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Estimate €4,000 - €5,000
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MERMOZ Jean 12 letters ‘Jean’, 1923 and undated, to his ‘Beloved Mum’; 32 pages, in-8 or in-4. During his postings in Essey-lès-Nancy and then at the Basse-Yütz camp in Thionville. Paris, 10 May. Staying in Ferrières with his friend Coursault. Whilst taking his bike back to Pontoise, he saw his dog: ‘My old Rip gave me such a warm welcome, that’s all I’ll say’… Nancy, 16 June. He is on duty, fed up with the service: ‘But what on earth have I come here to do in this mess? And poorly fed to boot – mutton and beans, beans and mutton, and beef only now and then. I’m learning not to be fussy anymore. I’ve submitted my request to go to Morocco. My squadron commander has given it his approval. […] We haven’t flown yet. It’s raining non-stop. […] How glad I’ll be to leave the military”… – “My squadron is a squadron of aces; the captain is very smart, but we don’t fly much”… – 28 June. “I’ve been flying quite a bit these past few days, thank goodness. I plan to fly at night tomorrow, weather permitting”… – 9 August. He hopes to see his ‘dear Mum’ in Mainbressy. – Monday: ‘I’ve gone back to the routine. I found the barracks even more dreary this morning when I arrived, which is inevitable after two days that were far too good and far too short’… Thionville – 10 September. “I got back just in time for the start of the week. I hope it ends without any disciplinary detention. I felt a bit down this morning, as I always do after coming back from leave”… – ‘I’m in detention at the moment. One prank follows another […] I’m being punished pointlessly for some silly duty-related matter […] Everything comes to an end: “they” won’t be able to hold me here for much longer. I’m applying to join the night fighter unit, a special squadron not attached to any regiment, which is being formed in Metz”… – 4 October. “I fly for an hour and a half every day. I’m honing my skills in all kinds of aerobatics”… – 13 December. “The commander has put me forward for a six-month compulsory leave of absence, on the basis of my good service record. […] I’m awaiting a reply from Latécoère, to whom I wrote on Monday. The reply I’m expecting will decide quite a few things”… [Mainbressy]. Staying with his grandparents: “Disgusting weather. Non-stop downpour”… (Mrs Gillet then takes up the pen). An autograph letter ‘Jean’ to his mother is enclosed, before setting off ‘on the road’, thanking her for her good wishes and asking for a piece of fabric to mend his green suit (2 pp. in-8); and a telegram, [12 March 1923]: ‘Disembarking today, will arrive tomorrow morning’… Provenance: - Jean Mermoz (1901–1936); - Gabrielle Gillet-Mermoz (1880–1955); - Passed down within the family through the generations
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About the sale Historical Memories
Auction location
Auction time 11/03/2026 at 11:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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