Antoine Passy (1792-1873) [géologue et botaniste français] - Lettre autographe qignée adressée à l’encyclopédiste Nicolas Roret - 1847

Description of the Object
Exceptional signed autograph letter (LAS) spanning 2 pages in folio size on letterhead paper from the Ministry of the Interior, dated August 29, 1847 (July Monarchy).
This rare and complete archive document seals the meeting between state policy and editorial ambition. The letter is addressed to the famous publisher Nicolas-Edme Roret and is signed, in the capacity of Under-Secretary of State, by the politician Antoine Passy.

The Signatory: Antoine François Passy (1792–1873)
• Identity: An Orléanist politician, senior civil servant, and influential economist.
• Historical Role (August 1847): The autograph under the mention 'Le Sous-Secrétaire d'État' is that of Antoine Passy (Antoine François Passy), who held this strategic position at the Ministry of the Interior under Minister Tanneguy Duchâtel.
Significance: The letter is a direct testimony of Passy's involvement, a central figure of the regime, in decisions regarding education and territorial organization.

The Recipient: Nicolas-Edme Roret (1797–1860)
• Identity: Founder of the eponymous publishing house and father of the essential 'Manuels Roret.'
Historical Role: Roret is one of the pioneers of accessible scientific and technical publishing. Nicknamed 'the pocket encyclopedist,' his manuals greatly contributed to the dissemination of know-how in France in the 19th century.
• Context: The letter is a response to Roret's support request for their new project, the 'Bibliothèque des communes rurales,' which perfectly aligns with their mission of practical education.

The Content :
State and Knowledge in the Mid-19th Century
This LAS reveals an influence strategy by Roret with the government to ensure the success of its new collection.
Key Piece: This document is crucial for understanding Roret's editorial strategy and the importance that the government of the July Monarchy placed on the dissemination of practical knowledge and the modernization of French rural areas.

Object Details
• Type: Signed Handwritten Letter (LAS).
• Author: Antoine Passy (Under-Secretary of State).
• Recipient: Nicolas-Edme Roret (Editor).
August 29, 1847
Condition: Very good overall condition. Complete and clearly legible letter, on two pages, with usual folds.
An indispensable historical document for any collection focused on French politics, publishing history, or administrative life under the July Monarchy.