Letter from M. Min Raynaud to Noilly... (1859)

NRA-L-000133 / 1859

Letter from M. Min Raynaud to Noilly Prat & Cie ordering brandy, absinthe, wine and vermouth, May 1, 1859

M. Min Raynaud asks Noilly Prat & Cie to send fifty feuillettes of brandy, twenty-four feuillettes of absinthe and trial cases of wine and vermouth, while discussing barley, hops, drafts, quality controls for military-camp suppliers and payment security.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000133

NRA-L-000133 image 1 showing a folded address panel to a Marseille firm with postal marks, a hotel and restaurant handstamp, manuscript docketing, folds and a seal remnant. — **Image 1**Address panel and postal evidence.

NRA-L-000133 image 2 showing the first page of a handwritten commercial letter dated at Genoa, with salutation, dense cursive text and folds. — **Image 2**Letter text - Page 1.

NRA-L-000133 image 3 showing the continuation of the handwritten Genoa letter, with discussion of absinthe, signature, postscript, folds and show-through. — **Image 3**Letter text - Page 2, signature and postscript.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000133
Date: 1859-05-01
Original date: Gênes le 1er Mai 1859
Type: Order
Language: French / fr
Sender: M. Min Raynaud
Recipient: Noilly Prat & Cie
Places: Genoa, Italy / Marseille, France
Extent: 3 documentary sides: Documentary page 1; Documentary page 2; Documentary page 3; 3 digital images.
Signature: M. Min Raynaud
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000133.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Documentary page 1

Original transcript

Messieurs Noilly Prat & Cie
Négts à Marseille

Notes

Postal marks:
CAFE RESTAURANT / M.MIN RAYNAUD / GENOVA / DELLA CONCORDIA
SARDAIGNE / 5 / MAI / 59 / MARSEILLE
GENOVA / 1 / MAG / 59 / 5 S
Via di mare
7

Later annotations:
1859

Gênes 1er Mai

Raynaud

R 3 d

Mathurin

40

Documentary page 1

English translation

Messrs Noilly Prat & Cie
Merchants in Marseille

Notes

Postal marks:
CAFE RESTAURANT / M.MIN RAYNAUD / GENOVA / DELLA CONCORDIA
SARDAIGNE / 5 / MAI / 59 / MARSEILLE
GENOVA / 1 / MAG / 59 / 5 S
Via di mare
7

Later annotations:
1859

Genoa May 1st

Raynaud

Answered 3 ditto

Mathurin

40

Documentary page 2

Original transcript

Gênes le 1er Mai 1859

Mrs Noilly Prat et Cie
Marseille

Je reçus aujourd'hui votre honorée lettre du 30 l'écoulé,
qui s'est croisée avec une lettre que j'ai mise à la
poste le 30. Je vous remercie de la peine que vous
vous êtes donnée pour l'orge et le houblon, et de la
promptitude avec laquelle vous vous en êtes occupés.
Quant à l'effet que vous m'avez envoyé à l'acceptation,
je retarderai jusque à mardi prochain pour vous le
renvoyer, par la raison que je dois ce jour-là
recevoir deux effets équivalant à la même somme,
1/2 l'un à 30 jours de date et l'autre moitié à 60
jours. En ce cas je vous les enverrai en règlement.
Dans le cas contraire, mardi au plus tard vous auriez le
retour et l'acceptation en règle.
Je ne tiens pas à avoir des petits barils ; les feuillettes
vont bien. Ainsi vous pouvez au plus vite
m'expédier

Documentary page 2

English translation

Genoa, 1 May 1859

Messrs Noilly Prat & Cie
Marseille

Today I received your esteemed letter of the 30th of last month, which crossed with a letter I posted on the 30th. I thank you for the trouble you took over the barley and hops and for the prompt attention you gave the matter.
As for the draft you sent me for acceptance, I shall wait until next Tuesday before returning it, because on that day I am to receive two drafts amounting to the same sum, one half at thirty days from date and the other half at sixty days. If so, I shall send them to you in settlement. Otherwise, by Tuesday at the latest you will receive the draft back with the acceptance duly completed.
I do not require small barrels; feuillettes will do. You may therefore send me as soon as possible

Documentary page 3

Original transcript

sur la partie que je vous ai demandée par ma lettre du 26 l'écoulé :
50 feuillettes eau de vie et 24 feuillettes [biffé : d'absinthe]
d'absinthe, et suivant ma lettre du 30, quelques
[biffé : feuillettes] caisses de vin et de vermout, pour en faire
l'essai.

Je me recommande que les eaux de vie soient de bonne
qualité, car je dois vous prévenir que les jours
passés plusieurs des patentes ont été renvoyés des
camps, et que l'on est très sévère sur les qualités des
marchandises, ce qui sert beaucoup aux Mds de Bordeaux,
disant que s'ils veulent avoir du bon il faut que
ça vienne de là. Enfin ce serait trop long
à vous raconter tout ce qu'ils disent. J'espère
que par le résultat favorable nous vaincrons les
petites difficultés.

En attendant, je vous prie d'agréer mes salutations
amicales.
M. Min Raynaud

P. S. Quant à l'affaire que je traitais hier, elle
a été renvoyée à samedi. Je crains que nous ne
ferons rien. Cependant je me contente d'un léger
bénéfice, mais je veux du comptant ou une des 1ères
signatures ; à défaut je préfère m'abstenir.

Documentary page 3

English translation

the part of my order requested in my letter of the 26th of last month: fifty feuillettes of brandy and twenty-four feuillettes of absinthe; and, as requested in my letter of the 30th, several cases of wine and vermouth for trial.
I particularly recommend that the brandies be of good quality, for I must warn you that in recent days several licensed suppliers have been turned away from the camps and that the quality of the goods is being judged very strictly. This greatly benefits the Bordeaux merchants, who say that anyone wanting good goods must obtain them from there. It would take too long to repeat everything they say. I hope that favourable results will enable us to overcome these small difficulties.
Meanwhile, please accept my friendly greetings.
M. Min Raynaud

P.S. The transaction I was negotiating yesterday has been postponed until Saturday. I fear we shall achieve nothing. I am willing to accept a small profit, but I require cash or a first-class signature; failing that, I prefer to abstain.

Discovery Terms

Absinthe
Brandy
Wine
Vermouth
Orders
Barley
Hops
Bills of exchange
Quality control
Noilly Prat & Cie
M. Min Raynaud
Genoa
Marseille

Transcriptions and English translations are provided as working scholarly aids, not as replacements for the images of the original documents. Some readings may remain uncertain, especially where handwriting, spelling, damage, abbreviations, names or places are difficult.

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