a piece of old paper with handwriting on it
Premium Artcurial

Estimate €500 - €700
Description
MERMOZ Jean L.A.S. ‘Jean’, Toulouse, Sunday [23 February 1930], to his grandparents, the GILLETs; 2 pages, in-4. Training on seaplanes. “I returned from Perpignan today, unable to continue my test flights on Lake St Laurent due to the snow and storm-force winds. My aircraft is ready. We have therefore decided to send it to Marseille, where I will be able to continue my test flights in complete safety. I am to attempt the first transatlantic postal flight with the post of 17 March, departing from St Louis [in Senegal] at 10 o’clock in the evening.” He will go to see his grandparents as soon as the trials are over. After giving news of his mother, he mentions his ‘upcoming long journeys. I have absolute confidence in everything that is greater than us and in myself. I shall succeed; have no fears. It sometimes—often—seems to me that my life follows a flawless curve, an almost mathematical yet ideally ascending progression, and I believe in a most beautiful destiny that has been bestowed upon me, one that I must know how to and be able to achieve. I have never been afraid… not even of being afraid, and I would like you to have the same sense of security, the same certainties as I do… believe in me’… Source: - Jean Mermoz (1901–1936); - Gabrielle Gillet-Mermoz (1880–1955); - Then passed down through the family
See original version (French)
About the sale Historical Memories
Auction location
Auction time 11/03/2026 at 11:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
You may also like