France - mourning covers mystery...
Dec 16, 2021 20:21:53 GMT
Beryllium Guy, greaden, and 7 more like this
Post by jamesw on Dec 16, 2021 20:21:53 GMT
Hi Everyone. Last summer I picked up this collection of eight mourning covers and an antique market. Now, I don't collect France in general, though I do have a couple of French covers, but I couldn't pass these up. I was intrigued.
All eight were sent between 1910 and 1923 to the same person, Henri Désiré Bernard de Leschaux (1855 - 1939). I found some info about Mssr de Leschaux (sometimes Deleschaux) online. He was a lawyer and career diplomat, having been stationed in French colonies Obock, French Somali Coast, Congo and Dahomey. He was a Captain of hte Marchand mission and Knight of the Legion of Honour. A rather distinguished gent.
He was married in 1900, his wife 20 years his junior and had three daughters.
The envelopes themselves were sent by five individuals, four from one writer with obviously distinct handwriting. Some of the envelopes contain letters or card. My French being so poor, I cannot translate.
All the covers sport the definitive Semeuse or sower stamp. The earliest covers all have the 10c Scott# 162 (with a number of discernible varieties), 15c #139 and 25c #168.
The mystery to me is, why so many mourning covers over a thirteen year period? Hi wife outlived him by many years, as did, I assume, his daughters (they are mentioned briefly in the bios).
I know some government agencies send mourning covers over long periods when a monarch or head of state dies. But looking at Frances history I don't see anything shocking. President Félix Faure died in 1899 while in office, but that's the closest I can find.
So! I would like to hear the thoughts of all the French historians out there. Any ideas what might have happened during that period which could have cause the sending of so many mourning covers to one man from five others?
Interested to hear your thoughts.
All eight were sent between 1910 and 1923 to the same person, Henri Désiré Bernard de Leschaux (1855 - 1939). I found some info about Mssr de Leschaux (sometimes Deleschaux) online. He was a lawyer and career diplomat, having been stationed in French colonies Obock, French Somali Coast, Congo and Dahomey. He was a Captain of hte Marchand mission and Knight of the Legion of Honour. A rather distinguished gent.
He was married in 1900, his wife 20 years his junior and had three daughters.
The envelopes themselves were sent by five individuals, four from one writer with obviously distinct handwriting. Some of the envelopes contain letters or card. My French being so poor, I cannot translate.
All the covers sport the definitive Semeuse or sower stamp. The earliest covers all have the 10c Scott# 162 (with a number of discernible varieties), 15c #139 and 25c #168.
The mystery to me is, why so many mourning covers over a thirteen year period? Hi wife outlived him by many years, as did, I assume, his daughters (they are mentioned briefly in the bios).
I know some government agencies send mourning covers over long periods when a monarch or head of state dies. But looking at Frances history I don't see anything shocking. President Félix Faure died in 1899 while in office, but that's the closest I can find.
So! I would like to hear the thoughts of all the French historians out there. Any ideas what might have happened during that period which could have cause the sending of so many mourning covers to one man from five others?
Interested to hear your thoughts.
