Joseph PONIATOWSKI (1763–1813), Polish prince, Marshal of th - Lot 519

Lot n° 519
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1000 - 1200 EUR
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Result : 1 055EUR
Joseph PONIATOWSKI (1763–1813), Polish prince, Marshal of th - Lot 519
Joseph PONIATOWSKI (1763–1813), Polish prince, Marshal of the Empire. Autograph letter signed “JP.”, to a “dear friend” (his sister?); 1¼ pages, folio size, filled with small handwriting. A rare letter concerning the purchase of land and the investment of his capital. “If we cannot manage to invest our capital in land purchases—at par value—I see no way to compensate us for the actual losses we are incurring. As for me, I do not understand the proposal that Mr. Joel is making to me through you to sell or lend our bonds at a 10 percent lower loss, that is, at a loss of only 15; which would mean that we would gain—or rather, that I would gain on my share, as it seems to me, 10,000 ll and more, that is, 55,000 fl. in banknotes or 72,333½ florins in bonds, or that this amount would be owed to me by my debtor.” But he believes that the only way to recoup their losses is to invest the money “in the purchase of the Radlow estate for 100,000 livres”; he provides the terms and financial details for this transaction, taking into account the various exchange rates for ducats and adding the associated costs. “If, therefore, the purchase of the land were unfortunately to fall through and could not be concluded under the aforementioned conditions—which, it seems to me, is the only way to compensate me for the great loss I am suffering— it will be up to you, my dear friend, to determine what we should pay solely for the settlement in secret expenses and remuneration for the negotiator.” He sent her the “Cossack,” who was carrying all the original documents—which he listed—as well as money for her mother, and he added in a postscript that she could keep the Cossack, who “is paid for two months”...
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