Ferdinand de LESSEPS (1805-1894)

Autograph Letter Signed (“Ferd. de Lesseps”) asking the Commandant of the Benares to bring the chief mechanic of the ship to dinner with him, adding in a postscript “the passage through the locks of the Suez canal of a Mediterranean convoy will take place at a quarter to four”.

1 page large 8vo in French, Suez, 29 August 1869.                           

Trans: “M. le Commandant of the Benares is requested to be kind enough to bring with him and the two officers who have been invited, the head mechanic of the steamer for dinner tomorrow at 7 o’clock at the Hotel Peninsula.” In a postscript he adds that “the passage through the locks of the Suez canal of a Mediterranean convoy will take place at a quarter to four”.

The Suez Canal was not officially opened until 17 November of this year, the French vessel, L’Aigle, with Empress Eugenie and de Lesseps on board, making the inaugural journey. The Benares may well have been present at an early test of the working of the locks, after the waters of the Mediterranean and the Red Sea had joined. In October 1869, an Australian newspaper reported that the Benares had arrived, with passengers bound for Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, after having stopped at Suez on 28 August, followed by Aden, Mauritius, and onwards to Australia.

The paper is somewhat browned at the original folds and the edges, but it is otherwise in good condition.

Delivery

Autographs can be delivered worldwide. Delivery costs are calculated at the time of order and items will be sent by the most appropriate means, depending on your location and the value of the item. This will usually be by Royal Mail Special Delivery within the UK and Royal Mail Tracked outside the UK. 

The current delivery charges are:

• UK:

  Royal Mail Special Delivery £9.00

• Europe:

  Europe Royal Mail Tracked £15.00
  EU customers should note that, following brexit, local VAT and customs duties may apply to their purchases. 

   USA:

• Royal Mail Tracked £25.00

  Rest of the World:

• Rest of the World Tracked £20.00

   

Export Licensing

Customers should be aware that all letters and documents over 50 years old require an export licence, which may delay delivery by anything from one to three weeks. Signed photographs are not subject to export licence regulations, and can be sent immediately.

There is no charge for the export licence and I will take care of the application, the only inconvenience to you will be the delay.

Authenticity

The authenticity of the letters and documents offered is guaranteed.

Payment

Online sales orders

Payments made via the website are processed by Shopify Inc and can be made using Visa, Mastercard or American Express.

Telephone sales orders

Items may be purchased by phone. Please contact me using the website Contact Form and I will call you within 48 hours to discuss your requirements. Payment for purchases ordered by phone can be paid upon receipt of the invoice and must be paid within 7 days. Phone orders can be paid by cheque (in pounds sterling only) or bank transfer.

Items will be reserved for one week following the order confirmation and will be dispatched either within 7 days after full payment has been received, or after any required export licenses have been granted.

Returns Policy

Should you be in any way dissatisfied with your purchase, items may be returned within six weeks of delivery and a full refund will be made upon receipt of the returned item. The item must be received by Richmond Autographs in the same condition as when dispatched.  For full details, please read our Terms and Conditions.