Letter from General Coste de Champeron to Lancer Captain Boulon de Moncey, 1863

A letter from the illustrious general of the French cavalry during the period of Napoleon III, General Coste de Champeron (aka General Gustave-Jean-Jacques-Louis Coste de Champeron [see https://gw.geneanet.org/pierfit?lang=en&p=gustave&n=coste+de+champeron]) (1807–1874), giving a negative response to a request for promotion from Lancer Captain Bourlon de Moncey.

From a personal standpoint this letter is much more than a rare and unusual historical document.
For me, the tone and the brevity of what is written, along with the small size of the page made even smaller with fold marks in half and then into quarters, reflects not only personal dynamics but also the broader context of military culture during the Second Empire in France (1852–70).

Histoire de Guerre offers the following biographical details about General Coste de Champeron: (transl.) “COSTE DE CHAMPERON (Gustave-Jean-Jacques-Louis). French cavalry general (Paris 1807 – 1874). A graduate of the Saint-Cyr military school, second lieutenant in 1830, he was admitted to the Saumur cavalry school, then served in Algeria. Lieutenant in 1832, captain in 1835, he returned to France, was appointed lieutenant-colonel in 1848, colonel in 1852. He returned to Algeria before leaving for the Crimean War. Brigadier general since 1854, he then took part in the Italian campaign. He commanded the cavalry division of the 2nd Army during the Franco-German War of 1870” (https://www.histoire-de-guerre.net/article/item/1380-coste-de-champeron).

Hand written letter in brown ink on buff coloured laid paper with folds.

Size: (sheet) 21 x 27cm.

Regarding the hand-written text, although I can decipher enough words to appreciate the broad tone of the letter, I am unable to provide a reliable translation.

Condition: Beyond signs of wear along the fold marks of the page, the sheet is in a good condition with no tears, holes or significant stains.

I am selling this curiously interesting historical document from the period of Napoleon III in France, signed by General Coste de Champeron and advising Lancer Captain Bourlon de Moncey that his request for a promotion had been declined, for the total cost of AU$256 (currently US$169.12/EUR156.56/GBP130.52 at the time of this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$256) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this unique letter, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.