Old administrative document Marseille 1941 prefectural order Bouches-du-Rhône

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Description

This original administrative document is a prefectural decree dated June 19, 1941, issued by the Préfecture des Bouches-du-Rhône. It is an order for the occupation of state public land, issued to the Compagnie Générale des Pétroles, with its head office located at 2 rue Fongate, Marseille. The official letterhead bears the mention "République Française — Préfecture des Bouches-du-Rhône" and the object of the document is clearly identified as an "Arrêté d’Occupation" (Occupancy Order).

The visible page displays typical administrative typography from the 1930s-1940s, printed in black on cream-colored paper. Several official stamps are affixed, including a circular blue seal from the "DIRECTION DES PONTS ET CHAUSSÉES" (Department of Bridges and Roads) dated June 19, 1941, as well as a "Marseille August 14, 1941" stamp near the bottom left corner. The presence of two blue, canceled 10-franc tax stamps attests to the payment of administrative fees in force at the time.

The typewritten text outlines the request for the renewal of authorizations for oil installations, with references to several previous decrees (1928, 1935, 1936, 1937). The document details the required technical conditions, compliance with attached plans, and obligations to the SNCF (French national railway company) and the administration. Several handwritten annotations are visible in the margin, as well as filing references in the upper right corner (notebook, file, bundle, item, handwritten numbering).

The general condition of the document shows moderate signs of use: slightly creased corners, handling marks, but the print and stamps remain perfectly legible. The tax stamps are intact and well-affixed. The top edge shows corner wear, characteristic of old administrative archives.

This type of prefectural decree constitutes an administrative and historical testimony, reflecting the procedures and regulatory rigor of France in the 1940s. The whole, with its stamps, seals, and handwritten notes, faithfully illustrates the aesthetics and presentation of official documents of the era.

Condition

Used item, sold as is. Shows signs of handling, moderate corner wear, paper yellowed with age, but legible and complete on the visible side.

Did you know? Tax stamps affixed to French administrative documents were mandatory to legally validate many official acts until the 1980s. They served both as proof of payment and a means of funding for the administration.

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Keywords: administrative order, official document, ancient archive, tax stamp, Marseille 1941, Bouches-du-Rhône, typewritten paper, prefectural decree, vintage document, France administration, French decree, historical document, Compagnie Générale des Pétroles