AUTOGRAPH LETTER AND RARE 1ST EDITION OF HIS BOOK ‘HASHISH’ DE MONFREID (Henry, 1879-1974, French Adventurer and Explorer)

Autograph Letter Signed in French with translation to an unnamed correspondent saying that he takes “ the liberty of abusing your kindness to ask you to kindly deliver this urgent note to Mr Picentini in Harrar. You may find him on the way. I hope to go up to Araoué on Sunday and bring you some current books...”, 1 side 8vo., 22nd May 1936, together with a photocopy of a letter from the Commandant’s Office of Suez City Police to D. J. Mill-Irving a Vice-Consul at Port-Tewfik and the list of information about De Monfreid’s movements and activities and two photos of him on a boat and on a beach annotated as ‘the Red Sea near Port Sudan’, and a first edition in this translation of his book ‘Hashish’, 8vo., in original black cloth, Methuen,

Henry de Monfreid was born in Leucate, Aude, France. He was the son of artist painter Georges-Daniel de Monfreid and knew Paul Gauguin as a child. He was known for his travels in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa coast from Tanzania to Aden, Yemen, the Arabian Peninsula and Suez, that he sailed in his various expeditions as adventurer, smuggler and gunrunner (during which he said he more than once escaped Royal Navy coast-guard cutters).
Port Tewfik, now known as Suez Port, is an Egyptian port located at the southern entrance of the Suez Canal on the Red Sea.
This collection includes the very rare first English Edition of his book.
Transcription
MESSAGERIES MARITIMES. D.D. 22/5/36
Cher Monsieur, Je me permets d’abuser de votre gentillesse pour vous prier de bien vouloir remettre ce mot urgent à Mr Picentini à Harrar. Peut-être allez-vous le trouver en route. J’espère monter à Araoué dimanche et vous porter quelques livres d’actualité. Merci et très cordialement. H. de Monfreid
(in another hand). H. de Monfreid : famous French traveller, smuggler, adventurer
Translation
SEA SERVICE D.D. May, the 5th of 1936
Dear Sir, I take the liberty of abusing your kindness to ask you to kindly deliver this urgent note to Mr Picentini in Harrar. You may find him on the way. I hope to go up to Araoué on Sunday and bring you some current books. Thank you and very cordially. H. de Monfreid
(in another hand) M. de Monfreid : famous French traveller, smuggler, adventurer

Item Date:  1935

Stock No:  43033      £575

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