Description:

ARMAND PHILIPPE DE CUSTINE AND FAMILY
Armand de Custine (1760-1794) French military officer and the son of noted aristocrat French general Adam Philippe, Comte de Custine, he rose in the ranks to become aide-de-camp for General Nicolas Luckner before becoming a diplomat. At the start of the Revolution, Armand became a target of attack by the revolutionaries along with his father, who was heavily criticized for his failures in defending Mainz and executed for treason. Armand, a wealthy young man and promising diplomat, also found himself on the list of those suspected as royalists, and he too was guillotined on Jan. 1, 1794. This lot comprises an interesting group of four documents from the Custine family beginning with a fair copy of a memo addressed to the Committee on Public Safety, 4pp. legal folio, Paris, Oct. 11, 1793. After the execution of his father, Armand politely and eloquently protests his innocence and claims that his conduct has been irreproachable. WITH: an A.L.S. signed ‘V', written by a love-struck officer in the 8th regiment of Hussars in the Army of the Moselle, 2pp. 4to., Phalsbourg, Aug. 10, 1795, to Delphine de Custine, widow of Armand de Custine. Delphine (1770-1828) was imprisoned by Robespierre along with her husband, but her sentence commuted after Robepierre's fall. Addressing her as ‘Melanie', the officer begs her to love him and speaks of the passions which she inspires. WITH: an A.L.S. by an unidentified ‘Custine', 1p. 4to., Sainte-Pelagie Prison, [Paris] Mar. 18, 1800, to the President of the Conservative Senate. A member of the Custine family pleas for his release, adding: ‘…I dare to flatter myself that the memory of the friendship which unites you with General [Adam] Custine is not entirely erased from your memory, which leads me to hope that you will take an interest in one of his relatives now…'. WITH: an A.L.S. signed with initials ‘L.G'. 3pp. 4to., Fervaques Chateau, Calvados, May 31, 1814, to Delphine de Custine, owner of the domain and castle of Fervaques since 1803. The letter addresses Delphine as ‘the Beautiful and Good', appears to be penned by the manager of the estate in absentia of the owners, and discusses servants and other custodial matters. Four pieces, light wear consistent with age, else very good.

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January 18, 2024 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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