Postcard from Constant Meyer to... (1905)

NRA-L-000167 / 1905

Postcard from Constant Meyer to Pernod Fils asking about barrel shipment and separate bottling supplies, March 19, 1905

Fine-grocer Constant Meyer asks whether Pernod Fils can ship absinthe in a barrel while supplying bottles, packaging and corks separately to reduce prohibitive customs duties; he assures the firm that his established business would not dilute the product.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000167

NRA-L-000167 image 1 showing a German postcard addressed to Monsieur Pernod fils, distillers in Pontarlier, with a postage stamp, several postmarks and a Mulhouse sender cachet. — **Image 1**Address panel and postal evidence.

NRA-L-000167 image 2 showing a vertically written French message dated 19 March 1905 concerning absinthe, with a signature and marginal writing. — **Image 2**Postcard message and signature.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000167
Date: 1905-03-19
Type: Commercial correspondence
Language: French / fr / German / de
Sender: Constant Meyer
Recipient: Pernod Fils
Places: Mulhouse, France / Pontarlier, France
Extent: 2 documentary sides: Address panel and postal evidence; Message text; 2 digital images.
Signature: Constant Meyer
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000167.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel and postal evidence

Original transcript

Maison Pernod fils
Distillerie
Pontarlier

Notes

Postal marks:
PONTARLIER
6 30
20 - 3
05
DOUBS
MÜLHAUSEN
19.3.05 12-1N
(ELS.) 1 g
EPICERIE FINE EN TOUS GENRES
CONSTANT MEYER
30, Rue du Sauvage, MULHOUSE

Later annotations:
20

Address panel and postal evidence

English translation

Maison Pernod fils
Distillery
Pontarlier

Notes

Postal marks:
PONTARLIER
6 30
20 - 3
05
DOUBS
MÜLHAUSEN
19.3.05 12-1N
(ELS.) 1 g
EPICERIE FINE EN TOUS GENRES
CONSTANT MEYER
30, Rue du Sauvage, MULHOUSE

Later annotations:
20

Message text

Original transcript

Maison Pernod fils
Pontarlier

Par la présente je tenais
à vous demander, si vous
vendiez l'Absinthe en fût
en livrant les blles & l'habil-
lage & bouchons séparés.
Je vous demande ce renseig-
nement puisque les droits
de douane sont inabordables
et si vous seriez consentant
au genre d'expédition ci-
dessus il y aurait moyen de
placer votre article, qui se de-
mande assez fréquemment.
Pour la mise en bouteille vous
pourriez être tranquille, vu qu'é-
tant la plus ancienne affaire de
la place, nous nous respecterions trop
pour allonger ces articles, chose qui se fait
souvent.
Salutations
Constant Meyer

Notes

Later annotations:
19 MAR 1905

Message text

English translation

Maison Pernod fils
Pontarlier

I should like to ask whether you sell absinthe in barrels while supplying the bottles, packaging and corks separately. I ask because the customs duties are prohibitive; if you would agree to the form of shipment described above, there would be a way to sell your product, for which there is fairly frequent demand.

You may be at ease about the bottling: as the oldest firm in the locality, we would have too much self-respect to dilute the product, as is often done.

Greetings,
Constant Meyer

Notes

Later annotations:
19 MAR 1905

Discovery Terms

Absinthe
Barrels
Bottling
Packaging
Corks
Customs duties
Product adulteration
Constant Meyer
Pernod Fils
Mulhouse
Pontarlier

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