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The King's signature (Louis XVI) on an official document

Hi all, little question for you.. In that particular case, it is more a graphology issue as the autograph is real, but the question is.. who from!

I have included several signatures on this image: on the first line are authentic signatures from King Louis XVI, on the second line are signatures from his secretary/ies (as him), and on the last line is the signature in question..

It doesn't quite look like either, and the seller lists it as "secretarial", but I am not so certain.. one has to take into account the fact that this is a letter from the king acknowledging (and sending along his official "patent letters" (law) establishing) the abolishment of hereditary nobility (which, of course, he must have -really- pissed off about).

What do you think? The King's messy signatyyre because he was angry? The secretary's? Or a mix of both? (the L from the king, and the secretary trying to manage to actually making it look like the king's, for once (which was never the case the other times))?

I'd really like your opinion about it before considering acquiring it.. Thanks!

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Louis XVI vraie signature et secrétaires.jpg, 103 KB

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Permalink Reply by B on March 5, 2018 at 3:14am

I'll take that for a "no opinion", then :p

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Permalink Reply by michelle on March 5, 2018 at 5:45am

I'm pretty sure that I have seen this one before, its massively overpriced for a start so you could get something better imo for that kind of money, and think of all the probs you are goiong to have if you want to sell it in the future

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Permalink Reply by B on March 5, 2018 at 2:43pm

Hi Michelle,
Thanks for your reply.

What do you think of the signature, though?
Well, do you know where to find Louis XIV and Louis XVI signatures at a good price, then? :)

Well.. I wasn't thinking about reselling, rather that I could trade it for something else..

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Permalink Reply by michelle on March 9, 2018 at 8:09am

try any of the large auction houses which have often have french documents signed by different Louis'. I have seen a number of Louis for sale over here at various times. This will be a better buy than your intended purchase imo . Its also mega expensive. Your hypothesis may be correct but I am not that sure. It will be difficult imo to trade this for something else because potential buyers in my opin will want certainity about the sig .

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Permalink Reply by B on March 10, 2018 at 6:34am

Oh yes, but the auction houses definitely do not have lower pices. This one actually is quite low (especially since tjhe seller considers it to be secretarial).
I see what you mean... I was actually thinking of acquiring this one through an exchange, but the seller refused, haha. But what interested me in it was the content.. I mean, by I have little interest in a real Louis XIV or XVI signature confirming the payment of a casual expenditure, this has no historical meaning, whatsoever... the letter where the king abolishes nobility, on the other hand.. (see what I mean? :)

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Permalink Reply by David on March 13, 2018 at 10:06pm

Hello,

I am French autograph expert.

I think I know where this autograph comes from, and I know the dealer who is a good one (His initials are T V, aren't they ? :)). Indeed, this signature is secretarial, even if a bit clumsy. It is normal that he refuses an exchange : he wants to sell, not to collect. The price is indeed a but high for a secretarial signature, but the content is indeed very interesting.

I know where to find some French royalty interesting autographs. Just email me. What do you have in your collection ?