LANGLÈS (Louis Mathieu) - Lot 135

Lot 135
Go to lot
Estimation :
40 - 50 EUR
Bid on drouot.com
LANGLÈS (Louis Mathieu) - Lot 135
LANGLÈS (Louis Mathieu) Born in Welles-Pérennes in 1763 - died in 1824. Orientalist and librarian. Founder and first director of the École spéciale des langues orientales. Member of the Institut (1795). Autograph letter signed "LM Langlès", addressed to "Monsieur Auguis" [of the Royal Society]. S.l. [Paris], April 5, 1823. 1 page in-8, with address. Charming letter of scholarly intercourse, in which Langlès tells his correspondent that he has prepared a requested note and invites him to come and collect it in person: "...take the trouble to come and collect it yourself...". He adds to this invitation a mark of sociability very characteristic of scholarly circles in the early 19th century, inviting his addressee to share a Sunday lunch: "...you would complete this complaisance by coming tomorrow, Sunday [...] at eleven o'clock to lunch with us...". The brief but lively letter testifies to the conviviality and customs of Parisian intellectual circles, combining scientific exchanges and private sociability. The mention of his wife, who "joins her compliments to mine", reinforces this familiar and cordial character. An interesting account of the social life of one of France's great Orientalists at the end of his career.
My orders
Sale information
Sales conditions
Return to catalogue