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two old letters are sitting on top of a piece of paper
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Estimate €800 - €1,000
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Description
MERMOZ Jean Autograph letter signed ‘Jean’, La Rochelle, 5 November 1927, to his ‘Beloved Mum’; 2 pages, in-4, on letterhead from the Hôtel de France & d’Angleterre. Setting off by ship for Brazil. As the ship did not stop at Bordeaux, he travelled to La Rochelle to board the liner Le Groix. ‘It will take me a little longer, as I’ll be stopping off at Bilbao, Lisbon, Dakar, Natal and finally Rio de Janeiro, where I’ll arrive. But that will only make the journey all the more wonderful. […] Mr Latécoère did not want me to make the crossing, but I have instructions to undertake a flight from Natal to Chile covering eight or ten thousand kilometres with just one stopover, and perhaps even to attempt the straight-line distance record!”… Enclosed is a letter ‘Jean’, Dakar, 17 November 1927, to ‘Dear Mum’ (1½ pages, in-8 format, with the ‘Chargeurs Réunis’ logo): ‘We are anchored in the harbour at Dakar. It’s impossible to go ashore because of yellow fever, which is still claiming many victims. It’s absolutely sweltering!! The crossing so far has been uneventful. It’s rather sad, though, as most of the passengers are disembarking in Dakar, naturally haunted by the fear of the fever! The sea has been splendid since Porto. But from La Rochelle to Portugal, the weather was dreadful. Not a moment’s discomfort. I’m eating like four people, as usual. Another ten days’ crossing to Rio de Janeiro, where I shall settle for the time being’... Correspondence, nos. 126 and 128. Source: - Jean Mermoz (1901–1936); - Gabrielle Gillet-Mermoz (1880–1955); - Then passed down through the family
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About the sale Historical Memories
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Auction time 11/03/2026 at 11:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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