WAR OF 1870. Collection of 35 letters and documents, including 8 letters from Baron de TRIQUETI, entitled Le Perthuis pendant la Guerre, 1870-1871; all mounted on tabs in an in-4 volume bound in half vellum, smooth spine with calligraphic title. Provenance: Château du Perthuis. Very interesting set on the Prussian occupation of the Gâtinais region, and Baron de Triqueti's efforts to protect his fellow citizens. The documents are arranged in chronological order; we have grouped them together here. * 5 L.A.S. from J.C. DESTRÉES to Baron de Triqueti at Le Perthuis by Montargis, November 7 and 21, [15 ?] December 1870, and [20 ?January 1871, written on the last blank sheet of the Lettre-Journal de Paris, Gazette des Absents (nos. 5 and 9 [November 5 and 19], 16 and 20 with its supplement [December 14 and 28] and 29 [January 19], plus the supplement to no. 15), and sent by mounted balloon (stamps and postmarks): news of the fighting (especially at Le Bourget), mayoral elections, the situation in Paris; about the sculptor's workshop and the marbles for the Yates monument; Destrées also talks about his engraving work at the workshop and that of the other practitioners, complicated by their military duties; there's also talk of the balloon and pigeon service, the National Guard service, supply and heating problems, etc. * Henry de TRIQUETI. 3 minute letters (dictated to his wife Julia), and 3 L.A.S. (minutes), to Kronprinz Friedrich-Wilhelm, written from Château du Perthuis; 8 and 12 pages in-4. - November 22, 1870. He appeals to the Prince's kindness and justice. "Montargis, an open town, has made no resistance". He implores the Prince "for our families and our children whom all the ruins threaten at once"... - December 12. He thanks for the safe-conduct he did not use: "My duty is to remain in my country, my age no longer allows me to render but one service, that of protecting the unfortunate and caring for the wounded". He recalls the courageous conduct of Montargis mayor Garnier: "the town was converted into an ambulance where the unfortunate wounded Prussians and French received the most devoted care"... He implores the Prince's justice in favor of the two hostages, "old, sick", taken with Mayor Garnier, and asks that all three be returned to the town of Montargis; and he deplores that the plans made with the Princess Royal have been ruined, and hopes to be able to express his gratitude and that of his compatriots "through my work and devotion to Your Royal Highnesses"... - January 1, 1871. "I felt great consolation when I brought you the picture of our miseries. I found your heart as I had seen it before; good, Christian; sympathetic to our misfortunes"; but he regrets not having been able to obtain anything. On his return, he was stricken with violent ophthalmia and nearly lost his sight. He supports the request of the poor inhabitants of Ferrières, his neighbors... - January 15. He pleads at length the cause of M. Garnier, mayor of Montargis, whose courageous conduct he reports in detail, and who is still a prisoner, while the Republican sub-prefect is free on parole in Coblentz; he explains that the town of Montargis is crushed by contributions and must provide for the care of the wounded Prussians (an attached note calculates the expenses incurred by the town due to Prussian occupation). He asks the Prince to bring this information to the attention of Prince Frédéric-Charles. - February 15. He again pleads with the Prince on behalf of the town of Montargis, which is unable to pay the "war contribution of nearly four million"; the letter is accompanied by an autograph request for the Emperor. - February 22nd. He expresses the gratitude and confidence of the municipality of Montargis in obtaining from the Prince the cancellation of the new war contribution, when "contributions of all kinds already paid amount to over two and a half million"... * L.A.S. to commandant la place de Montargis, château du Perthuis January 23, 1871 (2 p. in-4), recalling his "intimate friendship" with the Prince and Princess Royal of Prussia, and requesting a safeguard for his horses; with a.s. note of dismissal from commandant Baron von Kleist. * L.A. to his daughter Blanche Lee Childe, February 24, 1871 (2 p. in-8), recounting his trip to Versailles and his meeting with the Prince Royal to plead the cause of Montargis; the success of his approach helped restore his health; he will return to Paris "only to good effect, clean city, heated workshop, Prussians gone" [...]. WE INVITE YOU TO CONSULT THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION BY DOWNLOADING THE DOCUMENT "FICHE COMPLÈTE" ON DROUOT.COM OR BY REFERRING TO THE CATALOG.