Lot 1632

PIERRE AUGUSTIN CARON DE BEAUMARCHAIS

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PIERRE AUGUSTIN CARON DE BEAUMARCHAIS

Estimate: $300 - $400

Starting Bid: $160

(0 Bids)

by Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
July 31, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
106 East Main Street, Suite 103
Elkton, MD, US 21921

PIERRE AUGUSTIN CARON DE BEAUMARCHAIS
(1732 - 1799) French author, watchmaker and merchant, best known as the playwright behind
'The Barber of Seville' and 'The Marriage of Figaro'. Caron de Beaumarchais also
spearheaded early French covert efforts to supply the Continental Army before
France entered the war in 1778. Scarce A.L.S. ‘Beaumarchais' 1p. 8vo., [n.p.], ‘17 Thermidor An 6' [July 24, 1798], to ‘Citizen Scott ex-commandant de Chartres', in part: ‘…I have read your memorandum addressed to the Executive Directory. It is very good. It gives the ingenious idea of steering balloons in a manner worthy of their importance, and it arouses lively curiosity. Only one thing it seems to me is being somewhat too briefly treated, considering its immense importance: the means of navigating without losing one's direction, either east or west. And it is such a fundamental point that, without it, all the rest would seem to be to be of little value…' The year 1798 was a defining period for ballooning in Paris. Most notably, pioneer André-Jacques Garnerin and his pupil, Citoyenne Henri, made a famed ascent from the Parc Monceau. Beaumarchais was caught up in the late-1700s obsession with hot-air balloons and made his own entrepreneurial stabs at the nascent technology. He also dabbled in the creation of a canal system to bring water to Parisian homes. Professional repair to loss at bottom right corner, else boldly penned and very good.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000