METTERNICH (Prince Klemens, 1773-1859, Austrian Statesman, guiding force at the Congress of Vienna, 1814-1815)

Large Passport Signed 'Metternich' as Austrian Ambassador to France, in French and with visas in German, with translation, with, at the head, the fine engraved arms of Emperor Franz I, showing the double-headed eagle and, on its breast, the arms per pale of Lorraine, Austria and Bohemia, surrounded by the collar of the Golden Fleece, and on its feathers ten other crowned shields of the Habsburg dominions, at the bottom left are Metternich's arms as Count Metternich-Winneburg, engraved by Pierre Audouin "of the Vienna Academy of Arts", (1768-1822, later portrait engraver to Louis XVIII), used here "by permission of the [French] Minister of Foreign Relations [Champagny]". The passport is made out for "Madame the Countess of Sollik, native of Galicia, with Mademoiselle her Daughter, one Governess, Madame Livet wife of the Mathematics tutor, one lady's maid and one domestic servant ... travelling via Strasbourg or Mainz and Töplitz to Galicia". On the verso Metternich's signature is authenticated by Dhermany, head of the Consular Section of the Paris Foreign Office, and also signed by Joseph FOUCHÉ, (1759-1820, Napoleon's Minister of Police and Master Spy, he and Talleyrand, till recently Foreign Minister, were the two most powerful men in France after the Emperor). There follow notes of the passport's production when crossing into Germany and Bohemia, where at Töplitz the Countess planned to take the Cure, before carrying on to her native Galicia bordering modern Poland. Engraved with manuscript additions, neat collector's seal of Ray Rawlins in top right corner of Side 1, with a reproduction of Metternich's fine mezzotint portrait after Sir Thomas Lawrence (1815), showing him seated, nearly full length, three quarter face, in Ambassador's dress, no date, 8¼" x 6¾", the passport 2 sides 16¾" x 11½", Paris, 12th April a few short splits at folds but a striking document
(Translation)
Gratis.
We, Klemens Wenzel, Count von Metternich-Winneburg, Grand Cross of the Royal Order of St. Stephen, Knight of the Order of Malta, Chamberlain, Privy Counsellor in Office to His Majesty The Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary & of Bohemia, and his Ambassador to His Majesty the Emperor of the French, King of Italy;
Pray and request all those to whom it applies, to let pass safely and freely Madame the Countess of Sollik, native of Galicia, with Mademoiselle her Daughter, one Governess, Madame Livet wife of the Mathematics tutor, one lady's maid and one domestic servant
aged ... height ... hair ... eyebrows ... eyes ... nose ... mouth ... chin ... figure ... [all left blank] travelling via Strasbourg or Mainz; Töplitz; to Galicia
without offering her or allowing her to be offered any hindrance, but on the contrary all aid and assistance of which she may have need.
So trusting we have provided her with the present Passport, and have applied the stamp of our arms.
Signature of the Bearer [blank]
Done at Paris the 12th April 1808
[Signed] Metternich

By His Excellency the Secretary of the Embassy
[Signed] Floret
Good for 1 journey.

[Under Metternich's arms]
Engraved by Pierre Audouin of the Vienna Academy of Arts
Borne by permission of his Excellency the Minister of Foreign Relations

[Bottom Left]
Seen on entering by the Porte Clanelo, Strasbourg, 6th May 1808

[Side 2]
The Minister for Foreign Relations certifies as genuine the signature of His Excellency Count Metternich on the other side. Paris, 21st April 1808.
By authorization of the Minister
the head of the Consulates Section
[Signed] Dhermany

On behalf of the Minister
the head of the Passport Bureau
Signed [B...]
[Stamp] Minister of Foreign Relations

Seen according to Law
Paris, 22nd April 1808
Senator the Minister of General Police
[Signed] Fouché
[Stamp] Minster of General Police of the Empire

Seen by the Commissioner General of Police to go via Kehl into Germany.
Strasbourg, 8th May 1808.
[Signed] Fopp
[Stamp] Police, Mayor's Office, Strasbourg

[In German]
Frau Grafin v Sollik is travelling via Eger [Cheb] and Karlsbad [Karlovy Vary] to Töplitz [Teplice] to take the Cure there, and will be referred from there to the Imperial & Royal Inspector of Police of that place. Imperial & Royal Office of Commerce, Mühlbach, 15th May 1808.
[Signed] [...]

Seen for the Journey via Karlsbad to Töplitz to take the Cure. Eger, 15th May 1808.
[Signed] [...]
[Stamp] Police Office in Eger.

Seen for the abovementioned journey Karlsbad, 16th May 1808.
[Signed] Martini

Seen for the journey to Dresden. Töplitz, 18th May 1808. [Signed] Eichberg.

Exhibited on leaving for Peterswald, 23rd June 1808.
[Signed] de la Vigne

The visas, signed by the local officials, begin at Strasbourg for crossing the Rhine to Kehl, (8th May). The party will then have travelled roughly East North East via Nuremberg and Bayreuth, showing the document at Muhlbach, apparently just inside the 'Imperial & Royal' dominions in Bohemia (May 15th) and the same day at Eger (Czech Cheb), the first main town. Another day took them to Karlsbad (Karlovy Vary), and then on to Töplitz (Teplice), after Karlsbad the largest spa town in Bohemia. From there on the 18th June a diversion was made to Dresden in Saxony, then back on the 23rd to Peterswald (Petrovice), again just inside Bohemia. From then onward they would be in the Austrian Empire.

Item Date:  1808

Stock No:  56212      £1250

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