This commercial folded letter dated 2 September 1794 was sent from Lille to Le Havre during the French Revolutionary period, addressed to the firm Messieurs Lorton et Vardouin. The front bears a clear straight-line handstamp "LILLE" in black, with no manuscript postal rate, consistent with the franking practices of the early republican postal system. The content is a formal business communication discussing the shipment of merchandise, with commentary on the quality and issues encountered upon receipt. Written in elegant copperplate script, the letter reflects the tensions and uncertainties of wartime commerce during Year II of the French Republic. The reverse shows typical folding and seal traces, with the document having been slit open and lightly toned along the folds. The style, format, and address handwriting all confirm it as a classic example of late 18th-century mercantile correspondence. Its date and provenance place it amid the transformative period of post-revolutionary France, making it valuable for both philatelic and historical study. Estimate "$90 – 120"
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