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two letters from a letter written to a man who was murdered by the nazis
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Estimate €1,000 - €1,200
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MERMOZ Jean 3 letters ‘Jean’, Casablanca and Natal, September 1934, to his ‘Beloved Mum’; 7¼ pages, in-8 format, 2 on letterhead from the Majestic Hotel, Casablanca, the 3rd with an Air France stamp, one envelope. Casablanca. – Monday. ‘A few words from Casa, where I arrived yesterday evening. I was recalled from Perpignan to fly the transatlantic service; there was no pilot available’. He is still waiting in Saint-Laurent: “Bad weather and little enthusiasm from the official committee, which must be present at the aircraft’s handover before I am authorised to do anything. In short, I think my crossing will be delayed by about a fortnight and that, in any case, I won’t be able to carry out the 17th’s mail service. I’m furious”… – Saturday [3 September]. “Just a few words to let you know that my thoughts are often with you, that everything is fine now and that we’re setting off for Cisneros tomorrow morning. The day after tomorrow we expect to be in Praïa and on Tuesday evening in Natal”… Natal, 24 September 1934. “I intend to leave this evening for Cisneros and return to Natal eight days later, then on to Rio to finalise my negotiations, which are going very well, and sign the contracts with the Brazilian government. I shall therefore not be returning to France until the end of October. […] Couzinet is in Rio. It seems the orders have been placed. In Rio, I introduced him properly to the government. He might well manage to set up something interesting”… Enclosed is another handwritten letter signed ‘Jean’ to his mother: ‘These few words, written in Algiers and which I am taking with me tomorrow, will bring you a little of my affection. This letter has done me a world of good; it has been an excellent remedy for my weary soul. It feels as though I am waking up from a nightmare that has lasted a month and a half!” (1½ pages, in-8 format, on letterhead from the Central Touring Hotel in Algiers). Provenance: - Jean Mermoz (1901–1936); - Gabrielle Gillet-Mermoz (1880–1955); - Passed down through the family
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Auction time 11/03/2026 at 11:00 AM
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