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a piece of old paper with writing on it
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Estimate €700 - €800
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Description
MERMOZ Jean L.A.S. ‘Ton Jean’, Buenos Aires, 6 January 1929, to his ‘Beloved Mum’; 3 pages, in-4 format, on Via Aeropostal paper. Complications with the transatlantic flight project. He sent her some cheques. ‘I would have fought tooth and nail if I’d thought you were skint. I don’t know what’s come over me. I’m definitely losing my sense of practicality—oh, not the love I have for you, my dear little mum; you don’t doubt that, do you? Because I put you above everything else, but I’m so absorbed that I sometimes forget to eat—that’s quite something, for example. As soon as I’m with my mates, I’m not of this world. I really ought to come back down to earth from time to time, though, because I get into such a right mess! I’m constantly being invited out for dinner. I know loads of people here—or rather, I’m quite well known. Most of the time, I don’t even remember an invitation. People wait stoically for me; I don’t turn up; and the next day I don’t even apologise, having completely forgotten about it. I was somewhere else entirely when they spoke to me!!! It’s not down to absent-mindedness, though, because in my work I’ve got loads of ideas in my head, loads of things to keep me busy on top of my flights, and I never slip up”… He doesn’t yet know when he’ll be able to set off: “Everything was falling into place, and then Laurent Eynac decided to take control of the raid projects. My sponsor has just asked for a meeting with him to secure support and authorisation. I don’t know the outcome yet, and it’s driving me round in circles because if I were there, I could have smoothed out quite a few difficulties. From a distance and by letter, there’s not much we can do, and I’m angry with the Company for not allowing me to go. Especially as I’m prepared to go it alone to make my project a reality. So, they won’t come out of this any better!! We’ve almost got the money we need, but the manufacturer can’t start building the aeroplane until we’ve got authorisation from the Ministry of Aviation. What a nuisance these formalities are, and how they can sap one’s energy. So I’m seething, I’m on tenterhooks, I feel powerless to make any headway from a distance. In any case, if authorisation is granted, I intend to board the Lutetia, which leaves here on 1 February and arrives on the 14th.” He mentions the New Year celebrations: “I’ve never drunk as much champagne in my life as I have over these few days. Two binges so far – not too bad a start to the year. At the moment, I’m taking a break from drinking and getting some general rest. Excesses are incompatible with aviation, and if one wants to have a long career in it, one mustn’t overdo it”… 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
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