TALLEYRAND-PÉRIGORD CHARLES MAURICE DE: (1754-1838) French Diplomat and Statesman. Prime Minister of France July-September 1815. A curious D.S., `Ch Mau Talleyrand´, one page, 8vo, n.p. [Paris], December 1797, to Emmanuel Sieyes, in French. The attractive bifolium document being an invitation to a dinner at Talleyrand´s home. Bearing to the heading the republican motto "Liberté - Égalité", and the printed text states `Je vous prie, Citoyen, de vouloir bien me faire l´honneur de venir souper chez moi quartidi prochain, 14 nivôse, et d´avoir la bonté de vous y rendre entre huit et neuf heures.´ (Translation: "I beg you, Citizen, to do me the honour of coming to dine at my house next quartidi, 14 Nivôse, and to be so kind as to be there between eight and nine o'clock." Further, Talleyrand includes in the invitation a surprising request regarding the dress code expected, saying `Vous jugerez convenable, j´en suis sûr, de vous interdire tout habillement provenant des manufactures Anglaises, et de marquer par là les sentimens qui vous animent dans les circonstances présentes...´ (Translation: "You will judge it appropriate, I am sure, to forbid yourself any clothing from English manufacturers, and thereby to show the feelings which guide you in the present circumstances.") Talleyrand also explains before concluding that the invitation is only for one person. The invitation bears at the base a red wax seal in very fine condition as well as a foreign affairs ministry ink stamp. With address leaf in Talleyrand´s hand `Emmanuel Sieyes, représentant du peuple, rue St. Honoré´. Small area of paper loss to the address leaf. Very small minor age wear with few minor stains, otherwise G

Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès (1748-1836) Best known as the Abbé Sieyès. French Roman Catholic Clergyman, a leading and political theorist Writer of the French Revolution. His pamphlet What Is the Third Estate? (1789) became the political manifesto of the French Revolution. Sieyès was among the instigators of the Brumaire coup d´état (9th November) which installed Napoleon Bonaparte in power. Sieyes is also remembered for coining the term "Sociologie".