Letter from Gorges to Noilly et Prat... (1862)

NRA-L-000131 / 1862

Letter from Gorges to Noilly et Prat ordering 200 litres of absinthe for the Café de la Poste, January 20, 1862

Gorges, who runs the Café de la Poste and works at the town hall in Mostaganem, asks Noilly et Prat to send 200 litres of good-quality absinthe, requests favourable payment terms and offers local references.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000131

NRA-L-000131 image 1 showing a folded blue-paper address panel to a Marseille firm with a postage stamp, circular postal marks, forwarding notes, receiver docketing, folds and a seal remnant. — **Image 1**Address panel and postal evidence.

NRA-L-000131 image 2 showing a handwritten commercial letter dated at Montauban, with a marginal note, later red-ink calculations, signature and folds. — **Image 2**Letter text, later calculations and signature.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000131
Date: 1862-01-20
Original date: Mostaganem le 20 [janvier] 1862
Type: Order
Language: French / fr
Sender: Gorges
Recipient: Noilly et Prat
Places: Mostaganem, Algeria / Marseille, France
Extent: 2 documentary sides: Documentary page 1; Documentary page 2; 2 digital images.
Signature: Gorges
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000131.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

Messieurs
Noilly et prat negts
à Marseille

Address panel

English translation

Messieurs
Noilly et Prat, merchants
in Marseille

Documentary page 2

Original transcript

Montaganem le 20 xbre 1862

Messieurs Noilly et prat negts
à Marseille

D'après la Confiance que j'ai en
votre maison.
Je viens par le présent vous demander
de m'expédier 200 litres absinthe
en bonne qualité,
je tiens le Café de la poste et
je désire me mettre en relations
d'affaires avec votre maison
Je désire avoir les avantages que
vous faites pour le payement
si vous Voulez avoir des renseignements,
sur mon adresse vous n'avez qu'a le
demander de notre ville, tout négociant
ou Employé, à la mairie ou je
suis employé, ne craignez pas d'écrire
à qui vous voudrez, mais qu'elle soit
aussitôt, differemment je m'adresserai
ailleurs. Dans l'attente de votre
prompte réponse
J'ai l'honneur
De vous saluer, Gorges

Notes

Editorial notes:
The dateline reads '20 xbre 1862' (20 December 1862), but the postmarks and docketing indicate January 1862. The writer likely wrote the new year by mistake.

Documentary page 2

English translation

Montaganem, 20 December 1862

Messieurs Noilly et Prat, merchants
in Marseille

Given the trust I have in your firm.
I come by this letter to ask you to send me 200 liters of absinthe of good quality,
I run the Café de la Poste and I wish to enter into business relations with your firm.
I wish to have the advantages that you offer for payment.
If you wish to have information on my address, you only have to ask for it from our town, any merchant or employee, at the town hall where I am employed, do not fear to write to whomever you wish, but let it be immediately, otherwise I will apply elsewhere. Awaiting your prompt reply
I have the honor
To salute you, Gorges

Notes

Editorial notes:
The dateline reads '20 xbre 1862' (20 December 1862), but the postmarks and docketing indicate January 1862. The writer likely wrote the new year by mistake.

Discovery Terms

Absinthe
Orders
Cafés
Payment terms
Commercial references
Noilly et Prat
Gorges
Café de la Poste
Mostaganem
Marseille

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