Lot 1754

1861 (30 Jul) An autograph signed by French General Montauban addressed to Chamberlain An autograph signed by French General Montauban on 30 July 1861 addressed to Chamberlain of French Imperatrice for an announced visit. In 1859, Montauban was appointed as the Charles Cousin-Montauban, Comte de Palikao Commander of French expedition to China in the midst of Second Opium War. In Sept 1860, Montauban led French troops of the allied army to defeat Qing army at Palikao during the famous Battle of Palikao八里橋戰役. The allied forces entered Peking thereafter and the looting of Summer Palace火燒圓明園.

書信的文獻價值： 此為法國將軍 Charles Cousin-Montauban（帕里卡奧伯爵）於1861年7月30日親筆簽署之書信，致信對象為法國皇后侍從官（Chamberlain），內容涉及皇室接待安排，為戰後外交與軍事高階人物間之往來信函。 歷史人物：1859年Montauban 被任命為法軍遠征中國的指揮官，率軍參與第二次鴉片戰爭。1860年9月21日，於著名的八里橋戰役（Battle of Palikao）中指揮法軍對清軍發起決定性突擊，取得勝利，該役成為聯軍入侵北京的關鍵一戰，最終導致清廷簽署《北京條約》結束戰事，戰後 Montauban亦因此被尊封為八里橋伯爵（Comte de Palikao）。 文獻歷史價值：此信寫於戰爭結束約半年後，Montauban 已為法軍戰功赫赫的象徵人物，少見直接與八里橋戰役勝利將領有關之原始史料，具高度收藏與展示價值。