HONORÉ III: (1720-1795) Prince of Monaco 1733-93. A.L.S., Le Duc de Valentinois, one page, 8vo, Paris, 3rd January 1787, to Madame Monique Vial, in French. The Duke writes a charming letter, thanking his correspondent for their good wishes to him, his wife, and children for the New Year, remarking ´nous sommes bien persuadés de leur sincérité connaissant le bon coeur dont ils partent, et vous en faisons tous nos remerciements avec le plus grand plaisir´ (Translation: ´we are well persuaded of their sincerity knowing the good heart from which they start, and we thank you with the greatest pleasure´), further adding that ´Nos deux petits enfants se portent à merveille´ (Translation: ´Our two little children are doing wonderfully well´) and explaining that ´Je ferais passer le plus tot possible votre pension ou pour.....payer les soins que vous avez pris de moi dans mon enfance´ (Translation: ´I will send your pension as soon as possible to.....pay for the care you took of me in my childhood´). With integral address leaf in the Prince´s hand, bearing the remnants of a red wax seal (small area of paper loss caused by the original opening, affecting a few words to text, but not the signature). G

In 1751 Honoré III had married Maria Caterina Brignole (1737-1813) and the couple had two children, Honoré IV, Prince of Monaco (1758-1819) and Joseph Grimaldi (1763-1816) before legally separating in 1770.