Lot n° 323
Estimation :
800 - 1000
EUR
Charles MAUNOIR (1830-1901) geographer. 55... - Lot 323 - Ader
Charles MAUNOIR (1830-1901) geographer. 55 L.A.S., Paris 1873-1898, to Léon Garnier; 130 pages in-8 or in-12, numerous headers of the Geographical Society.
Beautiful correspondence evoking Francis Garnier, the famous explorer of Indochina.
Former military man turned geographer, Charles Maunoir published numerous articles and memoirs in scholarly journals such as L'Année géographique and the Bulletin de la Société de Géographie. From 1867 to 1896, he was secretary general of the Société de Géographie. His correspondent, Léon Garnier (1836-1901), was the brother of the famous explorer Francis Garnier (1839-1873), known for his important voyage through Indochina and southern China from 1866 to 1868.
The correspondence relates to Francis Garnier, his relatives and various publications related to his expedition: publication of the printed report of the voyage (1873); reading of a report to the Société de Géographie; provision of a sum of 3,000 F for Francis Garnier; request by the director of the Revue des Deux Mondes to speak with Léon Garnier; engraving of a map showing F. Garnier (1874); pension for his widow; project of a portrait of F. Garnier to be presented to the Société de Géographie; realization of a bust of the explorer by Topffer; protest to the Société d'Ethnographie (1875); delivery of a letter by Dutreuil de Rhins (1879); search for a lithographic stone at the engraver Erhard's containing F. Garnier's itinerary (1882); publication of a book on F. Garnier's life and work. Garnier's itinerary (1882); publication of Doudart de Lagrée's letters by Arthur de Villemereuil (1885); recommendations in favor of Sergeant Imbert, a former comrade-in-arms of F. Garnier, for the Military Medal and the Tonkin Medal (1889-1891), etc.
"I have my copy of Indo-China!... It is a superb work - and would have put the memory of your brother back into my heart, if it had been necessary. The matter of the expeditions to be made by the Geographical Society is settled. But I saw with regret that the name of Mr. Garrez had disappeared from the list of persons to whom the work is given... Mr. Garrez is one of the men who helped your brother with questions of Indian history. How can we put things back in the conditions that were [...] in accordance with your brother's wishes?" (January 7, 1873). "At our next meeting, March 7, M. Vivien de St. Martin will read the report on the voyage of exploration in Indo-China. I will say that we are sending you a convocation. But you are to be informed from now on. [...]. I almost forgot to tell you that I have received an affectionate letter from your brother to which I will reply as best I can" (February 22). "Here is an autograph giving the half reduction of your brother's card. It is from a copy of this autograph that the map will be engraved (route and dates will be in red). Do not let this document circulate because it is desirable that the Bulletin and the separate edition have the first place [...] We are going to undertake the campaign with the ministry so that the funds allocated to Mr. Delaporte be transmitted to your brother. Mr. Delaporte would have nothing to say and what he could not do in Tong King, for lack of health, he will perhaps find to do elsewhere" (January 6, 1874)... "If the death of your poor brother occurred in service, your sister-in-law is entitled to a pension of 1060 F. If not, the pension would be only half, that is 530 F. I don't think there can be any doubt about the situation" (January 14). "The president of the Geography Society has taken good note of the wish I expressed to him for the return of your sister-in-law from Shang-Haï [...] The Society is a milieu that will always welcome with the deepest sympathy everything that can be related to your brother, and on which you can, I believe, count in case of need" (January 19)... "This letter will be given to you by Mr. Dutreuil de Rhins, whose name is undoubtedly known to you and who is very involved in Indo-China. He is one of your brother's supporters and would like to talk with you about subjects that interest you. Mr. de Rhins is a reliable and upright man - whatever you tell him with reservations, he will not make use of it, especially a bad use of it" (October 8, 1879)... "In spite of all my research, I cannot get my hands on the stone of the Itinerary of Mr. Garnier. If, however, one can wait a few more days, it will perhaps be possible for me to find it" (Erhard to Maunoir, March 24, 1882, transmitted to L. Garnier); on the same sheet: "The philosopher's stone is not more difficult to find than this lithographic stone. Can you wait a little longer?... Could you give me back the nos. of the Explorateur on which you had put observations in red ink opposite the paragraphs of an article by M. de Villemereuil? (March 25, 1882)... We join
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