day before yesterday. The bedroom is still as it was on the morning of the crime. The blood, once red, has turned black. That is the only difference. This room is a sight to horrify. One can see, vividly and as if alive, the struggle and resistance of the duchess. Everywhere, bloodstained handprints stretch from one wall to another, from one door to another, from one doorbell to another. The unfortunate woman, like a wild beast caught in a trap, ran round her room screaming and searching for a way out whilst her murderer stabbed her.”
The Duke of Praslin, who was arrested and subsequently charged with murder, committed suicide in prison on 24 August, by ingesting a large dose of arsenic.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale
BOOKS – COMIC BOOKS – POSTCARDS – STAMPS
Auction location
Closing date
11/01/2026 at 8:00 PM
ID: 89527552
Ref. : V1576 - 27
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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